Insider Suggests Microsoft Gaming Handheld May Be Announced for 2025: Key Insights

There’s been a lot of buzz lately about the possibility of an Xbox handheld device, but it seems Microsoft isn’t planning to make any announcements this year. Rumor has it, though, that we might finally get a glimpse of this much-anticipated hardware in 2025. The chatter about an Xbox handheld has been circulating ever since Microsoft Gaming CEO, Phil Spencer, dropped some hints earlier this year.

This speculation got a boost during the Xbox Two podcast on YouTube. Reporter Jez Corden weighed in, suggesting we could see some new Xbox hardware next year. He talked about the possibility of a reveal at an upcoming gaming event, but dismissed any chances of seeing it at this year’s Game Awards in December 2024.

Corden said, “I don’t think you’re gonna see hardware at The Game Awards, but I do think next year is a good year for revealing new hardware. Especially hardware you could hold in the palm of your hand.” He also mentioned that we might see this device at the showcase in June next year. As exciting as these tidbits are, keep in mind they’re still just rumors since Xbox hasn’t confirmed anything officially yet.

Switching gears to software, there’s some exciting news on that front. Microsoft’s latest update to the Prism emulator, now at preview build 27744, expands compatibility, allowing more 64-bit x86 (x64) games and software to run. This update brings support for additional extensions like AVX, AVX2, BMI, FMA, F16C, and more, making games such as Helldivers 2 and Starfield, which require AVX2, playable. For the full scoop, you can check out the preview build 27744 details on the official website.

In other news, Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella recently received a $30 million pay raise, a notable fact considering the year has seen significant layoffs in the gaming sector.