With the success and spotlight on the Nintendo Switch and PlayStations Portable console... could it finally be Xbox's time to shine? We've heard some recent rumours about a couple of possible new Xbox consoles that are rumoured to be released in 2027, and it's time to take a look! So here's what to expect from Xbox's latest console.
Please note: Everything in this blog is currently based on rumours, there's been no official confirmation on a new Xbox console and all information we've mentioned is based on our own opinions, online speculation and debates.
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Is Xbox coming out with a handheld device?
First up let's take a look at the console we're most curious about, Xbox's handheld console. This console is believed to be in production right now with a chance we could hear an announcement on it sometime this year! It's being described as an Xbox Series X/S Handheld Edition, although we think the console will have a new name, considering Xbox's previous console names.
Currently, the console's been given the nickname Kennan, and Kennan will be worked on alongside an Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) that's speculated to be ASUS, again there're no further details on this. The rumour of this new handheld device originated from online tech news blogger, Windows Central, who is very credible in terms of tech news, reviews and updates. A lot of other news pages have also reported on the handheld console, so we can assume there's some truth behind these rumours.
So let's talk about what we could see from this console. Obviously, in terms of design, we expect the handheld will follow the same design layout as the Nintendo Switch and PlayStation Portal, plus any other handheld console. It'll have a large touchscreen in the centre with gaming controllers attached to each side to play with. We think the console will be majority black with some little green aspects to hint at Xbox's brand colours, we think this because the Switch 2 adopted an all-black design, with blue and red brand colour accents that were widely praised by audiences for being sleek and modern with a touch of the original console design elements. Finally, with Xbox being very PC-orientated we believe this handheld will also be compatible with the PC and offer Microsoft Sore and PC Game Pass automatically included.
What is the order of the Xbox consoles?
- Xbox - 2001
- Xbox 360 - 2005
- Xbox Kinect - 2010
- Xbox One - 2013
- Xbox One S - 2016
- Xbox Series X/S - 2020
- Series X/S Digital - 2024
- NEW CONSOLE? - 2027?
Is Xbox coming out with a new console soon?
Next up is the console that has been in talks for the last year or so, Xbox's next-gen console. It's been 5 years since Xbox released the X/S Series, and usually, it takes them about 7 years to create their next console. (We know this because the Xbox One was released in 2013 and the Series X/S was released in 2020.) So we know the rumoured 2027 release date is likely. There's very little we know about this alleged upcoming console, considering Xbox changed the name of their console, unlike the Switch and Switch 2 and PS5, PS4 and PS3 consoles, we can't even guess the release date, price, specs or features.
The only aspect we're going off is the fact that Xbox released their updated Series X/S console in 2024, the digital-only edition with additional storage space, so could this new console be digital only? There's also been talk about the console being 'fully greenlit all the way up to CEO Satya Nadella'. In the announcement they described the model as a 'console' not 'consoles', so there's also a chance we could only see 1 release.
Unfortunately, that's all we know about the new Xbox console, we'll keep an eye out for what new updates are made.
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Conclusion:
Xbox have rarely released anything over the last 10 years in terms of hardware (specifically only 2 main consoles and 2 digital editions) so a new console on the horizon and a possible handset are great developments for the company.
Nintendo has constantly been releasing new consoles, OLED editions, special editions and various controllers. Xbox needed to step up their game and follow Nintendo's steps or risk the chance of becoming obsolete.
