In December, it was announced that Xbox's "VP of next generation" Jason Ronald would be appearing on a PC handheld panel at CES 2025, and that's what happened last night - although nothing major was revealed for Xbox specifically.
In fact, the interesting bit for Xbox fans came after the event, as Ronald sat down with The Verge to discuss his team's desire to integrate console "innovations" into Windows handhelds in order to make navigation less finicky.
Ronald says that we should be hearing more about this later in 2025, but ultimately, the gist is that Xbox wants Windows PC owners to feel much more comfortable using their system - with the goal of delivering a "premium gaming experience".
Here are a just a couple of quotes from the interview:
“...we have spent the last 20 years building a world-class operating system, but it’s really locked to the console. What we’re doing is we’re really focused on how do we bring those experiences for both players and developers to the broader Windows ecosystem.”
"Our goal is to put the player and their library at the center of the experience and not all the [Windows] work that you have to do today.”"
As you're probably aware, Xbox has already indicated plans to build a handheld device at some point, but Ronald didn't go into any detail about this during the chat. For now, the focus is seemingly on existing Windows handhelds alone.
That comes as no real surprise, as Xbox boss Phil Spencer recently mentioned that his team wants to be "informed by learning and what’s happening now". In other words, it sounds like they want to work closely with the current (and upcoming) handhelds on the market before committing to an official first-party device. Makes sense to us!
It should also be noted that Ronald didn't refer to Windows handhelds alone during this interview, but rather Windows as a whole, suggesting PC owners could be set to benefit from more console "innovations" this year as well.
What are your thoughts Excited to see how PC handhelds evolve with Xbox's support in 2025? Tell us below.
[source theverge.com]
Comments 27
I use the Xbox app on a Rog Ally and it's not terrible by any means, but when I use the Steam app it creates a much more console like experience.
The Xbox app can be slow to load things though so wondering if they will optimise and make it hassle free
It looks like Microsoft will soon have two PC Operating Systems.
So basically a series s handheld similar to the switch as it's a console can't see myself buying that!
So maybe they will try and integrate the console dashboard better? Sounds like a good idea But we all know what pc users are like with change
Combining the best of Xbox, often considered the best console OS, and the best of Windows sounds great to me! The Xbox OS is already based on Windows but really oriented towards consoles, which makes things easier. Now the challenge is to make it truly adapted to all platforms: portable console, PC, Xbox home console, TV, mobile, etc. It will be the same system on the next Xbox home consoles, portable console, and PC, which will really allow for the same experience regardless of the platform. We already have PC Anywhere, cross-save, playing your own games in the cloud, and other features. All that's left is to have a common OS for all these platforms. But we won't have a separate Windows and another OS; one will be integrated into the other.
Moreover, Steam OS is more user-friendly, but in terms of compatibility, stability, and performance, it's naturally not as good as native Windows. Proton remains an emulation, and certain DirectX12 features are not supported, for example.
Their handheld better have windows. These other devices will have a clear advantage if not. They should make the xbox app have something similar to steam big picture mode. Big picture mode gives the rog alley the same look and feel as a console or steam os but still maintains the advantages of windows.
So…no steam OS then. Does this mean that all the ‘Xbox will integrate Steam into their upcoming handheld and it’ll be the best thing ever, we’ll have both Xbox and Steam libraries on one device!’ rhetoric was just a load of copium?
@Balaam_ no. If the next Xbox is a hybrid PC. Then it will run the steam app like you can on Windows I guess. As the Xbox OS is part of the Universal Windows Platform. So porting what's needed for the Xbox OS & incorporating it with Windows 11 gaming mode will be easier.
@BacklogBrad I wonder if they'll fully integrate the Xbox OS with Windows 11 to be it's future gaming mode.
@eduscxbox I don't think so. Xbox OS is already Windows. It's part of the Universal Windows Platform which started with Windows 10 for Windows PC, mobile & Xbox One. They'll probably integrate it with Windows 11 & it will be it's game mode.
"Windows for Games" when?!
@cragis0001 It's not full-featured Windows, though - which is the key.
Having a dedicated OS for just games could mean even more system resources can be dedicated to games. It could also mean less system updates since its only main function is to run DirectX, OpenGL, and Vulkan (and networking).
Sure, there could be a Power User function for those looking to get into the File System for mods using a Windows-like UI, but the biggest benefit is just keeping the OS very simple for games.
