Xbox Handheld Confirmed for Gen 10 Device Family

Microsoft's next-generation Xbox plans are expected to include a family of devices under the Gen 10 lineup, with Project Helix at the center of the next console generation. Recent comments from Xbox leadership suggest that the lineup will extend beyond a traditional console, with handheld gaming and partnerships with other hardware manufacturers also playing a role.

Asha Sharma discussed Xbox's future at an internal town hall meeting, where she talked about the Gen 10 lineup, the next generation of consoles centered on Project Helix. The comments reconfirm rumors from a while back that described the next Xbox generation as a family of devices.

Xbox Gen 10 Will Include a Family of Devices

Sharma has now confirmed that Gen 10 Xbox Helix will be a family of devices, starting with a console. She explained that Microsoft plans to deliver a great console first, but also recognizes that many players will want to play on the go. This suggests that a handheld device will be part of the lineup. Sharma later expanded on the plans, saying no single device fits everyone.

Microsoft will focus on building the products it can manufacture best while partnering with other companies for devices where those partnerships make more sense. She also said that the operating system is starting to look good and that the company is excited about its plans. The comments suggest that Microsoft's next Xbox generation will include more than one form factor.

Microsoft already partners with ASUS for the Xbox Ally handhelds. Since their launch, there has been ongoing discussion about whether the relationship would continue or remain a one-time collaboration. At one point, the partnership appeared unlikely to continue. The concern centered on the Xbox full-screen experience, a version of Windows initially expected to remain exclusive to the Xbox Ally devices.

At the launch event, ASUS said the feature would be exclusive for 12 months. That period later shrank to six months after Lenovo announced the feature would arrive on its own handheld devices within six months. The Windows team then made the feature available through the Insider program before the planned release, effectively bringing it to existing handhelds before the device that introduced it had even launched.

Could Xbox Ally Devices Receive Annual Hardware Updates?

Another question is whether Microsoft and ASUS will release a new Xbox Ally every year. PC manufacturers frequently introduce new devices when new hardware becomes available. The PC market operates differently from the console market, where hardware generations often last seven or eight years. Consoles generally stay tied to a generation, while PC hardware can be updated more often.

This raises the possibility of annual upgrades for Xbox-branded handhelds. For enthusiasts, yearly updates could encourage them to buy a new device. Someone who hasn't bought a handheld might enter the market when a new model offers better performance. PC gamers also upgrade on different schedules. Although manufacturers may release new hardware every year, individual users might replace their devices every four years or follow another upgrade cycle.

This means annual hardware releases could serve different customer groups without requiring everyone to upgrade at the same time. Microsoft's PC-focused position makes this approach possible. An Xbox-branded handheld could give enthusiasts a platform to upgrade their hardware more often than traditional console owners.

Microsoft's comments indicate that Gen 10 will not be limited to a single console.

The company is planning a family of devices, and its acknowledgment of players who want to game on the go suggests a handheld will be part of that strategy. The continued Xbox Ally partnership also suggests that Microsoft is willing to work with hardware manufacturers rather than produce every device itself.

Microsoft has not announced the exact lineup, and questions remain about hardware configurations, pricing, and which companies will participate. However, the comments make clear that Microsoft's next-generation plans extend beyond a traditional console to include a broader range of gaming devices.