Bloomberg has published a new interview with Phil Spencer, one in which the Microsoft Gaming CEO confirmed that an Xbox handheld is, while “a few years out,” currently being considered and in early development. Elsewhere in the interview, Spencer mentions that Xbox is open to bringing any of its exclusive games to rival platforms, which would include Sony’s PlayStation consoles and the Nintendo Switch. The “next version of Halo” was specifically mentioned by Spencer before the executive went on to say that the “Xbox business has never been more healthy.”
The executive, who has repeatedly professed his admiration for handheld game devices, said the “expectation is that we would do something” in that category. Although the company is working on prototypes and considering what it might do, Spencer also asked his group to look at the market and develop its vision based on what it learns. Such a device is a few years out, he said.
After releasing the first batch of Xbox games for Sony Group Corp.’s PlayStation and Nintendo Co.’s Switch, Spencer is pleased with the results. Microsoft will do more of that, he said, and won’t rule out any game in Microsoft’s stable.
“I do not see sort of red lines in our portfolio that say ‘thou must not,’ ” he said. It’s too early to make any sort of decision on the next version of Halo, he said.