More rumors have emerged surrounding an Xbox handheld console, this time supported by the infamous leaker Tom Henderson.
Towards the end of 2023 an internal Xbox presentation was leaked to the press, which contained a slide addressing the company's future console plans. According to this document, Xbox want to release a handheld device for less than $100, or "Thin OS" as they describe it.
We would be very surprised if the Xbox Portable (or whatever they call it) really is that cheap, but we're getting promising signs that an Xbox handheld is on the way. At least, that's what one of the industry's biggest leakers seems to think.
Xbox Apparently Working On A Handheld
Tom Warren, a senior editor at The Verge, recently tweeted about his dream for a handheld Xbox console:
If Microsoft does end up doing an Xbox handheld my ideal would be one that has the Xbox OS and UI, access to Xbox games, and even PC ones with Windows underneath.
And to this, the infamous leaker Tom Henderson responded: "=)".
Yep, just a smiley face. But this is Tom's MO; he likes to give leaks away with visual cues rather than being direct. Although the message here is clear: Yes, an Xbox handheld like Warren describes is in development.
We think this might be an evolution of Xbox's original plan for a "Thin OS". Given PS Portal's relatively insignificant release, and the continued success of powerful, handheld PC devices, it seems that Xbox have decided to go down the latter route with their own device.
Having a portable console that could use the Xbox UI, but also had "Windows Underneath" would be an absolute game changer. It would offer the accessibility of the Switch with the high-end potential of the Steam Deck.
Can We Trust Tom Henderson?
Tom Henderson is a leaker who originated on Twitter and then created his own website (InsiderGaming). He became famous in 2021 with his leaks about Battlefield 2042, and while he was profoundly wrong about how good the game would be (it sucked), he clearly knew somebody at DICE that was willing to sharing confidential information. He was the first person to leak certain details about the game that later turned out to be true, and so at the very least we can say Tom Henderson has connections to people within the industry.
Since 2021 he has broadened his scope. He has given various leaks to the community about other games and products, and while the bulk of these claims are yet to be proven, some have come true. For instance, he seems to have been correct about the PlayStation Portal.
However, Tom Henderson's leaks have also been proven wrong. His prediction about the GTA Trilogy release schedule was incorrect, and his claims about Bully 2 also turned out to be false. It might just be that his Rockstar source is a lot worse than his DICE source, but we think it's important you have a full picture on how credible he is.
What do you think about an Xbox handheld? Is this a device you would be interested in?