- If Xbox handheld is confined like a console, it is no longer a viable option for folks interested in PC gaming (which is a way bigger audience than Xbox gamers).
I agree. That option certainly does not have the best perspective. But not because it would not attract PC players, the problem would be more in the difficulty of ensuring support by publishers and 3rd party Studios. That support would depend on sales because it would require ad hoc versions. In other words, it should be a 20+ million product and I don't think MS is thinking about that kind of success.
The advantage of a Windows handlead vs a tradicional console is that support is simple and by default because developers do not need to create ad hoc versions. There is no risk of your investment becoming a paperweight because support and usefulness are assured.
- If Xbox handheld is Windows-based and open, then it is no longer a console (it no longer appeals to console gamers who want the simplicity), and Xbox also loses their store revenue, as most people will prefer Steam over Windows/Xbox store anyway.
The line between what is a console and a PC today is very thin. In fact, it is practically only in the OS itself that organizes and facilitates the execution of games.
If MS is capable of offering a default Xbox OS that makes you feel like you're playing your XSeries... I don't know how it was going to put the console player disgusted by default
If it is Windows based and allows the freedom to use the hardware as desired.... I don't know what would set back the PC user.
Many console only users have bought a Steam Deck
Different stores and will people choose Steam?? There MS will have to be seen ensuring optimized versions for games under the Xbox OS and making it the preferable version. If not?? Well, the fact of having Xbox/Windows hardware on the market where part of its users buy in the Xbox Store and subscribe to Gamepass will already be an achievement.
That is, in the end the importance will be in the quality and performance of the hardware, price and catalogue support.
At that point, why wouldn't people just buy a Steam Deck / Steam Deck 2.
- Xbox doesn't have the brand power / awareness that Steam Deck has. So Steam's HW will be more popular anyway.
Xbox even today is a brand with a lot of power. From the hand of MS and its money with even more potential. Imagine that just a few months ago you here were telling us about the danger of an XBOX monopoly for these reasons
- Xbox wouldn't follow the loss leading position anymore. Steam easily can and will. They will use Steam Deck as an entry point and then make their money with their software sales.
- Consequently, Xbox's handheld will be more expensive than a Steam Deck.
- And they can't make Xbox handheld significantly more powerful than a Steam Deck 2 anyway because of already high costs and the fact that they will need to price it somewhat competitively for the market.
How can you state all that so categorically? it is not that SteamDeck is also the most powerful handlead on the market...
MS has the potential to offer the handlead hardware with the best features/price. In fact, I think that if there is something that everyone would never rule out or undervalue, it is the potential of MS/Xbox to offer high-performance hardware.
On the other hand, as I said. I don't think MS is seeing a mass product. Simply a new product line and differentiated from the typical generational console business. Continuous hardware updates to the type of current handleads. If ASUS, Lenovo etc can, why not MS?
This is looking more and more like a huge misstep and a recipe for failure.
What is clear is that if it is for you, all hope that MS does not have the temptation to launch more consoles or even hardware to play.....
Come on, then your only proposal is for MS to do nothing?. After reading to you in another thread that MS is going start to sell its entire gaming business in a couple of years because without a console or its own hardware/ecosistem it will not be interested in continuing in the market... well, in reality everything converges.
It's as easy as all those points that you point out can be seen very differently if you try for a minimum of neutrality. At least to be able to see situations where there is a possibility that there is room for success, or rather, the degree of success they seek.
Each user is a world. Imagine defending these years that the PC is a better alternative than an Xbox and suddenly differentiating console vs PC users as the sole and definitive reason for a product to be destined to fail.
