Xbox lets slip major plans ahead of potential handheld launch
Microsoft accidentally posts a marketing image before pulling it down again


Quick Summary
Microsoft has accidentally posted a marketing image showing a new Xbox UI with a tag for "Steam" games.
That lends further weight behind claims that an official Xbox gaming handheld could be coming this year.
It's common knowledge that Xbox is planning its own gaming handheld, with experts suggesting that the new console, codenamed "Project Kennan", could come as soon as this year. Now there's further evidence to support it.
Microsoft itself has let slip a major step in the process, by posting a marketing image online that shows Steam integration within the Xbox Windows app.
Spotted by The Verge before it was taken down again, the image appeared in an official Xbox blog post. It showed a montage of devices running the Xbox platform under the tagline "Opening a Billion Doors with Xbox" and included an Asus ROG Ally – the device thought to be the blueprint for Kennan.
However, that's not even the interesting bit.
In the background is a new Xbox UI running on a TV and you can clearly see a tag for "Steam". That is a massive hint that Steam integration is coming to Xbox and there's one distinct device type that would certainly benefit.
As The Verge notes, the same Steam tag can be seen on the ROG Ally handheld.
The marketing image looks more like a mockup than a full reveal, but as it was posted by the company itself, there's no reason to doubt its validity. That it was also pulled from the post soon after suggests it was mistakenly added, and there are things in it that aren't meant to be public knowledge yet.
Sign up to the T3 newsletter for smarter living straight to your inbox
Get all the latest news, reviews, deals and buying guides on gorgeous tech, home and active products from the T3 experts
Sources have told The Verge that there is definitely a planned update to the Xbox app in the pipeline, and it could show you all of the games you have installed on your PC, not just those from Xbox or PC Game Pass.
That would make sense considering the leak, but it also nicely fits with a dedicated Xbox gaming handheld UI, don't you think?

Rik is T3’s news editor, which means he looks after the news team and the up-to-the-minute coverage of all the hottest gadgets and products you’ll definitely want to read about. And, with more than 35 years of experience in tech and entertainment journalism, including editing and writing for numerous websites, magazines, and newspapers, he’s always got an eye on the next big thing.
Rik also has extensive knowledge of AV, TV streaming and smart home kit, plus just about everything to do with games since the late 80s. Prior to T3, he spent 13 years at Pocket-lint heading up its news team, and was a TV producer and presenter on such shows as Channel 4's GamesMaster, plus Sky's Games World, Game Over, and Virtual World of Sport.
You must confirm your public display name before commenting
Please logout and then login again, you will then be prompted to enter your display name.
-
Xbox's new handheld looks super-powerful but there's one thing that really worries me
The Xbox Ally handhelds tick many (X)boxes, but are they really Steam Deck beaters?
-
Copilot for Xbox starts to roll out – just don't expect it to cheat for you
If you’ve been waiting for AI to land on Xbox, then today is your lucky day
-
Xbox Game Pass has been great, but May's free games are the best I've ever seen
It's a great time to be an Xbox Game Pass subscriber, that's for sure
-
Xbox's first official handheld revealed in major image leak, and it's not what we expected
Project Kennan has appeared in an FCC filing – also suggests that it could be coming soon
-
Xbox Series X/S – how to beat the brutal price hike
Xbox is raising its prices globally, but you can still get deals if you're quick
-
New Xbox controllers could embrace tech Google ditched years ago
Rumours abound that Microsoft will launch three new controllers, one with Cloud Gaming at its heart
-
3 best Xbox Series X/S games you've probably never heard of
There’s a lot more than Forza and Starfield to Xbox gaming, and we’ve picked out three absolute belters you may have missed
-
Xbox Series X/S storage space problems solved by a sneaky Xbox Game Pass update
You may never have to buy external storage again