Xbox Cross-Platform UI Leak Confirms Microsoft Targeting Handheld Gaming Experience

[Cpt.Jank]

The Xbox gaming handheld is reportedly in the early stages of development at Microsoft, but in the meantime, the PC giant is apparently working on unifying its gaming experience across the various platforms where its games are available. According to a Windows Central report, Microsoft is working on something called Project Rainway, which is "a set of in-game APIs and user interface features," that will take shape as a cross-platform Xbox user interface. This news comes after Microsoft's recent "This is an Xbox" ad campaign and some pretty notable changes to its Xbox Game Bar to make that more compatible with gaming handhelds. How this new API and UI will take shape is yet to be seen, but it will likely further blur the line between gaming consoles and PCs—something that the Valve Steam Deck has also done in the years since its launch.

This seems to align with Microsoft's current strategy around gaming, which has seen Microsoft Gaming head, Phil Spencer, confirm that the company is both working on its own gaming handheld and that, in the meantime, it is focussed on making the Xbox gaming experience as seamless and enjoyable as possible on current gaming hardware. Xbox is also seemingly moving away from console exclusives as a concept, as we reported earlier this month, and, according to Windows Central's sources at least, this is partly because Microsoft has noticed no measurable impact on Xbox performance as a result of moving Xbox exclusives over to other consoles.


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[ZeppMan217]

I'm pretty sure I saw MS showcase some kinda handheld device in one the ads shown during the Game Awards show.

 

[AcE]

It’s pretty smart for them (all that), they should do a handheld. Could be better than steam deck

 

[Carlyle2020hs]

So isn´t this rather a late response to a far greater threat?

SteamOS is what gamers pray for at night when their windowsOS isn´t spying on them.

This isn´t a "nice-to have".
It wil determine if xbox still can have a dominant stake/role in the future.

Good luck!

 

[TheinsanegamerN]

It’s pretty smart for them (all that), they should do a handheld. Could be better than steam deck

Why is it smart? Their Xbox hardware division has been suffering, largely because there is no reason to own one of you have a PC. There's no exclusives and only a bad walled garden awaiting you

The Xbox handheld would have the same issue. The steam deck frees you from MS's spyware, but if you don't mind wind blows, there are a number of windows handhelds out already that are more capable then the steam deck, and don't have that pesky walled garden issue.

 

[AcE]

Why is it smart?

Simple, they own Xbox Game Pass / or Xbox app, whatever it's called, they can use that for handheld and to do ad for Xbox Gaming App, just like Steam Deck does for Steam, it's like the same, but better, because Xbox Game Pass is like 10 bucks and you can play a thousand great games, while Steam is just a market. Also Windows > Linux for gaming. I bet a lot of people will be angry about that

 

[Upgrayedd]

The ONLY way I would even consider a handheld as an adult would be if I had a job where I just did nothing basically all day. A guard shack or something.
My last handheld was a Gameboy color when I was a child. Handhelds are for children and child like adults.
I don't see a handheld doing anything significant for Xbox. Probably detrimental more than anything. That's just because I have zero interest in these handhelds, including the steam deck.
I'd rather see a stripped down xbox OS, call it WindowsX, than want my PC gaming on the go.

 

[cal5582]

Simple, they own Xbox Game Pass / or Xbox app, whatever it's called, they can use that for handheld and to do ad for Xbox Gaming App, just like Steam Deck does for Steam, it's like the same, but better, because Xbox Game Pass is like 10 bucks and you can play a thousand great games, while Steam is just a market. Also Windows > Linux for gaming. I bet a lot of people will be angry about that

why would i want a cloud gaming app on a handheld? cloud gaming is already a limitation.

 

[AcE]

why would i want a cloud gaming app on a handheld? cloud gaming is already a limitation.

Xbox is a normal gaming app (download and play), it only has cloud gaming as an extra via Xbox Game Pass Ultimate.

 

[TheinsanegamerN]

Simple, they own Xbox Game Pass / or Xbox app, whatever it's called, they can use that for handheld and to do ad for Xbox Gaming App, just like Steam Deck does for Steam, it's like the same, but better, because Xbox Game Pass is like 10 bucks and you can play a thousand great games, while Steam is just a market.

Steams market share dwarfs xbox's. Besides, you can just....use Xbox game pass on Windows handhelds while also having steam, and got, ece, and the ability to use it as a PC too.

So why buy the Xbox handheld?

Also Windows > Linux for gaming. I bet a lot of people will be angry about that

Steam deck is arch and is selling great, so....

 

[AcE]

Steams market share dwarfs xbox's.

And? Still a big market. You know that Microsoft is a big gaming company conglomerate, unlike Valve, which isn't? You know that Microsoft itself dwarfs Valve? And a handheld is exactly what you need to sell more on your own market, hence my point.

So why buy the Xbox handheld?

I already explained it.

Steam deck is arch and is selling great, so....