@cragis0001 I hope they do. Similar to steam deck, they could have an xbox mode and a desktop mode. If a user just wants the simple console experience they can stay in that mode but people that want to mess around can go into the desktop mode and side load or whatever.
I think the other devices would have a clear advantage if the xbox handheld is limited to the xbox store. I'm pretty sure whatever handheld Playstation does will be locked into a singular Playstation interface so a versatile xbox might have some appeal.
I will continue to believe interest in Xbox handheld is being drastically over inflated. Very well could be incorrect and they will fly off the shelves. But just not see it happening.
Another thing to factor in, just how bad Microsoft is in promoting any of their products. Over the years Microsoft have put out incredible products. Only to see the marketing and messaging completely off.
It’s so disappointing that right now the current consoles feel abandoned and an afterthought for Microsoft, there’s lots of things to fix in the Xbox OS since the Xbox One generation (captures for instance) and they promised several times to overhaul it but didn’t.
Their focus currently really is the PC and competing consoles, of all the “Xbox devices” the console feels the more neglected, and they think we are going to buy their handheld in droves? Lol for me the Series X is the last device I ever buy from Microsoft, the prospect of a Steam home console or PCs with SteamOS would make me jump ship real fast.
@GamingFan4Lyf
@cragis0001
I am a diehard Xbox fan, and I don't want to leave my Microsoft account. As much as I like PlayStation, I have a strong history and liking to Xbox. I own a Series S and it has outstanding performance. The new Digital Series X is very nice as well, but I would be quite disappointed if Xbox became just another PC. They call it x-BOX for a reason. It's a box and a console. If they want it to be a PC, they should have named it X-Computer. I don't think consoles are going away, they're just becoming digital and more accessible. Xbox One and the Xbox Series X are the last of the Disc drive years, UNLESS Xbox decided to make a console that had a disc drive AND digital games, just like the PS5. I love Xbox! DO BETTER and FIX IT, MICROSOFT!
Windows gaming interface coming to handheld PCs and future Xbox handheld is something that I guess 100% of gamers playing on Windows want.
@GamingFan4Lyf your correct. The Xbox OS runs a version of the Windows 11 subsystem but uses hyper v hypervisor.
Until we get more info on what Microsoft plans are. They could very well make a dedicated OS for gaming & license it like Steam is. But sounds like we will get news later this year.
@GuyinPA75 yeah it's gonna need something that gives it an advantage to be better than what's already available. To me, it either undercuts everything, or comes with an eGPU dock (which makes less sense coz the "Prime" would be the main TV 4k machine).
If it comes in at a high price then all it's doing is competing with steam deck, legion, ally etc. for a fairly small piece of the pie I reckon
@BacklogBrad listening to what was said at CES. It looks very much that they want to improve Windows 11 for gaming across the board. How Xbox fits into this I guess we may find out later this year or early next year.
@UserTK-421 it was mentioned at CES that Xbox wants to make PC gaming as painless as console gaming. How they will do that? Will be interesting. Hopefully we get plenty of info through the year to ease any concerns.
@GamingFan4Lyf Windows for Games LIVE
We need a multi-resolution friendly port of the Xbox dashboard for windows as an alternative/replacement to the Windows Explorer.
Make it so it can be switched from one to the other via the start menu while in Desktop mode and via the ... whatever windows calls the side menu while on Xbox mode.
@UserTK-421 I understand your frustration, but Microsoft can't do "more of the same" if it expects to continue to be a viable option in the console market. It really does have to something more radical if it ever expects decent market share in the "premium console market".
If that means making the new Xbox run PC Code, but runs legacy Xbox games via an emulation layer, then so be it.
But, honestly, PC gamers have been looking a more tailored Windows experience for gaming ever since Valve came out with the Steam Deck.
@Vordus Universal Windows for Games LIVE 365!
This is why competition is great and makes the whole industry healthier. It's been expressed for what feels like eons that Microsoft needs to do more to improve PC gaming on Windows and heads have been scratched as to how they can own a console platform and Windows can be left as such a mess for gaming decades later (even as they pushed Xbox Play Anywhere and brought Xbox first party games natively to windows). However, it's taken SteamOS making a splash and PC gaming handhelds buzzing around for the old heads at Microsoft to actually turn an ear.
I'm more than happy with my Switch adn Steam Deck, no interest in adding an Xbox handheld to that.
I'm happy to see it in the works, but the devil is in the details. I have hopes they are leveraging their Surface experience to bring a truly native handheld to market.
Leave A Comment
Hold on there, you need to login to post a comment...