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[Draugoth]

Source
​

Xbox boss Phil Spencer has confirmed that Microsoft is working on handheld gaming prototypes, but claimed that any potential device is still years away.

Microsoft’s gaming CEO has repeatedly hinted that it could create its own Steam Deck-style Xbox device, and in a new interview with Bloomberg, the exec said that the “expectation is that we would do something” in the category.

Microsoft is working on prototypes and considering what it might do, Spencer confirmed, and he’s asked his hardware team to analyse the market and “develop its vision based on what it learns”. Any device is a few years out, he said.

In the near term, Xbox will focus on making its app work better on existing portable devices, and partnering with hardware manufacturers to make sure their products sync, he added.

“Longer term, I love us building devices,” Spencer said. “And I think our team could do some real innovative work, but we want to be informed by learning and what’s happening now.”

 

[Mephisto40]

 

[HeisenbergFX4]

Some have been hinting about this machine for months, this should not come as a surprise

 

[Klosshufvud]

The market is so well developed now and there is a handheld for just about every specific handheld taste out there. I don't see what exactly MS can bring to the table that excites me. Chances are it will come with some caveats of being either locked Xbox app or something in that style. In the eras of Steam Deck OLEDs, Rog Ally X, Legion Go and all those charming chinese off-brands like OneXFly and GPD Win, I don't see what more MS in particular can do to excite me. Sure they can be way more aggressive with price but price is hardly universally high given that you can find a high performing RoG Ally Z1E version very cheap used. And knowing how Microsoft works, this project is just as likely to get canned the moment the winds turn in a different direction.

 

[Skyfox]

Kinect
Zune
Windows phone
Surface
Xcloud
HoloLens

Microsoft knows what needs to be done. For some reason they just don’t seem to be able to do it.

 

[Donald mac Ronald]

Phil has thrown nearly every piece of shit at the wall hoping something sticks. This sounds like the last try.

 

[ChorizoPicozo]

 

[Magic Carpet]

Willing to bet my lunch that a handheld never gets released.
Surface tablets are the closest thing to a mobile gaming were going to get from MS.
I no longer think they are trying to make a handheld OS anymore.
Rumors would have surfaced (ha) by now. Nothing, nada zip.

 

[Deerock71]

 

[Gamer_By_Proxy]

Terrible idea. And I love my Steam Deck and Portal. But it's niche as hell and I doubt MS would make a great one.

 

[mayham2199]

Some have been hinting about this machine for months, this should not come as a surprise

I'm more surprised by the few years out comment. I thought it would be sooner.

 

[RoboFu]

It makes more sense to make a handheld the " series s" low priced option.

 

[Closer]

> Xboy few years away
> But my Steam deck is niche now

 

[BigLee74]

Pffft. For kids. My 50 year old eyes would not want this.

 

[StereoVsn]

Pffft. For kids. My 50 year old eyes would not want this.

As long as the screen is 7” or more, it’s not too bad.

 

[Esparadrapo]

This ray of hope Phil is exploiting is so stupid it's unbelievable. Microsoft can't make a handheld only for its ecosystem as it would fail even harder than the current consoles and won't make a PC handheld so others profit instead of them.

 

[Beechos]

Easy money especially with the way games are being developed nowadays. Being able to play 4 generations of xbox games natively on the go. That'll be hard to pass up for alot of ppl.

 

[rodrigolfp]

Will it have the same freedom with Windows and Linux?

 

[Cyberpunkd]

I'm more surprised by the few years out comment. I thought it would be sooner.

It's Microsoft we are talking about, these guys need a detailed action plan and Business Value Assessment when going to toilet.

 

[mansoor1980]

why not just buy steam?
microsoft steam deck 2

 

[skyfinch]

I mean, I get it. NGage was all the rage back in the day. But all of us NGage fans have grown up.

 

[Cyberpunkd]

why not just buy steam?
microsoft steam deck 2

Because Gabe is not selling.