Still cumbersome because of lesser compatibility. I have most my games not on Steam. And I don't want a handheld with only 4 cores and weaker GPU. Steam Deck 2 is already more than needed, Steam Deck 1 doesn't fare well against ROG ally. I'm not talking about selling numbers.

 

[Nordic]

It’s pretty smart for them (all that), they should do a handheld. Could be better than steam deck

That would be an achievement. The steam deck is fantastic.

 

[Gooigi's Ex]

Lenovo teases next-gen Legion Go launch on January 7, Valve's SteamOS involvement teased - VideoCardz.com

Lenovo indirectly confirms Legion Go with SteamOS The special event will include Valve Steam Deck co-designer. The Verge, citing an email from Lenovo, reports that Lenovo has announced the launch event for its next-gen gaming handhelds. Officially titled “Lenovo Legion x AMD: The Future of...

videocardz.com

Thank you Lenovo and Valve. You’re putting pressure on Microsoft.

 

[Hecate91]

Microsoft making a better handheld than Steam would be a massive accomplishment, because of the success of the Steam Deck and Windows handhelds. The Xbox is already pointless for most games since you can just play those games on PC.
I don't see why anyone would want an Xbox handheld when the Steam Deck is a better experience without Windows. Microsoft making an Xbox handheld seems unnecessary because it's just another Xbox but portable, and it would be a less flexible device than a Steam Deck or Windows handheld since the Deck or Windows handheld can also be used a PC.

 

[Naito]

Handhelds are for children and child like adults.

I'd tend to disagree...

I work all day in front of a computer, so the last thing I want to do these days is to remain in the seat and play games on it. This is why my desktop does not see any use anymore. The Series X also goes unused as I just find the distance between the large screen and the controller too, for lack of a better term, 'unintimate', and thus difficult to engage with. My Nintendo Switch also collects dust as I've never really been heavily into their most popular IP.

These Windows handhelds on the other hand, I'm very keen for. If it wasn't for the impending launch of the next wave of devices, I'd probably have an Ally X by now. While I have Game Pass, which would be fantastic on such a device, I'm actually most interesting in playing through my 20yo games from the back catalog for a good burst of nostalgia. These games are perfect for these devices as they'd hardly tax the hardware, meaning you can keep TDP down, they'd run at high FPS, and there's generally plenty of mods out there to freshen them up. Perfect for casual couch gaming, those long-haul flights, or most scenarios in between.

Edit: Can't forget emulation either. Owning something Midnight Club 3 for PS2, then being able to play that on something while out and about is another benefit.

 

[Gooigi's Ex]

And? Still a big market. You know that Microsoft is a big gaming company conglomerate, unlike Valve, which isn't? You know that Microsoft itself dwarfs Valve? And a handheld is exactly what you need to sell more on your own market, hence my point.

I already explained it.

Still cumbersome because of lesser compatibility. I have most my games not on Steam. And I don't want a handheld with only 4 cores and weaker GPU. Steam Deck 2 is already more than needed, Steam Deck 1 doesn't fare well against ROG ally. I'm not talking about selling numbers.

And thats the reason why I stay with Windows. EVERYTHING works and it’s compatible. I enjoy competition but it hard to take fans serious some times. The people that advocate Linux for computers are the same people who love Android phones and hate Apple and don’t realize who made Android and all of the spyware and data selling that particular company does….

 

[TheinsanegamerN]

And? Still a big market.

Your statement that steam was "just a market" while implying Xbox game pass is so much more implies you think Xbox game pass is a larger market, which is incorrect. Valve's platform has the most active users of any gaming platform. Thus, being exclusive to a smaller, more insulate market, is not a selling point.

You know that Microsoft is a big gaming company conglomerate, unlike Valve, which isn't? You know that Microsoft itself dwarfs Valve? And a handheld is exactly what you need to sell more on your own market, hence my point.

LOL implying valve isnt a major gaming company. Microsoft being bigger doesnt mean that valve isnt big. And on PC, Valve is the 800lb gorilla for game distribution. If your platform doesnt have support for Steam, you will need major exclusives, and xbox doesnt have that.

I already explained it.

You said gamepass, I pointed out that the rest of the portable market can already DO gamepass, so that isnt a selling point. If the only thing it has to offer is what everyone else can already do, the hardware is gonna flop. See also: the xbox series X/S sales.

Still cumbersome because of lesser compatibility. I have most my games not on Steam. And I don't want a handheld with only 4 cores and weaker GPU. Steam Deck 2 is already more than needed, Steam Deck 1 doesn't fare well against ROG ally. I'm not talking about selling numbers.

Your personal issues with linux doesnt change that the steam deck has been a major success, and linux isnt holding it back. And since you now acknowledge that alternatives with more powerful hardware exist, why would you want the xbox portable? When you can get a ROG ally with more powerful hardware and windows and game pass, why would you buy the xbox portable? The brand, demonstrably, doesnt have great staying power.

