Microsoft has offered a subtle yet significant glimpse into the future of Xbox while unveiling its collaboration with Asus to launch two Xbox-branded Ally handhelds later this year. Though the devices technically run on Windows, Microsoft is blurring the line between PC and console with a custom-built, full-screen Xbox UI that launches at boot, bypassing the traditional Windows desktop entirely.
During the reveal, Microsoft confidently declared, “This is an Xbox,” one that expands beyond the living room console to include a multi-device ecosystem. The company’s focus appears to be moving from fixed hardware toward a platform that follows players everywhere, including portable PCs and cloud-enabled devices.
These handhelds, while built by Asus, come with deep integration from Microsoft’s Xbox and Windows teams. Users will boot directly into an Xbox-like interface, using the Xbox app to access their game libraries, including Xbox Game Pass, Steam, and apps like Discord.
The unveiling was accompanied by an 11-minute behind-the-scenes video, echoing the dramatic production style of the Xbox One X (“Project Scorpio”) reveal in 2016. Veteran designer Carl Ledbetter, who helped shape the Xbox 360 Slim and Xbox One X, described the project as a “breakthrough moment for Xbox.”