HeisenbergFX4
Gold Member
Again*
Polygon: I tested Xbox's powerful - and heavy - new handheld
- Thread starter cormack12
- Start date
Heisenberg007
Gold Journalism
It won't. An "Xbox" device should, but it is not an Xbox device - even though it is literally marketed with the stupid slogan of "this is an Xbox."
It is a PC handheld and has nothing to do with Xbox. So it won't run all your Xbox library games - only the Play Anywhere title.
Heisenberg007
Gold Journalism
I don't understand why though.
It seems like a powerful device. Apart from the marketing / software mismatch (i.e., this PC handheld being called an Xbox that's not gonna run all Xbox games in your library), it seems like a fine handheld.
The only issue with this will be the steep price. But since they haven't revealed the price (AFAIK), they shouldn't interfere with the early impressions and reviews or controlling the narrative. There is no need.
Onironauta
Member
Have you ever used one of these handheld PCs?
It's just a Windows 11 Home device that can boot into the Xbox app UI, not unlike Steam Big Picture mode
rodrigolfp
Haptic Gamepads 4 Life
So that 6% means the user is talking about his games that have PC versions and are play anywhere, right?
winjer
Member
Because of Windows performance issues and bad energy control features.
MS knows that SteamOS is a much better solution and they can't compete. So it's better to hide the professional comparisons.
Heisenberg007
Gold Journalism
Yep. It'll likely run more Steam games than Xbox games.
- If you own a game on Steam > you can run it on this.
- If you own a game on Epic > you can run it on this.
- If you own a game on Xbox > you cannot run on this.
- If said game on Xbox is a PlayAnwhere title > you can run on this.
Heisenberg007
Gold Journalism
Well, Windows have always sucked, and that's not gonna change anytime soon. Asus Rog Ally and Lenovo handhelds have already joined the market - and nobody seemed to mind them. They are brute-forcing games, trying to overcome the inefficiens of Windows.
Honestly, this should not make Microsoft interfere in all this.
It is a powerful device and will brute-power most games. The downside of brute-powering is the price - but, again, they aren't talking about the price yet so it will only become a factor down the road. In the meanwhile, positive impressions and word of mouth will only help MS.
Astray
Member
Polygon had a long-standing relationship with Xbox, they produced the "documentary" about Xbox's history and have historically had strong links there.
Microsoft wants everyone to shut the fuck up about SteamOS because it's a long-term threat to Windows adoption (a far more important asset to them than Xbox is).
Wait until the media shillery blitz is over and then downsides will almost immediately make themselves known.
GHG
Member
In light of this, the following thread looks pretty silly now:
The same people falling for their bullshit marketing every time.
Yes, sad how many kids and parents are going to be angry and crying because their new handheld console doesn't play native games from their previous, totally different home console...
Unforgivable for those millions and millions of kids and parents who will buy a $900+ niche hardcore product without knowing what they're buying... Because, of course, they'll probably buy a new, powerful handheld device only for the XBO/Series games (which they can play in other ways) they've bought and not for the new games in the industry, the PC catalog past and present, emulators, Gamepass, Steam, and even PlayStation games that they can play
LOL.
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GHG
Member
Yes, sad how many kids and parents are going to be angry and crying because their new handheld console doesn't play all the games from their previous, totally different home console nativamente...
Unforgivable for those millions and millions of kids and parents who will buy a $900+ niche hardcore product without knowing what they're buying... Because, of course, they'll probably buy a new, powerful handheld device only for the XBO/Series games (which they can play in other ways) they've bought and not for the new games in the industry, the PC catalog past and present, emulators, Gamepass, Steam, and even PlayStation games that they can play
LOL.
Right on cue.
You're referring to your presence and participation in every Xbox thread, spouting the same hateful comments about a brand and attacking users of that platform as if you were willing to do so???
Well, yes, right on cue.
PS. In that thread you mention, what you mainly see is a guy lying when he insinuates that the PlayAnywhere games available are mostly indie or mobile games... Which is shocking to see that same guy discredit and criticize for supposedly misleading marketing
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winjer
Member
The recent SteamOS update allows this OS to be installed on those devices as well.
And the result is that with SteamOS, these devices got a significant performance boost, and a big increase in battery longevity.
And mind you, SteamOS is using a translation layer to run non-native games.
It's really remarkable just how bad Windows is for playing games.
HerjansEagleFeeder
Member
I kinda like the idea of consoles sorting out the weaklings. Chopstick arms? No games for you, go get into the gym!
GHG
Member
You're referring to your presence and participation in every Xbox thread, spouting the same hateful comments about a brand and attacking users of that platform as if you were willing to do so???
