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[ReBurn]

I wouldn't be opposed to a cost-effective Windows box that plug into my TV that lets be play my mostly separate Xbox and PC libraries. There's not a huge difference between Xbox hardware and the PC tech it's based on. From Microsoft's perspective it's hard to see value in a dedicated console when they can toss a decent APU in a box with enough RAM and an SSD and just let it play both console and PC games.

The main concern I have is whether third parties are going to go for allowing backward compatible Xbox games to run on the thing.

 

[VAVA Mk2]

Pics or GTFO

 

[BennyBlanco]

Native PC versions of Ninja Gaiden Black and Lost Odyssey would be worth sacrificing Xbox consoles

 

[Durin]

I mean...they have multiple apps (Xbox app, Xbox Accessories, Game Bar, Windows Store) on PC for features that Steam has entirely built into ONE launcher program.

If Microsoft wants to unify their services across form factors like Xbox and PC, much less mobile storefronts, they should make the UI a bit more uniform, and adjust based on control input + display size.

It's their execution I worry about.

 

[Astray]

why the hell does that pc thread have 15k upvotes

you can already play every single xbox title on pc. did those dudes forget

Astroturfing.

 

[Topher]

Porting? No, as that requires under-the-hood code changes, where the code is still the property of the creator. That's a big no-no. License-based platform emulation and API-wrappers, however? That should actually be fine - it's Microsoft's platform, they're simply divorcing it from hardware and would still require users to buy the software. So, Xbox emulators and equivalent in Windows? I'd say it's at least possible, though disc-based emulation is likely a non-starer for a host of technical reasons. There are still some steep legal hurdles though, for example games that don't have digital packages, like many OG Xbox titles, would require disc images be created, which are probably not covered by the existing platform agreements because that wasn't really a thing that happened back in those days.

Overall, I'm curious to see how they do this. Microsoft have bungled a lot of transitions, and mismanaged a lot of user experience stuff, in this history. But, they also created Smart Delivery and Xbox's enhanced BC stuff, so who knows?

Yeah....thanks. That's really what I meant, but you are correct, it isn't porting. In a way, this is making a game Play Anywhere. I imagine these are things MS has already sorted through though.

 

[reinking]

Be nice and he may like a post of yours someday. He has great taste.

You dropped this.

/S

On a serious note. I admire DarkMage619 showing restraint and not replying to comments.

 

[RetroGamingUK]

The only Xbox libraries these things will be compatible with are the Play Anywhere ones that are on PC

Series S/X are the last pieces of hardware that will support actual Xbox games, so hold onto those consoles folks.

 

[adamsapple]

The only Xbox libraries these things will be compatible with are the Play Anywhere ones that are on PC

Series S/X are the last pieces of hardware that will support actual Xbox games, so hold onto those consoles folks.

 

[Darsxx82]

GDC 2025 signs and signals

https://schedule.gdconf.com/session/xbox-play-anywhere-developer-roundtable-presented-by-microsoft/911781

 

[sachos]

It would be crazy if they add Steam to these new machines and PS games end up on "Xbox" this way. 300 IQ move. Wonder how Sony will react if that ends up happening.

 

[DeltaPolarBear]

It would be crazy if they add Steam to these new machines and PS games end up on "Xbox" this way. 300 IQ move. Wonder how Sony will react if that ends up happening.

What would be the problem? Sony still gives 30% to Steam and 0% to Microsoft. Just like every Windows PC for the last two decades. Slapping an Xbox sticker on the side of the PC changes nothing. The Xbox PC would literally lose money for existing, which for some reason is accepted as normal for Xbox customers. Because that was happening with Gamepass anyway.

 

[EverydayBeast]

The Microsoft threads keep coming

 

[Jaguar Victory]

In theory an XBOX that's also a full PC with a Steam launcher is prefect. I just don't know if they're willing to go that far with giving up all of the store control. So I'm cautiously optimistic with a 50% chance that they won't fucking misread the room because of corporate politics bullshit. It's really the last opportunity MS has to come through for gamers. Anything else is a death flag.

