AI Render VisualizationIn a blink-and-youll-miss-it moment that set gaming forums ablaze, the NBC Today Show may have accidentally pulled back the curtain on one of Microsofts most tightly kept secrets. While touring a confidential Xbox hardware lab, the camera briefly panned to Phil Spencers officean area known for housing Xbox relics and early design experiments. Among the memorabilia sat something far more curious: a handheld console with Xbox branding that doesnt match any known prototype, including the rumored Project Kennan.For years, whispers of a portable Xbox have floated through the gaming world, sometimes surfacing as patents or vague interviews. This time, the evidence was visual. The device shown had a familiar layoutyour standard face buttons, analog sticks, and directional padbut with an unusual pair of buttons placed below the right stick. That detail stood out because it didnt align with known handhelds like the Asus ROG Ally or even the Kishi V2 controller. If it were simply a third-party gadget, it would be odd to see it so prominently displayed in Spencers workspace.Designer: XboxSneak peek shown during interview by NBC TodayThe speculation machine kicked into high gear almost immediately. Notably, this handheld doesnt resemble the white Asus-made prototype recently teased online, which many believe is Project Kennan. That device, expected to run a Windows-based platform with an Xbox-specific UI, has been anticipated as Microsofts official answer to Steam Deck and ROG Ally dominance. But what Spencer had might suggest something either earlier in the dev cycleor a different approach entirely.AI Render VisualizationIt wouldnt be the first time Microsoft tested competing ideas under the same umbrella. During a 2024 podcast, Xbox insider Jez Corden mentioned several portable Xbox prototypes floating around internally. Some of those designs were shared privately, and at least one bears a strong resemblance to the mystery device shown in the NBC segment. Spencer himself has alluded to a desire for a handheld console, often referencing a hybrid design that borrows the best from both Windows and Xbox platforms.AI Render VisualizationWhat makes this sighting fascinating is its context. NBCs tour wasnt about announcing hardwareit was framed around showing the behind-the-scenes process of testing and validating Xbox peripherals. Seeing a potential next-gen product in that environment suggests its in active evaluation, not just some archival curiosity. Everything on Spencers shelves is deliberate, often foreshadowing what Microsoft is cooking up.AI Render VisualizationWhile we only caught the right half of the device, its physical presence raises real questions. Is this a shelved concept? A backup plan if Project Kennan falters? Or a step beyond it? Some fans think the layout implies a more gamepad-centric experience than the current PC-first handhelds. It might be optimized for streaming or even native gameplay, something more plug-and-play for casual users rather than the tinkering crowd drawn to SteamOS or Windows handhelds.AI Render VisualizationThe broader implication is clear: Xbox isnt content staying stationary. Handheld gaming is surging again (especially with the Switch 2 just getting officially announced last week), and Microsoft has the software library, infrastructure, and nowpotentiallythe hardware to make a serious play. Between Xbox Cloud Gaming, Game Pass, and a growing appetite for on-the-go experiences, a portable device could tighten the ecosystem while expanding Xboxs reach to new audiences.Image source: ThinkComputersWe may not see this particular handheld on shelves anytime soon. It could be a relic from a branch of development thats since pivoted. Or it might resurface, refined and ready, when the timing aligns with the next major Xbox cycle. Whats certain is that the door is wide openand the race for the perfect Xbox handheld is heating up behind it.The post Next-Gen Xbox Handheld Leaked? NBC Today Show Accidentally Reveals Mysterious New Device first appeared on Yanko Design.