Wednesday, November 13th 2024
Xbox Handheld Confirmed To Join Mobile Gaming Fray — Don't Hold Your Breath, Though
Microsoft has long been rumored to be working on a gaming handheld to compete with the likes of Valve's Steam Deck and the ASUS ROG Ally and Lenovo Legion Go, but all we've had to go on until now is unfounded rumors and leaks. Now, Phil Spencer, head of Microsoft Gaming, has confirmed that the software giant is actively working on a Steam Deck challenger, although details are scant, and the timeline is unclear at best.
In a recent interview with Bloomberg, Spencer confirmed that Microsoft is working on an Xbox handheld, although he was very careful to not overpromise or provide any firm release dates, going so far as to confirm that an Xbox handheld is still years away from release. Spencer reiterated in the review that Microsoft was still looking to grow its presence in the gaming industry, which is one of the company's motivations for getting into the gaming handheld market, in the first place. He also confirmed that Microsoft will be pursuing further mergers and acquisitions in the future as part of its gaming push—a move that might not be looked upon favorably by many gamers and regulatory bodies.
Source:
Bloomberg
In a recent interview with Bloomberg, Spencer confirmed that Microsoft is working on an Xbox handheld, although he was very careful to not overpromise or provide any firm release dates, going so far as to confirm that an Xbox handheld is still years away from release. Spencer reiterated in the review that Microsoft was still looking to grow its presence in the gaming industry, which is one of the company's motivations for getting into the gaming handheld market, in the first place. He also confirmed that Microsoft will be pursuing further mergers and acquisitions in the future as part of its gaming push—a move that might not be looked upon favorably by many gamers and regulatory bodies.
"Longer term, I love us building devices, and I think our team could do some real innovative work, but we want to be informed by learning and what's happening now." -Phil Spencer, via BloombergWith the emphasis on both acquisitions and gaming handhelds, one can't help but wonder if an Xbox handheld might not come from a third-party acquisition, although that seems unlikely, given that Microsoft already has its own gaming hardware division. Still, the handheld gaming space is already quite mature, and players like Ayaneo, OneXPlayer, and GPD all have a variety of designs that Microsoft could license, tweak, or redesign to suit its needs. For now, though, Spencer emphasized a need to make Xbox and Microsoft's games work as well as possible on existing handhelds on the market.
12 Comments on Xbox Handheld Confirmed To Join Mobile Gaming Fray — Don't Hold Your Breath, Though
www.newsweek.com/zune-should-go-beyond-squirting-107255
But on the other hand. Xbox platform is quite the reverse of the more "open" platform like Steam OS. It can help spread the handheld HW, but to tank the SW side.
I see no benefits of XB, even if it is on par or even has better HW, than the rivals. It has nothing to suggest to the market, but the proprietary "walled garden" platform. This doesn't benefit the the strenghtening the handheld, and especially open platform like SteamOS. Much like doesn't empower the user freedom, and also the linux expansion, at all. Even in case if it will be possible to install SteamOS, on XB hardware. But then the point of XB console simply vanes.
Thus, this is an effort of MS, to solidify it's position on both Widows and console market, so it even more reduces the penetration of SteamOS, and thus chances of Linux as gaming platform, to even smaller numbers.
Eventually, this is a matter of a choice. A smart choice, between comfort right now, and long-term free, open platform, even if it has some "hicups" at the moment.
P.S.: I apologize for upsetting, and any inconveniences. Just some random thoughts.
Not really for the PC gaming handheld market.
Or it can partially substitute the xbox console, if the HW will be powerful enoygh. At least for everyone on the go. Since this might be the same gamepad, with the same Zen "whatever number" inside.
At this point it's just a convenient chimera designed to serve as a distraction while they kill their hardware and put all their games on PS5.
Sucks that Sony also gave up after PS Vita flopped.