Well, yes, right on cue.
"hateful comments about a brand"?
Yeh, you take all of this way to seriously.
By the way, at any point in the last ~5/6 years you could have had a device (and handheld or desktop) to play "PC catalog past and present, emulators, Gamepass, Steam, and even PlayStation games that they can play
". Just a shame that it's required one to release with an Xbox sticker slapped on it for you to come to that realisation.But please keep going, moving forward statements like yours only make it easier for them to just turn a blind eye to the digital libraries people have built up on Xbox consoles over the years.
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Mr Moose
Member
Me, looking for the handheld consoleYes, sad how many kids and parents are going to be angry and crying because their new handheld console doesn't play native games from their previous, totally different home console...
GHG
Member
D
Darsxx82
when Xbox announce there are 1000 "play anywhere" titles:
D Darsxx82 now when someone questions the current validity of play anywhere based on the fact that most users will only be able to play a small percentage of their Xbox library on future Xbox branded hardware:
And for the record, no I was not referring to the OP of that thread, but rather several of the comments throughout the thread.
D Darsxx82 now when someone questions the current validity of play anywhere based on the fact that most users will only be able to play a small percentage of their Xbox library on future Xbox branded hardware:
Yes, sad how many kids and parents are going to be angry and crying because their new handheld console doesn't play native games from their previous, totally different home console...
Unforgivable for those millions and millions of kids and parents who will buy a $900+ niche hardcore product without knowing what they're buying... Because, of course, they'll probably buy a new, powerful handheld device only for the XBO/Series games (which they can play in other ways) they've bought and not for the new games in the industry, the PC catalog past and present, emulators, Gamepass, Steam, and even PlayStation games that they can play
LOL.
And for the record, no I was not referring to the OP of that thread, but rather several of the comments throughout the thread.
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Damm, I thought the concern and the problem was with those poor little kids who bought that new Xbox without knowing what they were buying...!!!"hateful comments about a brand"?
Yeh, you take all of this way to seriously.
By the way, at any point in the last ~5/6 years you could have had a device (and handheld or desktop) to play "PC catalog past and present, emulators, Gamepass, Steam, and even PlayStation games that they can play
But please keep going, moving forward statements like yours only make it easier for them to just turn a blind eye to the digital libraries people have built up on Xbox consoles over the years.
LOL. It's funny that you're asking for more pressure and action to preserve the past and present catalog to the people of a platform where your have the better access to that catalog, and not to the other of the more closed platforms whose efforts in BC over the last decade have been disappointing (including charging for updates and charging subscriptions for BC for older consoles).
Then, PlayAnywhere, whether you like it or not, is a pro-user service and worthy of praise. It's not perfect, but it's improving day by day within its capabilities. Is a great proposition for users with multiple plataform.
In the next generation??? We'll see how MS resolves this issue. When there are many indications that they are working on offering BC even beyond their own devices.....at least you could be cautious in what you say instead of lecturing others about things that you then don't require on the platform you are using.
That's the problem, many of you have embraced the idea that the only way to access that catalog in the future is through the PlayAnywhere catalog when there is not Next gen yet.
First, you need to know what MS's proposal will be with the new Xbox desktop, whether it's a console, hybrid, or purely PC.
When you have tons of information and proof that they're working on offering native BC for past games, even with a team of engineers... It's as simple as waiting and seeing.
Meanwhile, PlayAnywhere is perfect for playing first-party Xbox games, and increasingly more third-party games, on different devices for just one payment... Don't you think that's a good thing?
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GHG
Member
Damm, I thought the concern and the problem was with those poor little kids who bought that new Xbox without knowing what they were buying...!!!
LOL. It's funny that you're asking for more pressure and action to preserve the past and present catalog to the people of a platform where your have the better access to that catalog, and not to the other of the more closed platforms whose efforts in BC over the last decade have been disappointing (including charging for updates and charging subscriptions for BC for older consoles).
Then, PlayAnywhere, whether you like it or not, is a pro-user service and worthy of praise. It's not perfect, but it's improving day by day within its capabilities. Is a great proposition for users with multiple plataform.
In the next generation??? We'll see how MS resolves this issue. When there are many indications that they are working on offering BC even beyond their own devices.....at least you could be cautious in what you say instead of lecturing others about things that you then don't require on the platform you are using.
I'm not the one who said anything about "little kids", however it's not a stretch to think that people will buy Xbox branded hardware with the expectation that it will be capable of playing their current digital libraries, especially when the marketing for the device is as it currently is.
