Case in point: the Xbox handheld. Rumors of some kind of Microsoft-made competitor to the Game Boy have been floating around since the original Xbox launched more than 20 years ago. And for even longer, anyone who tries to step up to Nintendo on its stomping ground — including Sega, Sony, and Nokia — gets, well, stomped.

Xbox chief Phil Spencer elaborates on the often rumored Xbox handheld, as Steam Deck and Windows PC gaming devices boom in popularity.

Xbox executive Phil Spencer hinted at this possibility in an interview with Bloomberg that was published on Wednesday. As he put it, the "expectation is that [Xbox] would do something" in the handheld gaming market and the company is working on prototypes right now.

While the company has not announced concrete plans for a dedicated handheld device, presumably like the Steam Deck or ASUS ROG Ally, Spencer confirmed that Microsoft is actively prototyping and researching the market.

Microsoft Gaming CEO Phil Spencer both acknowledged and poured cold water on persistent rumors about an imminent Xbox handheld announcement during a recent interview with Bloomberg. “[E]xpectation is that we would do something,

Microsoft Gaming boss Phil Spencer has confirmed the company’s plan to release an Xbox handheld, but stressed it’s years away from release. In an interview with Bloomberg, Spencer said the “expectation is that we would do something” in the handheld game devices category,