Microsoft won’t be unveiling the much-talked-about Xbox handheld this year, it seems. However, rumors are swirling that a big reveal might be on the cards for 2025. The buzz around a handheld device from Xbox has been alive and kicking ever since Phil Spencer, Microsoft’s gaming head honcho, dropped some tantalizing hints earlier in the year.
This juicy piece of information comes straight out of the Xbox Two podcast on YouTube. Journalist Jez Corden weighed in, suggesting that we could be seeing new Xbox hardware making an appearance next year. He was quick to clarify, though, during a discussion about the upcoming Game Awards: don’t expect anything fresh in the hardware department when December 2024 rolls around.
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 even hinted that next June’s showcase might be where this mystery device finally breaks cover. But, let’s keep our feet on the ground for the moment—these are just whispers and everything is still under wraps from Xbox’s end.
In other Microsoft news, there’s an update in the tech realm that’s worth noting. The Prism emulator has received a boost with its latest preview build, numbered 27744. Now, it flexes its muscles by supporting more 64-bit x86 (x64) games and software. It also welcomes a suite of new extensions like AVX, AVX2, BMI, FMA, and F16C. This means that games like Helldivers 2 and Starfield, which rely on AVX2, are now running smoothly. For those who want to dive deeper into the technicalities, the full Insider preview build 27744 is available on the official website.
And just to throw in another intriguing tidbit, Microsoft’s CEO, Satya Nadella, has bagged a hefty $30 million pay raise, even while the gaming division faced significant layoffs this year.
