Asus Teases Xbox ‘Kennan’ Handheld Ahead of Switch 2 Release

There’s been quite the buzz in the gaming world about a possible Xbox handheld device, and Asus has just added fuel to the fire with a teaser on their X account, formerly known as Twitter.

The teaser video is rather intriguing, featuring an animated robot tinkering with some improvements at a terminal. Just when it’s about to upgrade itself, a gadget resembling an ROG Ally X gaming console and an ROG Raikiri Pro controller tumbles in alongside our mechanical friend. When the dust clears, the robot morphs into what looks like a gaming console, bearing a striking resemblance to Asus’s leading handheld model.

What really caught everyone’s attention was when the official Xbox account cheekily responded with the famous side-eye meme. While nothing concrete has been confirmed, this interaction likely hints at Project Kennan. This is the gaming handheld that Microsoft is rumored to be developing in collaboration with Asus, aiming to merge the Xbox and Windows platforms into a singular experience.

Neither Asus nor Xbox has spilled specific details yet, but the teaser does give us some exciting clues. We might be looking at a handheld that boasts longer battery life, enhanced performance, and more storage, all wrapped up in a sleek new design.

The timing of this teaser is quite clever as well. Asus shared the video on March 31, 2025, at 2 pm EST. Clearly, they wanted to avoid any confusion with an April Fool’s joke, which is typical when companies pull such pranks. Despite the timing, this reveal seems legitimate, much like Asus’s announcement of the ROG Ally a few years back on April 1.

Interestingly, this all coincides with the much-anticipated announcement of the Switch 2, expected at Nintendo Direct on April 2. Asus’s timing might be a strategic move to grab some attention and maybe, just maybe, ruffle a few feathers among both PC gamers and handheld gaming fans. However, it’s unlikely to sway the die-hard Nintendo fans from their beloved brand.

We’re not guessing an entirely new Xbox console will drop until 2027, but a handheld offering would certainly be exciting news. Hopefully, it’ll support native Xbox games rather than just operating as a Windows 11 device with an Xbox-themed interface. Here’s to hoping this new endeavor bridges that gaming gap successfully.