 

[Jesb]

The handheld getting very saturated. They can still stand out. I’d partner with nvidia and have it run GFN.

 

[Kvally]

Because Gabe is not selling.

Everything is for sale for a price.

Xcloud

Do tell.

 

[Bojanglez]

I think the way he speaks about it is that they are just trying to save face with their existing fans. The real message in that interview was that they are working on getting the Xbox App (and presumably a version of Windows with that deeply integrated well) into the hands of other vendors, I think that is their endgame and an Xbox handheld would just be another device like all the others at that point.

 

[Team Andromeda]

So I take it the rumours look to be true and this handheld will be a companion to the next Xbox console in a few years time LOL

 

[tmlDan]

why would he publicly acknowledge it, now im not excited lol

 

[ultrazilla]

Source
​

Xbox boss Phil Spencer has confirmed that Microsoft is working on handheld gaming prototypes, but claimed that any potential device is still years away.

Microsoft’s gaming CEO has repeatedly hinted that it could create its own Steam Deck-style Xbox device, and in a new interview with Bloomberg, the exec said that the “expectation is that we would do something” in the category.

Microsoft is working on prototypes and considering what it might do, Spencer confirmed, and he’s asked his hardware team to analyse the market and “develop its vision based on what it learns”. Any device is a few years out, he said.

In the near term, Xbox will focus on making its app work better on existing portable devices, and partnering with hardware manufacturers to make sure their products sync, he added.

They certainly have the studios to produce games for it. The problem IMO is their long term vision for these systems
seems extremely short-sited. It feels like they're chasing the latest and greatest specs; release system; games trickle out; gamers get bored; sales decline and MS moves on to another system.

And lets face it. MS is basically going to make their version of the "Switch". "Switch-Box" anyone?

 

[thicc_girls_are_teh_best]

The market is so well developed now and there is a handheld for just about every specific handheld taste out there. I don't see what exactly MS can bring to the table that excites me. Chances are it will come with some caveats of being either locked Xbox app or something in that style. In the eras of Steam Deck OLEDs, Rog Ally X, Legion Go and all those charming chinese off-brands like OneXFly and GPD Win, I don't see what more MS in particular can do to excite me. Sure they can be way more aggressive with price but price is hardly universally high given that you can find a high performing RoG Ally Z1E version very cheap used. And knowing how Microsoft works, this project is just as likely to get canned the moment the winds turn in a different direction.

Dunno. Maybe some innovation on input mechanics, or a unique take on the form factor (modular detachable screen for example). I still think any next-gen devices from them will have access to alternative storefronts, using some fixed Game Pass sub as a soft-subsidization method for an entry-level SKU.

And that's really the key; whatever do will have to be more PC-like in terms of facilitating access to other storefronts. A gaming device trying to sell itself on Xbox Store and Game Pass alone will fail. But there's a chance for MS to make changes to the business model where hardware gives them upfront profits, volume of production can be lowered (at least on their end; OEMs can add to that), and it's the features of being an open-ish platform with alt storefront access/support and running whitelisted Windows apps, rather than trying to rely on game exclusivity.

Since they clearly want to recoup costs for Zenimax, ABK etc. and want their games on all platforms, at least this way they could have a foothold in both the hardware & software spaces where the multiplatform support isn't a detriment to their gaming hardware anymore.

 

[Imtjnotu]

Let the surface team design it please!

 

[rodrigolfp]

The handheld getting very saturated. They can still stand out. I’d partner with nvidia and have it run GFN.

ARM handheld with GFN vs x86 with GFN. The first because???

 

[LordOcidax]

I have a better idea Microsoft… Just add Gamepass to the Switch 2. Save money and thanks me later.

 

[onnextflix5]

Terrible idea. And I love my Steam Deck and Portal. But it's niche as hell and I doubt MS would make a great one.

