Xbox portable device not as thrilling - Reasons Supporting My Indifference
Gamers, brace yourself for the Xbox gaming handheld saga!
The buzz around an Xbox gaming handheld has been deafening for over a year now, and Microsoft Gaming CEO Phil Spencer isn't shy about discussing the company's plans to develop it.
In a candid Polygon interview from March 2024, Spencer expressed his desire, "I want my Lenovo Legion Go to feel like an Xbox," and his frustration with these devices being "more Windows-based than device-based." In a follow-up interview with IGN in June 2024, Spencer confirmed that Microsoft is, in fact, working on "different form factors and different ways to play."
A report from Windows Central in July 2024 suggests that Microsoft partnered with a PC gaming OEM to create a Windows gaming handheld that's all-Xbox, from its official Xbox buttons to a design reminiscent of the company's gamepads. The device is slated for a 2025 launch.
But, hold your horses! This Xbox gaming handheld may not be the one you're waiting for. According to Windows Central, this partnership doesn't involve the rumored Xbox handheld that will debut alongside the next generation of Xbox consoles, which are rumored to launch in 2027. Instead, the 2027 consoles are expected to be a proper console successor to the Xbox Series X, along with a more affordable alternative in the form of an Xbox handheld.
The 2025 Xbox gaming handheld will most likely resemble existing products like the Asus ROG Ally, Lenovo Legion Go, and MSI Claw. Working with an unnamed third-party manufacturer, Microsoft may enhance its integration with Windows 11 or offer unique software advantages over typical Windows handhelds.
However, your hopes shouldn't be too high. Despite Spencer's claims about addressing frustrations, Windows 11 remains infamously unfriendly to gamepads, making significant changes to the OS unlikely without wide-ranging modifications to Windows 11. Instead, we can expect a more thoughtful operating system and design for the dedicated Xbox console releasing in 2027.
The 2025 Xbox gaming handheld might be cool, but budget-conscious gamers have something more exciting to look forward to in 2027. With the Xbox Series X launching at $499, the Xbox handheld, as a cheaper alternative, may retail at around $399. On the other hand, the 2025 Xbox gaming handheld is likely to cost more than alternatives like the Nintendo Switch ($299) or Steam Deck ($399).
In summary, the Xbox handheld launching in 2027 won't suffer from the frustrations of Windows 11, and it's expected to offer competitive pricing to rival the Nintendo Switch 2. On the other hand, the Xbox-branded Windows gaming handheld launching in 2025 will likely feel and look like existing Windows gaming handhelds, but at a premium price point.
Stay tuned for more updates on the Xbox handheld saga!
- The Xbox gaming handheld planned for a 2025 launch could resemble existing devices like the Asus ROG Ally, Lenovo Legion Go, and MSI Claw.
- Despite Phil Spencer's desire for an Xbox-feel, the 2025 handheld might still be more Windows-based due to the partnership with a PC gaming OEM.
- Microsoft may enhance the integration of the 2025 Xbox gaming handheld with Windows 11, or offer unique software advantages over typical Windows handhelds.
- The Xbox handheld launching in 2027, a proper console successor to the Xbox Series X, is expected to offer competitive pricing similar to the Nintendo Switch 2, while possibly avoiding the frustrations of Windows 11.
- Gamers looking for a more affordable option might find it in the 2027 Xbox handheld, which could retail at around $399, in contrast to the premium price point of the 2025 handheld.
- The upcoming Xbox handhelds, whether in 2025 or 2027, are likely to be exciting additions to the world of gaming gadgets and technology.
