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In a video, BBC’s Tom Gerken takes a close look at Xbox’s Ally X handheld, detailing the device and covering a lot of what we already know.
The video offers a mix of hands-on testing and general impressions of how the gaming handheld performs across different PC titles, with the on-the-street footage showing how well it handles Game Pass cloud gaming and a range of Windows games.
More interestingly, Jason Ronald, the VP of Xbox Gaming Devices and Ecosystem, also took the spotlight briefly to discuss the handheld and give a few small teases about what fans can expect from Xbox next year as it approaches its 25th anniversary.
Jason’s comments and hints at Xbox’s future
Jason laments how now felt like the right time for Xbox to enter the handheld territory, stating:
We’re always thinking about what the future of gaming is and new ways for people to be able to play.
Jason Ronald
He frames the current moment as the point where player behaviour, industry trends, and technology finally align in a way that makes a handheld Xbox device viable for consumers.
However, the most interesting comments were made when Gerken questioned Jason directly on whether backwards compatibility will be expanded. He asked, “Child me would be so unhappy if I didn't press you on this point. You know, are you going to bring more original Xbox games to Game Pass in the future?”
Jason gave a fairly ambiguous response, not saying a lot but also saying enough to give me and many others hope:
I can’t announce anything today but in 2026 it’s the 25th anniversary of Xbox and we want to celebrate the great legacy and the history that we have with Xbox as well as defining the future for where the Xbox ecosystem is going.
Jason Ronald
Microsoft Jason Ronald with BBC on 25th Anniversary: "We want to celebrate the legacy" of Xbox "as well as define the future of where the Xbox ecosystem is going" "I can't confirm or deny what you are asking, but stay tuned we have a lot of exciting things to share next year." pic.twitter.com/XjsLorJZkODecember 9, 2025
He further goes on to add, “I can’t confirm or deny what you’re asking, but stay tuned. We have a lot of exciting things to share next year.”
It’s not a lot, sure, but it’s enough for me at least to have hope that we’ll see some sort of expansion to backwards compatibility. And with Xbox’s 25th anniversary around the corner, we might not have to wait much longer to find out. With so many Activision games now under the Xbox umbrella, that alone would make for a hefty addition if it ever happened.
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