 

[NicolasBai]

I sense they still don’t have a clear plan to manage their gaming business. If they push out Xbox as a big gaming platform that you can play on PC, handheld and console. They will face the question that is why am I abandoning my Steam platform? MS games are all on steam now. Almost all PC gamers already have a large library or backlog of games on PC. No one will buy same game twice. And if they want to play games on the go, a steamdeck would work just fine.

 

[yurinka]

Basicallly what I've been saying during years that MS will do:

• Windows tweaked with an Xbox-like UI to better adapt it to consolized PCs and PC handhelds, thier own 'Big Picture', with the idea of offering it to the 3rd party manufacturers
• Merge Xbox and MS Windows store in a single one with crossbuy for XBO and Series games, and to include OG Xbox and 360 emulation to run in PC the games you bought in Xbox
• MS to stop making Xbox HW, and instead delegate it to 3rd party PC handheld and consolized PC manufacturers, their own 'Steam machines'
• MS would use one of these 3rd party made handhelds and one of these 3rd party made consolized PCs as their 'next gen Xbox' using them as their reference devices for devs and other manufacturers as their next gen equivalents for Series S and Series X
• Regarding games, MS would continue evolving to soon release all their games day one on PS5 and -if it's possible to downport the games with decent quality- Nintendo's device

I sense they still don’t have a clear plan to manage their gaming business. If they push out Xbox as a big gaming platform that you can play on PC, handheld and console. They will face the question that is why am I abandoning my Steam platform? MS games are all on steam now. Almost all PC gamers already have a large library or backlog of games on PC. No one will buy same game twice. And if they want to play games on the go, a steamdeck would work just fine.

I saw their plan clear since years ago:

• After they realized that can't compete with hardware against PS and Nintendo, they are slowly killing the Xbox hardware and step by step are moving to use Windows as their home gaming platform
• At the same time also slowly transitioning to a full multiplatform strategy to make more money once they realized they can't grow their platform even after huge acquisitions
• After realizing they couldn't compete selling games, tried to change the business model by trying to force the 'Netflix of videogames' but failed and continued getting humilliated and outperformed by Sony's subscription. So moving forward will accelerate their switch to being multiplatform everywhere day one to compensate the sales they are losing on Xbox/PC due to GP. (And later will stop giving away their games day one outside GPU)

 

[Three]

GDC 2025 signs and signals

https://schedule.gdconf.com/session/xbox-play-anywhere-developer-roundtable-presented-by-microsoft/911781

What exactly is this a sign of other than what RetroGamingUK has said.

 

[HeisenbergFX4]

Series S/X are the last pieces of hardware that will support actual Xbox games

 

[Sooner]

X

 

[Sooner]

 

[HeisenbergFX4]

 

[hououinkyouma00]

This could be very interesting if done correctly, and honestly depending on specs I would replace my Series X and my ITX gaming pc with one.

You could get the simplicity of a console, with all the advantages of a pc.

I would need to have access to all of the stuff my Series X does though like BC titles.

 

[MayauMiao]

On unification

The unification is a joke

I still remember Games for Windows Live.

 

[Kataploom]

I like that approach, we have to see how it works and I hope it has the best of both and not the worst

 

[StereoVsn]

I mean...they have multiple apps (Xbox app, Xbox Accessories, Game Bar, Windows Store) on PC for features that Steam has entirely built into ONE launcher program.

If Microsoft wants to unify their services across form factors like Xbox and PC, much less mobile storefronts, they should make the UI a bit more uniform, and adjust based on control input + display size.

It's their execution I worry about.

MS has been running their Win store shit show since Vista days. Chances of them executing well are slim.

And throw on top probably a high cost of the handheld since Asus will take a cut AND MS will take a cut. I am kind of doubtful this will work out well.

On the other hand it’s always interesting to watch a train wreck as long as you aren’t on one.

 

[Brucey]

That’s definitely a big question mark. I’m sure this initiative requires a lot of money trucks for convincing. There’s no going halfway on this. It’s all or nothing.

