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A handheld Xbox? Microsoft’s gaming chief can’t stop thinking about it

Big Baller

Al Pachinko, Konami President
Fresh Prince Jazz GIF by Nick At Nite
 

Ev1L AuRoN

Member
I believe Microsoft doesn't even need Xbox hardware to dominate the handheld market. They just need to create a custom version of Windows for this purpose. All manufacturers would adopt it because Microsoft would be removing this R&D cost from them and offering something of better quality due to the integration with the OS.

Microsoft would have its own store guaranteed on the OS and, as a bonus, another market to sell Game Pass. Integrating Steam into the OS shouldn't be a problem since the Steam launcher is quite flexible regarding the execution of its applications.

Microsoft would have its own "Android" since it would be the de facto distributor of the OS for this entire ecosystem (I'm aware that it already is, since they're all based on Windows, but it's still an imperfect experience. If Microsoft doesn't act, Linux might mature enough to steal this position, potentially influencing the desktop market as well).
 
The block chain bit is an Epic thing, but I don't see it. There is costs to the backend of these stores/platforms. They all work to make their platforms be the one you want to use and thus be where you spend money.

If it got to the point where the game makers (devs/publishers) are selling these block chain keys directly what is the driver for creating the platforms that we play the games within. Are we back to a time before Steam where we don't have unified friends lists etc? Honestly, it sounds like something that would sound like a good idea to developers but would be a confusing mess for players.
 
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Could be interesting, Microsoft has the money to sell the hardware at a loss in the beginning, so pretty sure it will be the best deal on the handheld market (price-performance ratio).

However shortly afterwards will other companies release again handhelds which will have better performance for a higher price. Microsoft’s success will depend on how attractive they can make the price compared to the competition.
 

deriks

4-Time GIF/Meme God
Could easily be both, and I think this is the future of gaming
- buy a console and just buy the games
- have a payed subscription to access on other devices through an app, and you have cloud play, a digital library or something we still about to see
 

Three

Member
Just make it possible to use windows using only the controller man, it's not rocket science.
They made the touchscreen "Metro UI" that could be navigated with directional buttons too. Nobody liked it, they really need to specialise here and not shoehorn it into windows.
 

rodrigolfp

Haptic Gamepads 4 Life
I believe Microsoft doesn't even need Xbox hardware to dominate the handheld market. They just need to create a custom version of Windows for this purpose. All manufacturers would adopt it because Microsoft would be removing this R&D cost from them and offering something of better quality due to the integration with the OS.

Microsoft would have its own store guaranteed on the OS and, as a bonus, another market to sell Game Pass. Integrating Steam into the OS shouldn't be a problem since the Steam launcher is quite flexible regarding the execution of its applications.

Microsoft would have its own "Android" since it would be the de facto distributor of the OS for this entire ecosystem (I'm aware that it already is, since they're all based on Windows, but it's still an imperfect experience. If Microsoft doesn't act, Linux might mature enough to steal this position, potentially influencing the desktop market as well).
MS making a custom Windows with Steam integration would make zero difference for the quality plus Steam is not theirs to be their store.
 

Ev1L AuRoN

Member
MS making a custom Windows with Steam integration would make zero difference for the quality plus Steam is not theirs to be their store.
They can polish the experience and their store can be front and center, steam will be an option (if they cut steam people will not use their custom OS)
 
Only way I'd be interested in one is if it had good battery life, and I could play all my digital games on it OFFLINE. Never gonna happen.
 

64bitmodels

Reverse groomer.
Luckily for portable competitors Nintendo's 2025 console will be using a cutdown underclocked 5 year SOC and be their most outdated console since Wii. So even AMD won't have problems outperforming it.
Ah yes because Nintendo rumors are trustworthy and totally accurate to the system at launch
 

Haint

Member
Ah yes because Nintendo rumors are trustworthy and totally accurate to the system at launch
You'd have a lot of trouble finding someone willing to put money down on it not being a 3000-series based T239 or similar derivative at this point. For perspective 5000 series GPUs are likely to be available for several months before Switch 2 launches. 2020 technology being sold as the new hotness in mid 2025.
 
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