ASUS Xbox Handheld Design Images Leak

It has been discovered that images of ASUS' Xbox handheld device, with the codename "Project Kennan," have apparently surfaced online.

According to the initial report from 91mobiles, shared by Eurogamer, there are two photos of the device – one white and one black – that appear to have been made public through an Indonesian regulatory body. The images were linked to a listing on the U.S. FCC website, which now seems to have been deleted.

Both models feature buttons laid out like an Xbox controller (Y, B, A, X), rather than PlayStation or Nintendo configurations. The black version is particularly notable because it clearly shows an Xbox guide button to the left of the thumbstick, though without a defined ‘X’ logo. Detailed technical specifications are still limited, so it's not entirely clear how the devices will perform or if the two color variants have any significant differences.

In a related development, Windows Central's Jez Corden reported that the hardware "is currently being openly tested at Microsoft HQ," and he suggested a reveal could take place around May 20.

Photos of Xbox's "Project Kennan" seem to have leaked. https://t.co/fQiMISNMJZ

— Jez (@JezCorden) May 7, 2025

Last month, the official ASUS Republic of Gamers Twitter account shared a teaser showing a quick look at an ROG Xbox controller and handheld device. The official Xbox account responded to the tweet with an expressive wide-eyed GIF, hinting that an official announcement may be coming soon.

This lines up with an earlier IGN report about Microsoft’s video game hardware plans, which are said to include a full next-generation Xbox for 2027, and an Xbox-branded portable gaming system that could launch later in 2025.

It should be noted that this Xbox-branded portable is not a Microsoft-made device, but the company is reportedly working on its own first-party handheld, expected in 2027, possibly alongside the next Xbox. Microsoft gaming head Phil Spencer recently noted that an official Xbox handheld is still years away.

In other news, the successor to the Xbox Series X is now said to be "fully" in production and slated for release in two years. This aligns with Xbox president Sarah Bond's recent statement that Microsoft is "moving full speed ahead on our next-generation hardware, which is being designed to deliver the largest technological leap ever seen in a console generation."