We've been banging on about a dedicated handheld system for years in Xbox land haven't we, and it's just something we never got despite successful efforts from both PlayStation and Nintendo. Well, with cloud gaming on the rise, Logitech and Tencent are stepping in to create something of the sort.
Okay, it's not a typical handheld console that plays native games; it's sticking to the cloud for now. However, the system is set to fully support Xbox Cloud Gaming, with Microsoft and Nvidia helping with development, integrating their respective cloud services. Here's what Logitech's GM had to say on the device:
"As someone that grew up playing video games, the idea of being able to stream and play AAA games almost anywhere is super exciting, and we can’t wait to show everyone what we’ve been working on."
That's about all we know on the system so far, aside from the fact that it is aiming to launch later this year, all being well. In that case, we'd expect to see the hardware itself real soon, and with the prospect of Microsoft actually helping to integrate Xbox Cloud Gaming on this thing, we're pretty intrigued to see how it turns out.
If you're as keen as us to learn more about this device, you can sign up to a dedicated website for email updates on what's next. We're one step closer to an Xbox handheld then, even if it's all about Xbox Cloud Gaming!
Are you excited about this? What would you like to see from the hardware itself? Let us know!
[source blog.logitech.com, via theverge.com]
Comments 11
Not interested in a cloud based system. The portability aspect is compromised for me without native downloads. I will stick with my steam deck.
If Microsoft had any brains they would offer this as a freebie for signing up to a years’ Gamepass in one go rather than selling it separately.
If it helps streamline playing could gamepass im on board tbh. I would not pay anything extra (other than the device itself ofc) tho.
Not sure of the point of this. If it doesn't run anything native, then its just yet another device to cloud stream game pass to. Every android and iphone can do this with a controller, every knock off android emulation handheld with a wifi chip can do this, every one of the steam deck wannabes running windows can do this no matter their spec, and the steam deck can do this.
What does a dedicated handheld that can run gamepass streaming (and thats all as far as we know) offer that so many other devices out there do not?
@RadioHedgeFund probably the other way around that if you get the console you get gamepass for 12 months
@Rockboy247 I do wonder if we will ever see a streaming-only tier?
Yeah, I dunno about this, for me. I have a switch for nintendo, i have a steam deck for others, and a cell phone with a razer kishi for emu/xcloud. ANOTHER handheld device and i just couldn't..although I would technically have everything I ever needed to game, games, like a gamer should game.
it depends on price and screen size/quality. I'm not sure what the overall point would be or why nVidia is involved in this.
After the Steamdeck thread I ended up just buying a spare used phone with an OLED display and a Kishi v2, so $300 total (100 for Kishi which is super overpriced and 200 for a used 6.5" OLED phone, and it's great. I can stream xCloud, stream from my XSS, stream from my PS4 (not wasting expensive, scarce PS5 on it and I have a bunch of PS4s laying around), I can play any game from any console at 720p on an OLED with stereo sound and Dolby Atmos virtual surround on a handheld that weighs half a switch. It's great!
If this thing can come in with a bigger, but similar quality screen, better battery, light weight, at a lower price point, and nice tight integrated controls without the overhead of mucking with Android, and with good marketing, I can see it being great. The concept is great, it's just that you can already do it with parts that already exist. Cost, battery, and screen size are the biggest limitations.
If they try to price it as anything but a budget accessory, there's literally not point for it to exist when compared to a phone and controller.
Logitech doesn't give me too much confidence. Look what happened to Squeezebox and Harmony. All their good products, they let rot, then kill.
In the 'Immortal' words of Blizzard "Don't you guys have phones?". There's not much info out about this now of course, but if it is a Cloud based handheld then it's going to just be a smartphone with buttons attached.
I've had some good results playing via cloud on my phone and tablet over WiFi so the tech is there, but why would you want to spend hundreds of dollars on a handheld console that does less that the smartphone you already own?
Yeahhhhh.... I got my iPhone and Backbone One to use for cloud gaming when I need to free up the TV.
I think it was obvious that MS themselves would not make a dedicated Handheld system when their own business model is geared more towards Game Pass and that offers 'mobile' gaming (literally) on any compatible 'device' from Mobiles, tablets and/or laptops.
It doesn't make sense to invest millions into making a Handheld console that can't really compete with Streaming from Xbox Series X based servers in the cloud. Look at the Steam Deck too for 'comparison' - A system that's 'weaker' than a Series S (targeting ~800p) yet costs more - understandably.
When you can play 1080/60 via streaming but maybe have to accept 540-720/30fps for 'local' with other concessions - and of course expecting 'devs' to port, optimise and release a 'local' version adding costs to development, it doesn't make long term sense. There has to be 'enough' interest in buying the 'more' expensive hardware for a 'weaker' spec but does come in a 'small' portable form factor and a built in screen, going to buy enough 'software' to justify the cost of porting, optimising etc, and cover all of MS's R&D, manufacturing, software development etc etc costs when they already have a 'portable' solution for EVERYONE.
3rd Party can make dedicated hardware that runs the Mobile Game Pass App, make controllers with built in screen holders for Mobile/Tablet gamers, make 'cheap' student laptops too that all work with Xbox Cloud for Portable gaming! Its not MS's budget, doesn't impact on the dev teams etc...
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