No doubt a big truck of money to Asus to get the ball rolling, a guaranteed loss seems likely.

 

[ChorizoPicozo]

the YouTuber that exposes all the lies from Xbox executives has his theory that this ..."thing" will be tied to Windows 12.

 

[DntMesArnd]

Microsoft already has more than just a foothold in the platform business, but they need to give gamers a compelling reason to purchase on their platform. I am of the belief they will continue with the multiplatform trend and try to attract people to the games they publish, for now. Later they will start moving toward promoting their platform, and we will see things start to change as their most popular franchises will be best experienced on Microsoft's platform. Eventually, they will flex their publisher muscles and leverage exclusives.

Sounds logical to me.

Playing the long game given the cards they are dealt? Probably.

Will they change that long term plan again soon? History would say yes.

 

[Puscifer]

I mean if done properly they just made the series x the greatest entry point to PC gaming.


Knowing Microsoft, they just ruined that opportunity before it's even a thing.

 

[Sooner]

Keenan gifs only bro

 

[KINGMOKU]

I was really apprehensive about switching to PS after having been in the Xbox ecosystem since inception, but man, I am so relieved after the past several months.

 

[RafterXL]

The problem with unifying the two stores is that they are both terrible . Even the app sucks. Microsoft hasn’t had a decent storefront since they removed buying games from their mobile app. I got Avowed through Battle.net just so I didn’t have to use the Xbox one.

I was really apprehensive about switching to PS after having been in the Xbox ecosystem since inception, but man, I am so relieved after the past several months.

Yeah, they’ve really done everything they can to make Xbox irrelevant and this handheld will just drive it home that Xbox isn’t a platform anymore, it’s a publisher.

 

[Syphon Filter]

It would be crazy if they add Steam to these new machines and PS games end up on "Xbox" this way. 300 IQ move. Wonder how Sony will react if that ends up happening.

sony would make it so it only works on pc.

 

[Comandr]

I'm here for it.

Windows handhelds are here and viable gaming machines. The problem is: windows sucks to use on a controller. The user experience was just... not designed for a dpad and buttons. I talked about this very thing almost two years ago exactly.

I would actually love to see this. Hell, I would really love to see a partnership between Microsoft and Valve. Valve designs and Microsoft sponsors the creation of the hardware.

Every new uhh.. Xbox Portable ships with full fat windows 11. A fully redesigned Xbox app for engagement with Xbox/first party titles, and Steam with its library, performance monitoring and control built right in. Plug it into the dock, and the power ramps up, unhooking the system's portable TDP limit. Whether on controller or with keyboard and mouse, its now a full fledged windows computer with a focus on gaming first. But hey, if you want to use this thing as a regular computer for browsing, video consumption, typing up papers with Office, be my guest. Take it off the dock, and you've got an Xbox Series S power level console on the go, with a 1080p screen, a lot of the GPU grunt that would be pushed to resolution can be dialed back to save power or turned to maximum graphic fidelity.

I just hope if Microsoft does decide to jump into the handheld pool, it's not just like.. An off the shelf ROG Ally with some custom software and an xbox sticker on it. I would really like to see MS go the extra mile and develop custom silicon, or at least customized silicon, maybe less CPU threads, more CUs. Maybe a custom Ryzen 395+ with 8 cores, 16 threads, and 32 CU.

Even if MS dropped the ball on developing a custom device, they would have to reinvent the way Windows operates on handhelds, which would be a win for everyone involved. If you could get an actual like.. Xbox Big Picture mode that dropped a lot of the Windows bloat and background shit it might be pretty good.

It'd be the first Xbox anything I buy since 2005.

 

[Shadowstar39]

Spot on.

In theory this is great, it’s exactly what I was hoping for.

But in practice this is going to be incredibly difficult to achieve.

They need emulators for Xbox, Xbox 360, Xbox One, Xbox Series. They need updated licenses from all devs. To fully succeed they need to allow their customers to rip discs as well and turn them into digital copies, essentially what they wanted to do through the infamous Xbox One DRM.

