The first-ever portable Xbox is here, thanks to one very dedicated modder

What just happened? A Microsoft portable console enthusiast took matters into his own hands when tired of waiting for an official release. Redherring32 successfully created the world’s first portable Xbox using the original console’s motherboard, documenting the entire process on X.

Hardware expert Redherring32 skillfully transformed a legitimate Xbox motherboard into a compact handheld device.

This impressive creation is not a software emulation or a generic PC handheld; it required genuine hardware expertise and custom PCBs. The attention to detail and design quality match that of an official product, complementing the original Xbox model perfectly.

I built a portable Xbox.
This isn’t a PC handheld, it isn’t emulation, this is a real motherboard from a real Xbox. It has a 9″ 480p display, pure digital video/audio, 100W USB C charge and play, and I’m currently adding WiFi 6 for wireless Xbox Live functionality.

Yes, really. pic.twitter.com/yK7p0vPqUn

– Redherring32 (@redherring32) October 18, 2024

The portable Xbox boasts a 9-inch 480p display, 100-watt USB-C charging, a lithium-ion battery, and a fully-functional integrated Xbox controller.

Creating this portable console was a challenging endeavor. Redherring32 had to reverse engineer and redesign multiple PCBs from scratch, as well as shrink the bulky Xbox motherboard into a portable size. Only specific motherboard models were compatible, and the process took four months.

“I had to research Xbox motherboard trimming completely from scratch, a task that took me a bit over 4 months. Nobody had ever tried it before,” Redherring32 noted. The project utilized 12 custom-designed PCBs.

Next, plans include adding Wi-Fi 6 support for wireless Xbox Live multiplayer gaming on-the-go.

If you’re inspired to follow in Redherring32’s footsteps, he has shared the design as open source, complete with a guide, schematics, and PCB source files. However, assembling one of these devices poses a significant technical challenge.

Xbox leader Phil Spencer has hinted at the desire for a portable Xbox for years. Despite no official development, the growing handheld gaming market suggests potential for such a device in the future.

For now, this remarkable creation stands as a testament to innovation and DIY spirit in the gaming community.