 

[Gooigi's Ex]

Steams market share dwarfs xbox's. Besides, you can just....use Xbox game pass on Windows handhelds while also having steam, and got, ece, and the ability to use it as a PC too.

So why buy the Xbox handheld?

Steam deck is arch and is selling great, so....

This is why I hate fanboyism. Saying dumb ish like this and stating as facts. Steam market is NO WHERE NEAR close as Xbox market and, when it comes to gaming revenue, is 3rd behind APPLE AND TENCENT. Valve is not even the top 10. I love Steam but the toxic positivity for it is just that toxic.

“Why buy the Xbox Handheld” simple. Options! Linux Android fanboys love options so why it’s a bad thing for Windows? Why buy other Android phones when Google makes their own?

Why buy a Steam Deck where other handhelds with Android OS are far superior when it comes to OS and on top of that you can stream your PlayStation or Xbox console to your Android device by downloading an app compared to using Steam OS…OH and you can use STEAM LINK on Android so if you really want to play on your PC on the go YOU CAN. Also Android handhelds are usually cheaper than the Steam Deck…

 

[Hecate91]

Calling people fanboys, yet making weird generalizations about Linux and Android? You seem to have some sort of personal dislike for Linux and Android, but I definitely don't understand Windows fans, always defending an OS which has become a mess of spying and telemetry with forced updates, arbitrary system requirements, and built malware aka "copilot" which cannot be easily removed. Some people are advocating for Linux because the nonsense MS is pushing has become intolerable.
Valve has a massive market with the Steam Deck, it has started a whole market of handhelds everyone else has been copying Valve on, and its quite obvious Microsoft wants some of that market. An Xbox handheld simply makes no sense, even Microsoft admits the Xbox makes no sense with Xbox cloud game streaming.
As for an Android handheld, those are fine if you only want to stream games, I'd rather have games on the hardware with no input lag.

 

[Naito]

Anyone using a modern smart phone is subjected to telemetry and data collection. The way I see it, is that Windows is just aligning with that norm. Outside of marketing profiling, it is more often than not collected to gather usage stats to further in improve features and functionality of the OS. Most, if not all, is anonymised.

I'd imagine most people use a Web browser 90% of the time they use a device, so that'll be collecting the most 'useful' data, regardless of the OS being used.

It seems people just like to scrutinise Microsoft more than most other companies, even if others are doing the same, or even worse! Microsoft definitely hasn't done itself any favours with their abysmal marketing over the years...

If you're still that paranoid, maybe try using O&O ShupUp10++

 

[Gooigi's Ex]

Calling people fanboys, yet making weird generalizations about Linux and Android? You seem to have some sort of personal dislike for Linux and Android, but I definitely don't understand Windows fans, always defending an OS which has become a mess of spying and telemetry with forced updates, arbitrary system requirements, and built malware aka "copilot" which cannot be easily removed. Some people are advocating for Linux because the nonsense MS is pushing has become intolerable.

Start off by saying that I’m making weird generalizations about Linux and Android but then make those same weird generalizations about Windows? This is the hypocrisy of Linux fans. They wanna bash or need to let out their distaste for Windows but the moment people callout flaws of Linux, then it’s all of a sudden bad or white knights show up. Fans are part of the reason why I take my slow time getting to know Linux more…

Android is Linux and Google developed Android and Google is KNOWN for spyware and selling your data but weirdly every tech enthusiasts that hates Apple and Microsoft have no issues with Google for some reason even though are they are WAY WORSE then Microsoft and Apple.

As for an Android handheld, those are fine if you only want to stream games, I'd rather have games on the hardware with no input lag.

We have WiFi 6e and soon WiFi 7. Wireless input lag is less and less. We can stream anything nowadays. Xbox Game Pass on stable internet is actually really good and have been using it on my ROG ALLY as well as stream my Xbox Series X to the Ally as well. Plus you’re not pushing the CPU/GPU/SoC/APU at all thus better battery life than playing natively.

All that aside, I too prefer to play on the hardware with no input lag as that is the best.

 

[AcE]

That would be an achievement. The steam deck is fantastic.

And that's why MS is copying it.

Your statement that steam was "just a market" while implying Xbox game pass is so much more implies you think Xbox game pass is a larger market,

No it doesn't.

LOL implying valve isnt a major gaming company. Microsoft being bigger doesnt mean that valve isnt big.

Compared to MS, Valve is a very small fish, with about 350 people working for them, it's a very small fish, yep.

You said gamepass, I pointed out that the rest of the portable market can already DO gamepass, so that isnt a selling point.

It is, because with the MS device it would be specialised for it, and I never said the others can't do it, you overinterpret my words / don't understand what my post meant.

Your personal issues with linux doesnt change that the steam deck has been a major success,

I don't have issues with Linux, Windows is just better for gaming, which is a fact.