Can it be done? Maybe. But Microsoft is one of the slowest companies I know when going from promise to delivering, so I expect to be very very disappointed.

The easy route is to bury everything that is currently locked to Xbox consoles and pretend it never existed. That’s what I think they’ll do. That’s 99.9% of my library…

Yep.... Which means the series x will be my first and last Xbox. I mainly use if for backwards compatible games splinter cell, mk9, mirrors edge, dragon age origins, skate 1-3, r6vegas, etc... And stalker 2/indy. Outside of that I don't want what they are selling. No bc no buy.

 

[adamsapple]

Keenan gifs only bro

 

[jroc74]

It would be crazy if they add Steam to these new machines and PS games end up on "Xbox" this way. 300 IQ move. Wonder how Sony will react if that ends up happening.

PS games are also on Steam Deck, ROG Ally, Legion...

I doubt Sony cares about this.

Its only a 300 IQ move for those that need this to help them sleep at night. Steam should work no problem.....its a Windows handheld PC.

 

[twilo99]

Sad thing is, the series x is a beast of a console that looks pretty good (for a box) is near silent and runs games well all for a pretty low price. And those fuckers have just left it for dead. So fucking sad what they've done to the Xbox console brand.

Overengineered hardware is always a win for consumers.

Same applies to the xss, considering the price point.

 

[Fess]

The Xbox app on PC is already bad enough, now they plan on making the UI even worse.
FFS, it's like going back to the age of "Games For Windows Live"

That’s a crap take.

IF they can get a console UI to a big picture mode in the Xbox app it’ll be a huge upgrade.

And IF they find a way to add the Xbox library to the Xbox app through emulation it’ll be a great way to help millions of people not lose their purchases when the regular Xbox console is no more.

This is exactly what they must do.

The only problem here is that it’s difficult to do it. They need flawless emulators for 4 generations of consoles. And they need a way to get licenses for all Xbox games accepted by every dev for emulated Xboxes on PC.

In the end, what’s the alternative?

 

[Fess]

Yep.... Which means the series x will be my first and last Xbox. I mainly use if for backwards compatible games splinter cell, mk9, mirrors edge, dragon age origins, skate 1-3, r6vegas, etc... And stalker 2/indy. Outside of that I don't want what they are selling. No bc no buy.

Yeah Series X is a BC machine now.
But I’ve had every console and I own a couple hundred games. And there is only two ways they can get me satisfied as a long time customer:

1. New console generation, full backwards-compatibility. Just pull the plug on this generation and try again.

2. Official emulators for all Xbox consoles and access to my whole library of purchased games on PC. Flawless big picture mode for a controller-only experience.

 

[jm89]

Jez: how high?
Phil: what?
Jez: jump?
Phil: oh

 

[Kings Field]

Fuck it, I’m in.

 

[Ritsumei2020]

Yeah Series X is a BC machine now.
But I’ve had every console and I own a couple hundred games. And there is only two ways they can get me satisfied as a long time customer:

1. New console generation, full backwards-compatibility. Just pull the plug on this generation and try again.

2. Official emulators for all Xbox consoles and access to my whole library of purchased games on PC. Flawless big picture mode for a controller-only experience.

What I cant wrap my head around is this: will they release a PC that is branded as an Xbox, and *only* this device will be backward compatible with previous Xbox generations,

Or will they release a new OS for PC that allows every PC to play Xbox games?

And how will they handle physical disks?

 

[ChorizoPicozo]

 

[awwr999999]

Yes Microsoft. Launch an expensive handheld just as Switch 2 is coming out... I'm sure that will work splendidly!
/facepalm

If MS drops a handheld after the Switch 2 price gets announced but before the Switch 2 goes on sale, at the same price as Switch 2, and this console can emulate Switch 2 games...
Nintendo uses the same type of UI that emulators and PC use so the Windows handheld really wouldn't be missing anything in terms of the UX provided by a Switch 2.
Previous Nintendo consoles allowed users to boot right into games while emulators require homescreen game selection and this difference in UX is something that deterred people from emulating.

