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[Bridges]

If my Xbox console game library isn't there then don't bother

 

[Heisenberg007]

So a Steam-deck like device, without the subsidized cost benefits that Steam offers.

Why would gamers wait to buy that device instead of just buying a Steam Deck right now or a Steam Deck 2 later?

 

[awwr999999]

$1000 for any console is a non-starter.
OTOH, if MS sells a PC handheld for the same price as Switch2 and times it right they could decimate the Switch2 sales.
At the same price point a PC handheld wins by virtue of being able to emulate Switch games on top of being an Xbox/PC.

 

[HerjansEagleFeeder]

Windows, not even once.

 

[Mattyp]

This is like Microsoft announcing they're going to make a laptop.

Huh?? Microsoft make some the highest quality laptops on the market place next to Apple.

All aluminium bodies, 20+ hours of battery, great screens and best looking laptops along with the macs (nearly a direct knock off if we’re honest design wise)

 

[Parazels]

So, reads like it's not going to be a proper handheld Xbox after all, and a straight handheld PC. That's disappointing to read, and further signals the death of the Xbox brand. Depending on cost and when it launches, it may be a nice spec upgrade on the Steam Deck, but Windows has a lot of bloat and needs a lot of optimisation for these handheld devices.

Looks like we are approaching the point, where the "Xbox" logo would rather reduce sales, than increase them!

 

[Crayon]

Valve should make a steamos iso that works perfect on this thing.

 

[Cyberpunkd]

...imagine it as a handheld windows PC...

 

[Astray]

To have a chance of what? The Steam Deck sold at best like 6 million units, Microsoft is on another level despite the Xbox brand being currently a joke. I don't understand how people have redpilled themselves to believe that PC handhelds are even remotely as popular as the three console holders.

Youtubers have been making content off the Steam Deck like mad. That's probably a reason for the misperception.

 

[TBiddy]

Huh?? Microsoft make some the highest quality laptops on the market place next to Apple.

All aluminium bodies, 20+ hours of battery, great screens and best looking laptops along with the macs (nearly a direct knock off if we’re honest design wise)

True dat. They are expensive, but with good reason.

 

[Lucifers Beard]

The battery life on these things isn't very good at all, so additional power isn't going to do it any favours I imagine. These handhelds are awesome though so as long as it supports Steam, I'm interested.

 

[Dr.D00p]

Idiots should just swallow their pride and subsidise Valve to make a more powerful Xbox branded Steam Deck, with Steam OS on it.

They will never make Windows work on a handheld, never.

 

[baphomet]

High-end and like a Steam Deck are 2 very different things

 

[AyraSutoraifu]

 

[hinch7]

Idiots should just swallow their pride and subsidise Valve to make a more powerful Xbox branded Steam Deck, with Steam OS on it.

They will never make Windows work on a handheld, never.

The Surface team is on the handheld. They can just copy ahem take inspiration from SteamOS's UI ;p

Why would they go out their way to fund a competitors device and ecosystem? That makes zero sense.

People are early to dismiss a proper working Windows handheld and OS purpose built for that use case.

 

[Brucey]

The high end device will be available in much less markets than before?

Tier 0: Only releasing in US, Canada, UK, maybe Aus/NZ. Direct from Microsoft store. With the dwindling sales of series s and x most retailers won't be interested in stocking this.

 

[spons]

If my Xbox console game library isn't there then don't bother

Wouldn't count on it, even backwards compatibility was licensing hell for Microsoft. It could probably be done from a technical perspective, if they implement all the Xbox-specific APIs on the device.

Tier 0: Only releasing in US, Canada, UK, maybe Aus/NZ. Direct from Microsoft store. With the dwindling sales of series s and x most retailers won't be interested in stocking this.

Shit, I wouldn't even be surprised if this were to be an Anglosphere product, at first anyway.

The tier thing for the Xbox One was so incredibly stupid. The Netherlands didn't get it, but do a 20 KM drive over the border to Germany and you could find literal piles of Xbox Ones at any random retailers. It made zero fucking sense.

 

[KungFucius]

This is like Microsoft announcing they're going to make a laptop.

For any Xbox fans who might be interested in this, you can already choose from a variety of existing handheld PCs that are on the market right now and install the Xbox PC app. If this is their plan, it's nothing new, there's no reason to wait on their unit if you want this, and there's no incentive to buy the Xbox branded one over other competitors. Go check out the Legion Go, Asus ROG Ally, Steam Deck, etc.

They could make something better than the others in some way. Price is my bet. I still see them trying to make it more of an Xbox. I'd get one for the kids if it is a good balance of cost and features.

 

[GHG]

They could make something better than the others in some way. Price is my bet. I still see them trying to make it more of an Xbox. I'd get one for the kids if it is a good balance of cost and features.

It's going to be more expensive, not less.

If they lose control of the ability to lock people in to their store with this device the there's no way they will subsidise it. If anything, they will seek to generate margin on the product in order to offset any estimated shortfall in store cut revenue.

 

[Mayar]

I have a clear impression that Neogaf is more concerned about Xbox fate than Microsoft itself, as it seems to me they have already decided everything there a long time ago, and will continue to follow their plan, since judging by their behavior and how they speak, everything is going exactly as planned and they are satisfied with the results.

 

[Skifi28]

if MS sells a PC handheld for the same price as Switch2 and times it right they could decimate the Switch2 sales.

Not if hell froze over. Very different markets and the demand for Nintendo games is real.

 

[Brucey]

They could make something better than the others in some way. Price is my bet. I still see them trying to make it more of an Xbox. I'd get one for the kids if it is a good balance of cost and features.

If it's from the Surface team it's going to be premium priced until they have them on clearance later.

Surface team apparently a shell of former self after departure of Panos last year, replaced with bean counter Mehdi.

Panos Panay, leader of the Surface and Windows teams, is leaving Microsoft

Will be replaced by Yusuf Mehdi, who has been leading the way on AI efforts.

arstechnica.com

 

[Brucey]

Wouldn't count on it, even backwards compatibility was licensing hell for Microsoft. It could probably be done from a technical perspective, if they implement all the Xbox-specific APIs on the device.


Shit, I wouldn't even be surprised if this were to be an Anglosphere product, at first anyway.

The tier thing for the Xbox One was so incredibly stupid. The Netherlands didn't get it, but do a 20 KM drive over the border to Germany and you could find literal piles of Xbox Ones at any random retailers. It made zero fucking sense.

Yeah it was crazy I think they thought Xbox one would sell like hotcakes and failed to imagine gigantic pyramids of unsold units.

 

[winjer]

 

[BlackTron]

It doesn't even play Xbox games? It's just another handheld PC, this time with a more fancy software wrapper for the Xbox PC app?

It's like every single thing they do is retarded. Holy shit.

 

[Mephisto40]

"High End" implies it's going to be much more expensive than the competition