ASUS Xbox Handheld First Images Leak Online

It looks like photos of ASUS' Xbox-branded handheld device, codenamed Project Kennan, have leaked online. As first reported by 91mobiles and spotted by Eurogamer, two images of the ASUS ROG Ally 2 device — one white, one black — seem to have gone public via the Indonesian certification office, which linked to (seemingly now deleted) a listing on the U.S.'s FCC website.

Both versions feature buttons configured for Xbox, using Y, B, A, and X, in contrast to PlayStation's triangle, circle, cross, and square, or Nintendo's X, A, B, and Y. The photo of the black variant is particularly interesting, as it includes a prominent Xbox button, albeit one without a defined 'X', positioned to the left next to the thumbstick. While the tech specs are currently sparse, it's unclear if there are significant differences between the black and white models.

According to Windows Central's Jez Corden, the devices are "currently being tested at Microsoft HQ rather openly as we speak," suggesting a possible reveal around May 20.

Photos of Xbox's "Project Kennan" seem to have leaked. https://t.co/fQiMISNMJZ

— Jez (@JezCorden) May 7, 2025

Last month, ASUS Republic of Gamers' X/Twitter account shared a teaser offering a brief glimpse at both a Republic of Gamers (ROG) Xbox controller and handheld system. The official Xbox account acknowledged the tweet with a cheeky wide-eyed gif, hinting at an upcoming formal reveal.

This follows an earlier report from IGN on Microsoft’s video game hardware ambitions, which include a full next-gen Xbox planned for 2027 and an Xbox-branded gaming handheld potentially launching later in 2025.

While this particular Xbox-branded gaming handheld is not a Microsoft-made console, the company is reportedly planning to launch one of its own in 2027, potentially alongside its next-gen Xbox. Microsoft gaming boss Phil Spencer recently indicated that a first-party Xbox handheld is years away.

Speaking of which, the successor to the Xbox Series X is now allegedly "fully" in production and due out in two years. This aligns with Xbox president Sarah Bond's recent comments that Microsoft was "moving full speed ahead on our next generation hardware," focused on delivering the biggest technological leap ever in a generation.