Microsoft is working on a portable Xbox, a console that is already in the prototype stage and could launch soon in 2026, according to new information published in the video at the end of this article. This date coincides with the current state of this project, which is still in its early stages, and which was clearly something that started completely from scratch, meaning that previous works that ended for one reason or another were not reused. to be eliminated.

Microsoft’s interest in portable Xbox is explained by significant growth which this market has experienced in recent years. Steam Deck was the pioneer that paved the way and gave impetus to the arrival of many consoles with a PC soul based on Windows 10 and Windows 11. Microsoft is taking a closer approach to Steam Deck, since its portable Xbox will come with its own operating system specialized in games.

There’s no doubting the importance of an operating system in a portable console, not just because it makes it possible optimize and reduce resource consumption, but also because it allows developers to more easily access all the ins and outs of the console, making game development easier. We can also expect customized hardware based on next-generation components, although there are still many doubts about this topic, and this is normal, since we are talking about a project that is more than two years away.

All in all, we can make a guess based on the release date we have on the table and the current situation that the Xbox Series S and Xbox Series X are in. Both consoles use AMD APUs, so it’s very likely that the Xbox Portable use AMD siliconbecause otherwise, Microsoft would have to create a new development kit to cover the needs of this new console, something that wouldn’t be practical or profitable, and that would make things difficult for developers.

The APU of this portable Xbox will be more advanced than that used by current consoles, and it is very likely that it will be based on Zen 5 CPU and on Radeon RDNA 4 or RDNA 5 GPU, both are adapted to adapt to the particularities of the laptop, both in terms of consumption and generated heat. Its RAM configuration should be 16 GB, but we cannot rule out that Microsoft will choose to mount a different configuration and accompany it with a high-performance SSD.

As for the power of that console, it’s very likely capable of moving 1080p games smoothly maintaining a good level of graphic quality. In general, we can expect a similar experience to what we would have with the Xbox Series S, although we cannot rule out that it will eventually be even better thanks to the advances that these new architectures will introduce.

It will be interesting to see if Microsoft decides for a hybrid design capable of functioning as a laptop as well as a desktop console, something that would make it a direct competitor to the Nintendo Switch 2. The big N console will have an advantage, as according to the latest information it will hit the market in early 2025.

AI generated images.