ASUS and Xbox Team Up for New Gaming Handheld

ASUS has teased a new gaming handheld that appears to be the Xbox handheld device codenamed "Project Kennan" that was previously leaked by Windows Central's Jez Corden.

The short teaser trailer posted on X (formerly Twitter) hints at an upgraded version of the ROG Ally gaming handheld with Xbox branding.

Xbox responded to the teaser with a telling "side-eye monkey puppet" meme, strongly suggesting their involvement in this new device. According to previous reports by Corden, ASUS is the hardware partner creating this crossover product.

The teaser video shows a small robot working at a computer before merging with a ROG Ally handheld. The screen briefly displays four key improvements: "marathon stamina," "faster speeds," "more capacity," and "fresh look!" This suggests the new device will feature longer battery life, better performance, increased storage, and a redesigned exterior compared to existing ROG Ally models.

Windows Central earlier reported that this handheld will be an Xbox-branded Windows PC device rather than a portable Xbox console. This means it will function more like a gaming PC with Xbox branding and features rather than a dedicated Xbox platform.

The gaming community has speculated that the device might include an Xbox button replacing one of the ROG Ally's existing Armory Crate buttons. It could also be part of the next generation of ROG Ally handhelds that will use AMD's new Ryzen Z2 chips, which would make it a very powerful portable gaming option.

Price estimates from insiders suggest the handheld might cost between $499 and $599, positioning it between the base model Steam Deck and the more expensive Lenovo Legion Go.

This announcement comes just days before Nintendo's expected Switch 2 reveal, which some view as a strategic move to generate competing excitement in the handheld gaming market.