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

It looks like the rumor mill is buzzing once more, and the chatter is all about a potential Xbox handheld. Asus has thrown some fuel on this fire by releasing a tantalizing teaser on its social media platform, X (formerly known as Twitter).

In this intriguing video, we see an animated robot busy programing enhancements on a terminal. Just as it’s set to implement these upgrades, in comes a device resembling an ROG Ally X gaming console and an ROG Raikiri Pro controller, crashing into the scene. When the dust settles, lo and behold, the robot transforms into something that closely resembles the company’s high-end handheld gaming system.

Adding a touch of drama to this digital narrative, Microsoft’s official Xbox account chimed in with the notorious side-eye emoji. There hasn’t been any formal announcement yet, but this wink from Xbox seems to hint at Project Kennan. Notably, this project is a collaboration with Asus aiming to bring Xbox and Windows together on a unified platform.

While both Asus and Microsoft are keeping their cards close to their chests, the teaser does give gaming enthusiasts a hint of what might be coming. We’re potentially looking at a new Xbox handheld boasting a more extended battery life, improved performance, and greater storage capacity, all wrapped in a fresh design.

Asus chose to drop this teaser on March 31, 2025, at 2 PM EST, clearly planning ahead to avoid any confusion with the usual April Fool’s Day antics from the tech world. This approach echoes how they introduced the ROG Ally a few April Fools’ Days past, suggesting the teased handheld might indeed be the real deal.

Interestingly, the timing coincides with the much-awaited reveal of the Switch 2 at Nintendo Direct on April 2. Asus might be strategically positioning itself to captivate the attention of gamers, though it’s unlikely to diminish the excitement of die-hard Nintendo fans. That said, the buzz around this tease might still intrigue PC gamers and portable gaming aficionados.

We’re realistically not anticipating a new Xbox console until around 2027, so the introduction of an ‘Xbox handheld’ would certainly be a welcome surprise. The hope of many gamers is clear: they wish for this device to support native Xbox game play rather than just serving as a Windows 11 device with an Xbox look slapped on.