Asus drops teaser for Xbox 'Kennan' handheld — reveals sneak peek days before Switch 2 launch

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They're trying to steal Nintendo's thunder.

Project Kennan teaser
(Image credit: ROG Global)

Rumors about an Xbox handheld have been flying around, and Asus just fanned the flames by dropping a teaser on its X (formerly Twitter) account.

The video shows an animated robot programming improvements on a terminal for itself. Just as it was about to implement the changes, a device that looks like an ROG Ally X gaming console and an ROG Raikiri Pro controller fell in with the character. After the dust settles, the robot apparently turns into a gaming console that looks vaguely similar to the company’s current top-end handheld.

What made this social media posting even more interesting was that the official Xbox account replied with the side-eye meme. Nothing official has been announced yet, by any means, but Microsoft’s response likely refers to Project Kennan — the gaming handheld it’s developing with Asus that’s designed to unify Xbox and Windows as one platform.

While neither party has revealed anything specific, the video gave us a preview of what to expect from this planned Xbox handheld. This includes a longer battery life, better performance, and bigger storage, alongside a new look for this handheld.

Asus posted the video on March 31, 2025, at 2 pm EST. The company likely did this to avoid the teaser from being misconstrued as an April Fool’s prank, especially as many other tech companies are posting jokes of their own. However, just like its April 1 ROG Ally reveal a couple of years ago, it seems that this teased Xbox console is legit.

Project Kennan expectations

(Image credit: ROG Global)

Another thing we should note is that the much-anticipated Switch 2 is set to be announced at Nintendo Direct on April 2. This Asus reveal could therefore be an attempt to steal Nintendo’s thunder — and while it did not have much information, it likely caused a stir among PC gamers and handheld gaming enthusiasts. It still probably won’t sway hardcore Nintendo enthusiasts, though.

We’re not expecting a new Xbox console until 2027, but the arrival of an 'Xbox handheld' will certainly be most welcome. We just hope that this will run Xbox games natively, and not just be a Windows 11 device with an Xbox skin on top of it.

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Jowi Morales
Jowi Morales
Contributing Writer

Jowi Morales is a tech enthusiast with years of experience working in the industry. He’s been writing with several tech publications since 2021, where he’s been interested in tech hardware and consumer electronics.

9 Comments Comment from the forums
  • Heat_Fan89
    Microsoft is trying to enter to compete against the Steam and other PC handheld's but unless they price it really low gamers no longer trust Microsoft to stay in the hardware business. They are now being viewed as a software publisher.
    Reply
  • thestryker
    This mostly just seems like a branding deal for the next generation of Ally handheld than any significant movement. The biggest question is what level of performance will it be at and how much is Microsoft willing to subsidize the device to keep the cost down.
    Reply
  • txfeinbergs
    Heat_Fan89 said:
    Microsoft is trying to enter to compete against the Steam and other PC handheld's but unless they price it really low gamers no longer trust Microsoft to stay in the hardware business. They are now being viewed as a software publisher.
    I would buy one if it runs an "XBOX" operating system and not just windows with an XBOX App on top. I will never buy a Windows handheld. My SteamDeck is great!
    Reply
  • Notton
    These are USD prices, non-discounted, does not factor in regional costs.
    $900 (claw AI 8), nope not paying that
    $800 (Ally X), ditto above
    $700 (Ally, Legion Go, Claw, etc.), negotiable if price discounted below $550.
    $650 (Steam deck 1TB OLED)
    $550 (Steam deck 512GB OLED), the max price point most people are willing to fork out for a handheld
    $400 (Steam deck 256GB LCD)
    $350 (Switch OLED)
    $300 (Switch)
    $200 (Switch lite)

    Realistically? In 2025, with cost of living crisis being rampant, I don't see an Xbox handheld doing well if it costs more than $550.
    It's an underdog in a crowded market.

    At $500~$550, there's also steep competition from the Legion Tab. This is especially so if you intend on using steam link because the hardware in handheld gaming PCs isn't great.

    I don't see Switch 2 doing well if it costs more than $350 either.
    Reply
  • thestryker
    Notton said:
    Realistically? In 2025, with cost of living crisis being rampant, I don't see an Xbox handheld doing well if it costs more than $550.
    It's an underdog in a crowded market.
    It's not going to be an Xbox handheld. There's no indication one of those is coming until the next console is released. This will be some sort of Windows box with standard PC hardware and some Xbox features (likely just the button hardware wise).
    Reply
  • derekullo
    There best be a Project Kel to go along with it !
    Reply
  • Giroro
    Finally, a product that dares to ask "What if you could mix all the downsides/fees/from/ads of Xbox gaming with all of the downsides of handheld gaming... and also the reliability/drivers of an Asus product?"

    The answer won't surprise you.
    Reply
  • TerryLaze
    Heat_Fan89 said:
    no longer trust Microsoft to stay in the hardware business. They are now being viewed as a software publisher.
    Because 24 years and going on isn't enough to make people trust?!

    Microsoft was around since 1975, 26 years before the first xbox, viewed as a software publisher?! they are the makers and the publishers of one of the most used OS(eses) in the world.

    Also ever since consoles switched to x86 (back in 2013!!!!! ) they are just glorified low/mid gaming PCs with a nice frontend anyway.
    For years now you can even run any windows store app on an xbox if you have developer mode active, which anybody can activate for $19.

    It would be great though if this could boot into xbox mode, loading up no more than what a real xbox does, and then have windows as a second boot option for people that want it.
    Reply
  • thesyndrome
    derekullo said:
    There best be a Project Kel to go along with it !
    Thank you, I felt like I was going mad when Kenan and Kel was the first thing to came to mind upon reading the name, but none of the initial comments mentioned it
    Reply