Sony and Microsoft’s Handheld Plans Spark Speculation

New Xbox Store branding has reignited rumors of a first-party Microsoft handheld, while Sony is also believed to be exploring its own portable gaming hardware.

It seems Sony and Microsoft are both eyeing the fast-growing portable gaming device market. While Sony has been the subject of years of speculation about a dedicated portable handheld hardware, Microsoft is now attracting more attention after a minor modification was spotted on its official Xbox Store.

This recent discovery has fans wondering if Microsoft is laying the basis for its own portable Xbox hardware. Fans were eagerly awaiting word on whether the studio would sever ties with its current alliances and develop a wholly original handheld system capable of competing in the increasingly crowded portable gaming industry.

Sources have notified Pure Xbox that the Xbox Store has been updated to include a new category named Xbox Handheld, along with other platform names like Xbox Series and Xbox on PC. 

Fans were startled to see the new feature so soon and speculated that it could be a placeholder for branding or an early hint of plans for new hardware. It’s in the same ballpark as big first-party games like Gears of War: E-Day and Halo: Combat Evolved, which makes it even more exciting. Microsoft has not commented on the listing, but its existence has generated discussion in the gaming industry about what might be in development.

Microsoft is already in the mobile space through its partnership with ASUS on the ROG Ally series, which includes the Xbox-branded ROG Ally X. But many people are still wondering whether the firm will release its own portable game system rather than only partnering with other companies to produce hardware.

Earlier comments from Xbox executives, such as Phil Spencer, have fueled rumors.

Microsoft executives have mentioned in the past that they’re interested in handheld games, but the company has yet to publicly unveil a dedicated, in-house-manufactured Xbox portable system. At this time, the newly discovered Xbox Store logo is a hint, not proof.

It's unclear whether this refers to a new Microsoft handheld device or simply that the company is supporting more portable game systems. Sony is also rumored to be working on its own handheld technology, which could make the portable game business more competitive in the coming years. Until Microsoft makes an official announcement, fans will have to wait and see where they are going with this.