Microsoft hints at first-party Xbox handheld, however players should demand it

“If there’s demand, we’re going to construct it” – that’s the message from Microsoft to Xbox followers interested by next-generation gaming consoles and handhelds.

Following the discharge of the ASUS ROG Xbox Ally X handheld, which noticed Microsoft partner-up with the Taiwanese producer, many are questioning whether or not a first-party Xbox handheld is perhaps within the pipeline. In addition to confirming (but once more) Microsoft continues to be very a lot within the console {hardware} recreation with a next-gen {hardware} in improvement, Xbox president Sarah Bond mentioned the corporate is open to constructing a handheld too.

She instructed Selection (by way of Home windows Central): “We’re 100% making issues sooner or later. We’ve got our next-gen {hardware} in improvement. We’ve been prototyping, designing. We’ve got a partnership we’ve introduced with AMD round it, so that’s coming.

“What we noticed right here [with the ASUS ROG Xbox Ally] was a chance to innovate in a brand new means and to deliver players one other selection, along with our next-gen {hardware}. We’re at all times listening to what gamers and creators need. When there may be demand for innovation, we’re going to construct it.”

That’s in all probability the clearest trace but that Microsoft would possibly take the expertise of working with a longtime participant like ASUS to exit by itself with a first-party Xbox handheld that’d rival the Steam Deck.

Bond added: “We checked out, how will we create a number of choices for individuals? And it actually was ASUS, as a result of that is their {hardware}. That’s all of their perception into the market, into the characteristic set, into what individuals need, to find out the final word costs of the units.”

She mentioned working with ASUS enabled Microsoft to “actually start to remodel the expertise and take it to that subsequent degree in a means that we might do partnered a lot faster.”

Given the ASUS/Xbox mannequin shortly bought out regardless of its excessive worth in all probability tells you the demand is there for a first-party product. We’re excited to see what Microsoft has in retailer.