The success of Valve's Steam Deck device is starting to spawn a whole new market for handheld gaming PCs, and Microsoft is seemingly taking notice. A leaked Microsoft 'Hackathon' video (showcasing an internal project where employees pitch and test ideas) has revealed that 'Windows Handheld Mode' is one such project in the works.
Now, this is all just internal employee spitballing at the moment and has by no means been properly greenlit by Microsoft. However, this way of gaming through Windows 11 is seemingly being prototyped at the Xbox company, as showcased in the video up above.
The project seems to be focusing mostly on building a streamlined, controller-friendly version of Windows 11 that could work on something like Steam Deck. Valve's machine currently runs on a custom 'Steam OS' version of Linux, with Windows not officially supported at the time of writing (although it can be installed by the user).
Whether this actually launches in an official capacity remains to be seen, but we'd love to see something like it happen. Such a move could lead to PC Game Pass working natively on Steam Deck, and given how good that looks even in an unofficial capacity, it'd be a very exciting prospect as some kind of official app by Microsoft.
Could this lead to a 'portable Xbox' type of experience? Maybe not quite, but it'd certainly be as close as we've ever got to a device like that, and it might be as close as we'll ever get in future.
What do you make of this internal project? Would you be happy to see it launch? Leave your thoughts on this down below.
[source theverge.com]
Comments 14
I still don't think MS 'need' to make their OWN dedicated Handheld when they can let 3rd Party manufacturers (like Asus RoG Ally) which is a 'handheld' Windows Gaming PC so will get EVERY Xbox Game and access to Game Pass for PC, as well as the ability to Stream from Game Pass Cloud too.
They could even license them to make Xbox 'branded' devices with 1-3months of Game Pass bundled in - whether its a 'cheap' Streaming only based hand-held or a high-end Windows based hand-held PC. They don't have to do their own R&D, don't need to design their 'own' Handset etc to 'compete' with Asus, Steam Deck, Ayaneo, mobiles/tablets etc etc - all of which can access Game Pass and with Some (Steam and Asus) even run them 'locally' too...
RoG Ally - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s5lq4Q7YAjE
Funny because yesterday I posted this. A handheld Xbox makes sense. Yes, you can use Cloud on any device but it's not the same. Mobile market is the biggest, Switch is a success and Steam Deck is super popular so that's something that Microsoft should consider. Something like Steam Deck specifically designed for the Xbox library. Xbox runs games on Windows so Xbox handheld would run them on Windows Handheld Mode. This would also mean native Game Pass on a handheld device. Microsoft already has the great hardware lineup Surface so Surface Xbox?
Meh. I have Switch for all my handheld needs. Xbox for everything else.
Handheld PCs have been around for a while already, GPDWin etc. The problem is they're like $1200+ handhelds you have to self-import from China or overpay on Amazon. Steam Deck worked miracles, but I'm not seeing, so far, much of a landscape for devices.
@BAMozzy The difference is COST. Look at Steam Deck £349 because they can sell at cost or at a loss due to all the extra Steam Sales they will bring. Third party can't do that and most Steam Deck competitors are nearer £700 - £1000+
If it’s just an OS this means Microsoft can get a slice of the pie without making the hardware.
@themightyant The difference with Nintendo or Playstation is that they also don't have 'competition' to play their games on the go. With MS, they do because they are 'competing' with the likes of Mobiles/tablets, Steam Decks etc etc. MS already has multiple options for gamers to play their games on the Go and as more and more 3rd Parties build 'hardware' that can access 'Game Pass' (either by Streaming only like a Mobile/Tablet or something that can let you play locally - like Steam Deck, Asus RoG, Gaming Laptops etc) - the 'more' competition in the market and 'less' need for MS to manufacture their own as these devices all play Xbox games anyway...
Valve may well be willing to take a 'loss' on each unit sold to sell more units and its not as if MS don't sell their games on Steam anyway so already have the 'Steam Deck' in their list of 'on the go' options to play Xbox games without wasting their OWN money Researching and Developing their own, Manufacturing, Distributing and selling at a 'Loss' to compete with devices that already offer the 'Same' opportunities to play Xbox games when/where you want.
Yes the RoG Ally maybe 'more' expensive, but if it delivers much better performance/visual quality, then its no different to paying 'more' for a Series X to get higher res/frame rates over the 'cheapest' streaming options and 'cheaper' hardware options - like Steam Deck.
