According to Jez Corden, a reporter for Windows Central, Microsoft Xbox's previous leadership had planned to launch a first-party handheld device, with its budget proposal approved by CEO Satya Nadella. However, following the leadership transition, the company's current hardware strategy remains unclear.
During an appearance on the 'Xbox Two' podcast, Korden addressed related rumors, noting reports that a new Xbox handheld might launch before Microsoft's next-generation console project, "Helix." However, according to his understanding, the original plan was for the console to launch first, with the handheld following up depending on the situation.
"The last time I heard related news was before the new management took office. At that time, the plan prioritized Project Helix, and any handheld project would have been considered only afterward," Korden said.
He further confirmed that launching a first-party handheld was indeed part of the previous leadership's established plans.
"I can confirm that the previous management was indeed pushing forward with the first-party handheld project. That was the planned roadmap at the time, and the budget proposal had already been approved by Satya and others," Korden stated.
Korden also cautioned that strategies may have shifted following the leadership change, leaving open the possibility that the handheld's release could be delayed or even canceled outright.
He also stated that recent rumors may point to a different collaboration model, rather than the initially planned in-house device. One possibility he proposed is that ASUS and Microsoft could collaborate to launch this first-party handheld, potentially using AMD's future new chips for the processor.