Well they have to, if they have any chance to succeed, they have to bring something different to the table, it will be funny if Sony beats ms to it, not sure why it would take years lol, unless they just started developing it lol, ms is always too late to the party ,

 

[Gamer_By_Proxy]

Well they have to, if they any chance to succeed, they have to bring something different to the table, it will be funny if Sony beats ms to it, not sure why it would take years lol, unless they just started developing it lol, ms is always too late to the party ,

I hope it's just a Xbox branded PC handheld. If it's actually a dedicated Xbox handheld that'll be about as powerful as a Series S, it'll hold things back a long time.

 

[Dr.Morris79]

~Windows
~Online Only
~MS App and Store

 

[Iced Arcade]

That wall is getting full Phil. Or is it floor? Yeah definitely floor

 

[Represent.]

Guaranteed massive flop

They’ve never made a successful handheld product ever. Lmao I remember their phones and mp3 players. Both got destroyed in the market

 

[mayham2199]

I have a better idea Microsoft… Just add Gamepass to the Switch 2. Save money and thanks me later.

You make it sound like all MS has to do is call Nintendo and they'll agree. Why would Nintendo want this? They have their users conditioned to buy games at $60 a pop. Why would they want them to expect anything else?

 

[LordOcidax]

You make it sound like all MS has to do is call Nintendo and they'll agree. Why would Nintendo want this? They have their users conditioned to buy games at $60 a pop. Why would they want them to expect anything else?

They can leave the option to buy their games at full price and maybe split revenues of the GP subscription with Nintendo, is just another option.

 

[Roxkis_ii]

Why would anyone buy this over a steam deck outside of game pass users. I can't imagine anything Microsoft could do to make this handheld more attractive then say an asus ROG.

Unless it has a tailor made OS for it that can proitize battery, life but at that point, it probably won't be able to run windows games.

So it's back to why should anyone who doesn't use game pass buy this hand handle instead of a steam deck?

 

[Brucey]

Some have been hinting about this machine for months, this should not come as a surprise

That it's an idea that's a few years away is new info. 2027+?

 

[HeisenbergFX4]

That it's an idea that's several years away is new info. 2027+?

Have no idea on its timeline

I wouldn't have thought it was that far out but if Phil is telling the truth I guess it is

He could be bluffing as well since the Playstation handheld rumors are swirling more and more

 

[Little Chicken]

Well it sounds like no handheld for 2026. Are they really just going to release another traditional console? I'm sure it'll be amazing and a success, whatever they do.

 

[Brucey]

Kinect
Zune
Windows phone
Surface
Xcloud
HoloLens

Microsoft knows what needs to be done. For some reason they just don’t seem to be able to do it.

Kin is sad it didn't make that list

 

[HeisenbergFX4]

Well it sounds like no handheld for 2026. Are they really just going to release another traditional console? I'm sure it'll be amazing and a success, whatever they do.

I don't think they will release anymore traditional consoles, that's a sinking ship

 

[HerjansEagleFeeder]

All they can do is copy successful products from other companies, can they?

 

[freefornow]

Phil says a lot of things.
I also work on my handheld most days.

 

[Dorfdad]

He also said in an interview that it was at least a few years out most of us had heard this rumor suspected maybe another year but the way he made it sound. It seems like a 2028 or 27 release.

If that is the case, I’m really worried for them. I don’t think you can go three or four years with the existing system out there and no real exclusives this would seem to explain why they’re going multiplatinum with all their titles. I just don’t see how it’s going to. Help their hardware division.

If they are that far out from releasing it, they really should have just did a spec bump encountered the PlayStation 5 pro to stay somewhat relevant

 

[Bernoulli]

Some have been hinting about this machine for months, this should not come as a surprise

did you sign an NDA?

 

[Mephisto40]

So I take it the rumours look to be true and this handheld will be a companion to the next Xbox console in a few years time LOL

It's more likely that this handheld IS the next xbox