Microsoft has paused the event of its Xbox handheld gaming console, based on a report. Beforehand anticipated to reach as a part of the corporate’s subsequent era of consoles, the native Xbox handheld has been placed on the back-burner. The Redmond firm is reportedly engaged on optimising Home windows 11 for handheld consoles, in order that it’s on par with Valve’s SteamOS, which presents higher efficiency and battery effectivity. Different upcoming consoles, just like the Xbox-branded Asus system (codenamed Challenge Kennan) are mentioned to be unaffected by Microsoft’s choice.

Microsoft Shifts Focus to Home windows 11 Amid Risk From SteamOS

Home windows Central experiences that Microsoft’s inside Xbox handheld console has been shelved, which signifies that it may not arrive in 2027, alongside Microsoft’s next-gen Xbox consoles. The primary celebration handheld shouldn’t be the identical as different upcoming moveable consoles like Asus’ Challenge Kennan, which remains to be anticipated to reach later this yr.

The corporate plans to work on optimising Home windows 11 to run on handheld consoles, which implies that upcoming third celebration handhelds may arrive with a extra optimised model of Microsoft’s desktop working system. In our evaluations of beforehand launched handhelds, we have discovered that a few of the greatest points with Home windows working on these gadgets embrace poor battery life, navigation points, and software program updates.

Microsoft’s choice to focus its efforts on Home windows 11 for handhelds might need been spurred by the SteamOS’ growth past the Steam Deck. Earlier this yr, Lenovo unveiled the Legion Go S, which presents higher efficiency than the Steam Deck, and likewise runs on Valve’s working system. SteamOS can be anticipated to reach on comparable handheld gadgets sooner or later.

SteamOS-powered gadgets will not be Microsoft’s solely concern, with the Nintendo Change 2 proper across the nook. The Japanese agency’s handheld is slated to reach in choose markets in June, and can compete with present moveable consoles.

The Redmond firm’s give attention to optimising Home windows 11 for handhelds may enhance the general expertise of utilizing these gadgets. Asus is predicted to launch its Challenge Kennan console later in 2025, as per current experiences. The system was not too long ago spotted in a listing on the US FCC website, giving us a great have a look at its design.

The report signifies that the first-party handheld from Microsoft might need been able to working Xbox video games, and the corporate nonetheless plans to launch a native handheld. It is presently unclear whether or not this system will make its debut in 2027 or 2028, which is when the corporate’s next-gen consoles are anticipated to reach.