Insider Suggests Microsoft Gaming Handheld Launching in 2025: Here’s the Scoop

Microsoft seems to be keeping its cards close to the chest when it comes to the much-discussed Xbox handheld, as no announcements about it will be coming this year. However, there’s a buzz in the air suggesting we might finally witness a reveal in 2025. Fans have been speculating about a handheld console for a while now, especially after Phil Spencer, Microsoft’s CEO of Gaming, dropped some intriguing hints earlier this year.

On the Xbox Two podcast over on YouTube, journalist Jez Corden chimed in with his take on the situation, suggesting we could possibly anticipate new Xbox hardware next year. He chatted about the potential reveal happening at the Game Awards, but also put the brakes on any expectations of it happening this December in 2024.

Corden remarked, “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 teased that the June showcase next year might just be the platform for unveiling this mysterious device. However, take all this with a grain of salt, as Xbox has yet to officially confirm any of these details.

On another note, Microsoft’s Prism emulator has received an exciting update with its preview build 27744. This new build has expanded its horizons, now supporting more 64-bit x86 (x64) games and software. The update is particularly notable as it introduces support for extensions like AVX, AVX2, BMI, FMA, F16C, among others. Thanks to this update, games such as Helldivers 2 and Starfield, which rely on AVX2, are now within reach for those eager to play. Curious to dive deeper? You can check out the full details of Insider preview build 27744 on Microsoft’s official site.

In other news, Microsoft’s CEO Satya Nadella has reportedly received a $30 million pay raise, marking a stark contrast to a year filled with significant layoffs in the gaming sector.