Microsoft Shifts Xbox Gaming Handheld Ambitions to Third-Party Windows Handhelds, Postpones 2027 Launch Plans
Microsoft Shifts Xbox Gaming Handheld Ambitions to Third-Party Windows Handhelds, Postpones 2027 Launch Plans
If M$ was smart, they'd develop a version of Windows optimized for gaming. But they can't do that without implying that desktop Windows is inferior for games.
They already have the Xbox framework. I don't understand why it's so difficult to just use that for gaming and give the handheld the ability to launch a lightweight version of Windows similar to the easy way Steam OS will let you exit to Linux desktop.
There are a lot of edge cases. You have to handle external launchers, external error prompts; basically anything that requires you to Alt+Tab. One of the things Valve did a decade ago was the stuff that got rolled into GameScope that ensures that they never lose focus of the game window. Even with the resources to transform Windows this way, it will still take time.
They're probably building off Windows RT (the locked down variant designed for ARM tablets).
If they were smart they'd imitate some of how SteamOS runs games in a modified WinRT environment - TLDR do NOT start up the entire Win32 runtime and desktop environment by default, don't run stuff like printer services and whatnot, just run a simplified sandbox and window manager with just the APIs needed to run the games similar to Proton. Then let the user switch to desktop mode as needed, but don't run it when gaming.
That is literally what they’re doing.
And failing, apparently
Eh.. No
Without implying that desktop Windows wasn't made with hardware that has neither a keyboard or a mouse in mind? That it wasn't made to be used on a 7" screen? Sure.
Only in the Linux fanatics minds does it implies that desktop Windows is inferior for games.
It's not as if people are using the Steam Deck in desktop mode when they want to play games either and the experience on Steam OS in desktop mode if you don't connect at least a keyboard is pretty shit as well, so I guess that the fact that by default it boots in Steam mode must be a proof that Linux is inferior for games if we follow your logic.
Bet that linux vs windows performance video did it in. The exec who thinks linux desktop doesn't even exist saw this and immediately shat their pants in rage.
At this rate they should brand it as a Zune device.
They would instantly have my attention. The Zune was dope.
It's their own fault they couldn't see a demand for handheld gaming.
To be fair, every company was sure handhelds would die and mobile games would take over everything. Then the Switch happened.
And how many years since the Switch? Even the Steam Deck was an open secret for years.
So far as I can think, wasn't the only handheld that failed the Playstation Vita? And that had very visible reasons for the failure - designing itself around an obtuse storage medium, and requiring first-party memory cards. Even with those drawbacks and with no first-party support, it had a tremendous following.
It honestly could still be a worthwhile device to chain off of, since none of the current offerings fit in a pants pocket.
Much as I hate Nintendo now, their contribution to gaming can't be denied. First they revived it from the crash in 1983, then they showed that there's a market for a hybrid console/handheld device, paving the way for PC handhelds.
Anyone that has ever played a game on a phone knew that would never happen.
This is how Microsoft has operated since day 1:
"Let" is that the wrong word. Microsoft was setup specifically to make BASIC for the Altair. DOS they stumbled into because CP/M dropped the ball. Every other product, they've been chasing new markets that they didn't think of being in.
I'm critical about Xbox handheld/portable because it was so obvious that that's where the demand would come from.
However, they've been better at monetizing their other software and services better than anyone else though.
When you start from Windows NT and vibe code for 31 years.
Why does this thing look like it fell into a ravine.
God Microsoft is just taking so many L's. How can they make so much money and be so bad at managing Xbox?
There is absolutely zero chance a windows handheld gaming device succeeds, what the actual fuck are they thinking, lol.
What do you mean? The ROG Ally has been successful. It’s a great device.
It's powerful, but the device isn't "great." It suffers from poor ASUS quality control and support. Let's also not forget the notorious overheating SD card slot because they thought it was a good idea to put it next to the exhaust. It's a poorly thought out design especially compared to the Steam Deck. Valve's effort is still the best on the market.
It’s a great device once you get windows off it; which is a chore. It’s unusable with Windows.
Dont overestimate the power of the Lobotomites.
They already managed to invade Lemmy and complain about SteamOS not supporting a 4090, so its only a matter of time until they start hating linux alltogether
But generally they already do hate Linux, we're talking about the demographic that considers webp a bad image format because some Windows default applications don't support it while having no idea what the format is like
Cool. I’ll just be over here happily playing my Steam Deck.
Maybe even get Xbox gamepass on it.
Im honestly not sure why they're making a handheld Xbox after their "everything is an xbox" push. Why have just an Xbox when you can get anything else PLUS an Xbox for likely cheaper?
That’s why they’re doing this. The sleeping dragon is waking up. They’re gonna pour all of their marketing effort into killing the Steam Deck because of the threat it represents for consumer Windows.
They have no leverage, no exclusive games and their DirectX moat is filled by Proton/Vulkan