 

[odhiex]

This looks great on paper, but I have very little confidence that Microsoft will successfully implement it (compatibility, shared library).

 

[Fess]

What I cant wrap my head around is this: will they release a PC that is branded as an Xbox, and *only* this device will be backward compatible with previous Xbox generations,

Or will they release a new OS for PC that allows every PC to play Xbox games?

And how will they handle physical disks?

The rumors go in all directions so the safe assumption is that they’ll do everything.

1. An Xbox ASUS handheld will likely have some sort of ”Powered by Xbox” sticker, set specs for full compatibility, will boot into a new Xbox UI, with Windows running on the side. Like a SteamOS ASUS handheld with Linux on the side.

2. An official Xbox handheld, same Xbox UI as above, some unique feature, maybe some BC focused hardware inside.

3. A heavily upgraded Xbox app on Windows, same Xbox UI as above in a big picture mode with full controller focus, able to fully boot into it.

4. An official Xbox console, that is a PC but in a console shell, predefined specs, same Xbox UI, some unique feature, maybe some BC hardware inside.

5. Other manufacturers ”Powered by Xbox” devices. Set specs for full compatibility.

6. Windows Xbox OS, like SteamOS but Windows, installable on any PC as a separate OS.

Full BC is mostly a dream scenario, as is official disc usage/ripping. I think it’s incredibly difficult to do it. Licensing alone makes it hard. Publishers probably want people to buy remasters and remakes or double dip on regular PC ports instead of playing their decades old purchased copies.

 

[Ashamam]

As others have said execution is key.

Only problem is the software is likely to be an evolution of what already exists, not a ground up rewrite. That is what makes it less likely to succeed imo.

 

[kevboard]

The rumors go in all directions so the safe assumption is that they’ll do everything.

1. An Xbox ASUS handheld will likely have some sort of ”Powered by Xbox” sticker, set specs for full compatibility, will boot into a new Xbox UI, with Windows running on the side. Like a SteamOS ASUS handheld with Linux on the side.

2. An official Xbox handheld, same Xbox UI as above, some unique feature, maybe some BC focused hardware inside.

3. A heavily upgraded Xbox app on Windows, same Xbox UI as above in a big picture mode with full controller focus, able to fully boot into it.

4. An official Xbox console, that is a PC but in a console shell, predefined specs, same Xbox UI, some unique feature, maybe some BC hardware inside.

5. Other manufacturers ”Powered by Xbox” devices. Set specs for full compatibility.

6. Windows Xbox OS, like SteamOS but Windows, installable on any PC as a separate OS.

Full BC is mostly a dream scenario, as is official disc usage/ripping. I think it’s incredibly difficult to do it. Licensing alone makes it hard. Publishers probably want people to buy remasters and remakes or double dip on regular PC ports instead of playing their decades old purchased copies.

to actually be a system that's attractive and stands out among the other PC handhelds it really would need to be tightly integrated with the Xbox ecosystem.

and knowing Microsoft these days, I have low hopes that they'll pull it off.

all of what they need to do is possible on a technology level. but I just have so little faith in anything related to big corpo video games these days that I expect it to be literally just a Windows handheld with a steam-esque big picture mode and nothing else special about it.


large scale backwards compatibility is doable for example. if they actually made their former backwards compatibility team work on a fully functional software emulator, there would be absolutely zero licensing issues and they could in theory make every single disc game compatible (unless some unforeseen software issues crop up).


what would also now be doable is a handheld that is essentially a fully featured portable Series S.
the new AMD mobile chips are extremely powerful and should slowly come into the range of GPU power of the Series S while still running at low enough power to work in a handheld.
a handheld that can play thousands of games out of the box, including every single current gen multiplatform game would be pretty nice I'd say.



but again, I expect a simple PC handheld with a fancy menu system slapped on top, and nothing more

 

[I collect VHS tapes]

This sounds pretty cool