Xbox’s “Project Kennan” PC gaming handheld leaks in new photos, alongside the ROG Ally 2

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Accidentally, the Federal Communications Commission (FFC) in the United States revealed a handheld gaming device developed by Xbox in partnership with ASUS, codenamed Project Kennan.

Recently, we unveiled an exclusive insight into Project Kennan a few weeks back. This handheld PC gaming device, similar to the ASUS ROG Ally, is rumored to carry some Xbox-inspired elements, particularly in its grips, and may offer more extensive Xbox integration compared to its standard ASUS ROG Ally counterpart.

Thanks to the United States FFC (via VideoCardz), it seems photographs of the device have leaked.

The leak from the FCC suggests that it may reveal two different models. One of them resembles the ASUS ROG Ally 2 with a white exterior, while the black model appears to be identified as Project Kennan, which I’ve heard is undergoing testing at Microsoft Headquarters quite openly at this time.

On the top-left corner of the black model, there seems to be a button specifically for Xbox, despite it not being fully painted. A distinct “X” engraving is noticeable, though. I had hoped the design would lean more towards Xbox aesthetics, but remember, these are ASUS products at heart.

As a tech enthusiast, it’s nearly certain that these devices are running full-fledged Windows 11, but there’s an exciting possibility that Microsoft could unveil new gaming-focused features at Build 2025 in May. Coincidentally, Computex is scheduled for the very next day, making it a prime platform for ASUS to debut these new devices. If I were to speculate, it seems plausible that both Microsoft and ASUS might unveil their respective products on May 20th. The former could be highlighting new dedicated Xbox gaming features for Windows 11 PC gaming handhelds, while the latter could be focusing specifically on the ROG Ally 2 and its hardware.

The ASUS ROG Ally version of Xbox won’t have the capability to play every game from your Xbox console. However, it should be able to run all games available on the Microsoft Store for Xbox Play Anywhere, which has experienced significant growth in support due to PC Game Pass. Additionally, it will be compatible with Steam, Epic Games Store, and most other popular PC games, provided they are reasonable in terms of system requirements. The highly anticipated Xbox handheld from Microsoft, expected to launch in 2027, is likely where the ability to play all console games may eventually be found.

As for the specifications of the Kennan and the ASUS ROG Ally 2, we’re still in the dark about those details. However, it’s reasonable to expect that their performance will match or even surpass that of the current ASUS ROG Ally, possibly offering improved battery efficiency and optimization.

Last week, during the unveiling of Gears of War: Reloaded, Microsoft introduced an informal label for their PC-related projects as “Xbox PC”. It’s believed that this is the term Microsoft now uses internally to refer to Xbox’s efforts in the PC realm. The newly Xbox-styled ASUS ROG Ally could be the initial device showcasing this new “Xbox PC” label, although Microsoft also employs a “designed for Xbox” branding that they often apply to partner devices like headsets and controllers.

The main issue that stands out, nonetheless, is cost. Given the ongoing trade disputes between the U.S. and manufacturing countries such as China, it’s not unreasonable to anticipate that this gadget might not be inexpensive or within reach for many consumers. It will be intriguing to observe how its pricing turns out. In fact, Microsoft recently increased the baseline cost of Xbox consoles just a week ago.

It’s likely that ASUS and Microsoft will reveal more attractive visuals since the dusty images have been released unintentionally. In the meantime, I’m curious about your thoughts. Feel free to share them in the comments section below.

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2025-05-07 09:17