Microsoft’s head of Xbox, Phil Spencer, told IGN that he believes Microsoft “should” have a portable gaming device, renewing expectations that an Xbox-branded handheld could be on the horizon.
Spencer has dropped hints about portable hardware for months. Earlier this year he described himself as “a big fan of handheld devices” after interacting on X with posts speculating about such a product. In the recent interview he was more direct: “I think we should also have a portable device.”
Executive points to local play as a priority
When pressed on whether a potential Xbox handheld would stream games or run them locally, Spencer emphasized the importance of local play. He said he enjoys devices such as the ROG Ally, the Lenovo Legion Go and the Steam Deck and added, “I think being able to play locally is very important.”
That comment suggests Microsoft may be considering a handheld capable of running games natively rather than relying solely on cloud streaming.
Hints at a Windows-based handheld
Spencer previously mentioned wanting a compact “Xbox mode” on a gaming PC laptop earlier this year. While Microsoft has not confirmed any concrete plans, that remark — combined with his recent statements — could indicate a handheld built on Windows, effectively a portable PC configured to run Xbox games and include the full Xbox dashboard.
What this means for hardware strategy
Spencer also spoke broadly about hardware experimentation, saying the future in hardware “is incredible” and expressing excitement about the team’s work on different formats and ways to play. His remarks are the clearest public signal to date that Microsoft is seriously exploring a handheld form factor.
No official product announcement, timing, specifications or pricing has been provided by Microsoft. The comments preserve uncertainty but strengthen the possibility that an Xbox-branded, locally playable handheld — potentially running a Windows-based environment — could emerge from the company’s hardware roadmap.