If HP, Acer, Lenovo etc also decide to make 'gaming' PC's to compete with Asus RoG, the prices will drop due to competition and no doubt 'newer', more powerful devices will come out year after year after year. You don't 'have' to upgrade and won't 'lose' your Library if you do because its 'PC' based - not a 'typical' console.
Handheld Gaming PC's will always offer an UPGRADE over any 'dedicated' Xbox handheld device as it will also run Steam, have a much larger Library and could also offer DLSS and much higher quality RT. You also don't expect Devs to port, optimise and continuously support another 'Console' format - if its a 'Windows PC' it will run PC versions and gamers can optimise it themselves to suit their Hardware and preferences - no 'extra' work or pressure on Developers at all...
@BAMozzy Handheld PC is just a really difficult challenge. The hardware really isn't suited for the form factor very well, the market is pretty small, components aren't modular so you can't really do upgrades like in the desktop gaming PC space or even some laptops, you're really only dealing with a small, fairly wealthy group of uber-nerds and even if more players enter the competition, with such a small potential market, splitting that market a few ways means most of them will exit again rapidly.
Steam Deck is viable since it's ultimately a closed platform console still, just a much bigger garden inside the wall and the option to tear down the wall manually if you want. I think handheld PCs would be a crude, expensive fringe and nothing more.
That's why cloud is where all the future focus is. It solves the mobility without the cost or the market limitations. The tech's not quite primed for mainstream yet, but neither is pocket PCs, but cloud eventually will be and the potential market justifies the R&D. Not so much with a pocket PC.
@NEStalgia You know me, I love PC, and I even sort of have a hard time grappling with the idea of the SteamDeck. Yeah, it's neat, it's priced right for what it is. However, like you said, it's still not quite exactly a PC, and that's probably a boon. It's very much just a Steam handheld. I really can't convince myself that I want a SteamDeck even marginally close to as much as I'd just like a Switch 2.
@NEStalgia The fact that Steam Deck, AyaNeo and Asus have made a Gaming Windows PC to 'support' those willing to 'pay' for the more 'Premium' side of hand-held gaming, no less than say a decent iPad Pro for example, to have HD quality top end Gaming 'locally' shows that MS doesn't need to worry about the Costs and/or potential LOSS making their 'own' Hardware.
They have the Cloud Streaming option too of course as a more 'entry' option that can only get 'better' as the infrastructure improves, but the ability to play 'locally' whether you are connected or not, they are still windows based PC essentially as 'far' as the games are concerned, its not a bespoke or different API structure.
Point is, you can leave it to these third party companies to make the Hardware and 'Compete' with each other to drive the 'costs' down and specs to improve year on year - like their 'gaming' laptops....
If you can't afford the latest 'today', in a few years, they could be cheap, but not the 'fastest' thing anymore because 'Competition' and its in their 'interest' to be windows compatible for developers who make games on and for PC's - apart from Sony/Nintendo. So ANY device would want access to the most games it can, and the PC has the biggest.
IF 'MS' made a fixed spec so ALL devs had to develop bespoke versions for, it would seriously limit its long term appeal because those other options will play those too, only better, and better etc with each passing year.
And streaming would perhaps be 'superior' in a few years too - at least in PQ and/or performance as visual settings aren't dialed back to run on 'hand-held' hardware. Doom 2016 maybe better 'Streamed' than playing natively on switch at 'sub' 540p and capped to 30fps in 'portable' mode. You get the RT full fat 4k supersampled down to 720p (for mobile networks) or 1080p decent wifi and 60fps via streaming and a locked 60fps too...
All I am saying is there doesn't seem to be a reason to risk making a handheld when 3rd parties and technology evolving so quickly, will make it obsolete before it has a chance to be successful...
@BAMozzy All true, but that's such a small fringe niche, it's a pretty irrelevant market overall. It's just a very expensive PC enthusiast/hobbyist thing and doesn't extend much beyond that.
I don't think MS should invest in handheld hardware either, but the value of such a system including Steam Deck is a fixed target, increased customer base and increased dev support. The unifying platform makes a much more distributable product. Sure, that other hardware can exist, but ultimately it's just the standard PC gaming space but random pieces of niche bespoke novelty hardware for a tiny group that wants to buy it AND spend endless time tinkering with it to make it work right with game intended for far more robust hardware. It's purely a tinkerer's box.
I have said it for a while now, Microsoft should scrap the Series S as we know it and put the hardware in a Steam Deck shaped handheld. It would be the ultimate GamePass device.
@Hunter_Rose The Phawx did a breakdown the other day on exactly that. Explained how it would be possible.
More Handheld support is never a bad thing.
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