Microsoft Gaming CEO Phil Spencer has been saying for a long time that he wants to make an Xbox handheld device, and now he’s brought it up once more.
Speaking to Bloomberg, Spencer said that the “expectation is that we would do something” in that area. Bloomberg reported that Microsoft is currently working on prototypes and thinking about the best way forward. The site also reported that Spencer said any potential Xbox handheld would be “a few years out.”
For now, Microsoft’s designers and engineers are spending time updating the Xbox mobile app to offer a better experience on portable gaming devices that already exist. But on a longer horizon, Spencer said, “I think our team could do some real innovative work” in the dedicated handheld market.
A report from September 2024 claimed that the next-generation Xbox console could also support a dedicated gaming handheld device. Microsoft is working on its next home console, saying the system will offer the “largest technical leap” in Xbox history.
Microsoft stands apart from PlayStation and Nintendo in that it’s the only one of the so-called Big Three that has never released a dedicated portable gaming device–it seems it won’t be that way forever, though.
Also in the interview, Spencer talked about Microsoft’s mobile game store, noting that it’s been delayed to an unspecified point in the future. It was previously expected to launch this past July.
Spencer also talked about the possibility of making more acquisitions, saying he’s always considering options, but nothing is “imminent.” Additionally, Spencer said Halo 5 on PS5 has not been ruled out.