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 surfaced via the Indonesian certification office, which linked to a listing on the U.S.'s FCC website that appears to have been deleted.
While both devices feature buttons configured for Xbox (Y, B, A, and X, as opposed to PlayStation's triangle, circle, cross, and square, or Nintendo's X, A, B, and Y), the photo of the black variant is particularly noteworthy. It clearly shows an Xbox button, albeit without a defined 'X', positioned to the left, next to the thumbstick. At this stage, the tech specs are somewhat fragmented, making it unclear how they will perform or if there are any significant differences between the black and white versions.
According to Windows Central's Jez Corden, these devices are "currently being tested at Microsoft HQ rather openly as we speak," and he suggests that a reveal might be on the horizon for 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 development aligns with an earlier report from IGN about Microsoft’s video game hardware ambitions, which reportedly include a full next-gen Xbox for 2027 and an Xbox-branded gaming handheld that may launch 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, aligning 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."
