Asus Unveils Teaser for ‘Kennan’ Xbox Handheld Ahead of Switch 2 Launch

There’s been a lot of buzz lately about the possibility of an Xbox handheld console, and Asus just added fuel to the fire by releasing a teaser on its X platform (which you might remember as Twitter).

The teaser video features an animated robot working on upgrading itself with a terminal. Just as things are about to get interesting, what appears to be an ROG Ally X gaming console and an ROG Raikiri Pro controller drop into the shot. The surprise arrival transforms the robot into a gaming console that bears a striking resemblance to Asus’s latest high-end handheld device.

What really caught everyone’s attention, though, was a cheeky response from the official Xbox account, which posted a side-eye meme. While nothing has been officially declared, this interaction seems to point towards Project Kennan—a new gaming handheld Microsoft is rumored to be developing with Asus. This device aims to integrate the Xbox and Windows experiences into a single platform.

Even though details are scant, the teaser provided a glimpse of what we might expect from this future Xbox handheld. Some highlights include extended battery life, improved performance, more storage, and a fresh design.

Asus dropped this teaser on March 31, 2025, at 2 p.m. EST, likely to ensure it wouldn’t be mistaken for an April Fool’s joke. After all, many tech companies enjoy a good prank this time of year. However, looking back at their April 1 reveal of the ROG Ally a couple of years ago, it seems this new Xbox console announcement is the real deal.

Interestingly, the announcement is carefully timed, as Nintendo is expected to unveil the much-anticipated Switch 2 at Nintendo Direct on April 2. Asus’s move appears to be a strategic play to grab attention ahead of Nintendo’s big reveal. While it might have stirred interest among PC and handheld gamers, it’s uncertain if it will sway die-hard Nintendo fans.

Although we don’t anticipate seeing a new Xbox console launch until 2027, the concept of an ‘Xbox handheld’ has us intrigued. We hope this device will support Xbox games natively, rather than simply being a Windows 11 device with some Xbox branding on it.