And I don't know what the fuck you're talking about regarding BC when I went on record several times prior to both the PS5 and the Switch 2's releases stating that if there's no BC then I'd no longer consider purchasing them. I don't know if you got the memo, but since digital libraries have become more dominant, consumer expectations regarding the ability to access and play those titles on future hardware has shifted dramatically.
What's funny is that you've gone from stating it's something they need to strengthen in order to succeed moving forwards to now being outright dismissive of it when people are questioning it.
Oh well.
HeisenbergFX4
Gold Member
Steve Holt
Member
That's been their default for years now.
Amazing how anyone can take their messaging seriously nowadays.
RobRSG
Member
There is no version besides Switch 2 that supports DLSS, so we were good up until now.
In portable mode, I really doubt this thing is playable with the current joycons.
The Series S port is just a sloppy port not really a good representation of what the console can do.
Other than that, if you are expecting that any portable console released this year will outperform the Series S, I have bad news for you.
Within the scope of what could be considered "misleading"... he never says that with that XBOX Ally you can access that catalog natively. He even specifies the different ways that included (along with the native XBOXPC Store games) streaming, Xcloud, PlayAnywhere, etc.
From here on, I think everyone knows that the supposed case of a kid or parent who bought a product without knowing what it offered will be more niche than the product itself.
So you're talking about the future? Because right now, the platform with the best support for BC (at no cost) over a long distance is XBOX, which also allows you to play games on other platforms for a one-time payment.
I repeat, next generation??? It hasn't arrived yet, and we don't know how MS is going to solve this problem in It's future hardware. We also don't know how Sony will do it either.
What we have is the information and the indication that they have a complete team of engineers working to offer a formula to achieve catalog preservation from past devices on future devices... Don't you find that interesting? That you've embraced the idea that MS only thinks about PlayAnywhere and Xcloud for BC is something else. Don't demand that everyone have the same idea. It's as easy as wait and see and then decide. Imagine if MS announces native emulation of Xbox console games not only on its next-gen "console" but also on PC??? How will it feel to have been so critical, even adding insults and contempt for Xbox users that are waiting to Know what Will be the "Next Xbox"?
What's funny is that you've gone from stating it's something they need to strengthen in order to succeed moving forwards to now being outright dismissive of it when people are questioning it.
Oh well.
??? Where's the contradiction? Can you explain it to me?
Does MS need to offer some way to allow Xbox users to access the catalog of past console games they purchased on future devices for their strategy to succeed? Yes?
That's what I'm saying. The difference is that I think they're working on that aspect, and you say they're not going to do anything and all is reduced to PlayAnywhere.
Oh Well!
Radical_3d
Member
Kenneth Haight
Gold Member
diffusionx
Gold Member
"This is an Xbox" is very deceptive marketing. I can't call my toaster a car, words mean something objective and real, Plato figured this 2500 years ago.
An "Xbox" is a videogame console. This is not an Xbox, even if Microsoft says it is. It's not a videogame console. It's a handheld PC. It doesn't play Xbox games. Microsoft was intentionally being very squishy in their wording during the promo and when Sarah Booth was talking. They can be much clearer on what this is (a PC) and are choosing not to because they want Xbox owners to think it is an Xbox which it is not.
It is correct to call this out and MS should change their marketing. If MS wants to go out and cancel the Xbox (the actual Xbox, the console) and say that now all their efforts are Xbox they need to say so explicitly and put out something saying that this is not a videogame console and will not play your Xbox games because we changed the definition.
An "Xbox" is a videogame console. This is not an Xbox, even if Microsoft says it is. It's not a videogame console. It's a handheld PC. It doesn't play Xbox games. Microsoft was intentionally being very squishy in their wording during the promo and when Sarah Booth was talking. They can be much clearer on what this is (a PC) and are choosing not to because they want Xbox owners to think it is an Xbox which it is not.
It is correct to call this out and MS should change their marketing. If MS wants to go out and cancel the Xbox (the actual Xbox, the console) and say that now all their efforts are Xbox they need to say so explicitly and put out something saying that this is not a videogame console and will not play your Xbox games because we changed the definition.
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rodrigolfp
Haptic Gamepads 4 Life
Don't worry. It's not. It's by Asus.
RobRSG
Member
I was just replying to your line of thought.Reading skills:
First you have a fair point talking about the omission of FSR4…
Then I mention about performance, but I didn't compare it to Series S, I was comparing it with the Switch 2.
And then I reacted to your comment saying that you cannot expect a portable to exceed the Series S anytime soon.
And again, SF6 is barely running on the Series S because Capcom decided so.
Exactly. But everything is an Xbox now. Even if it's just a toaster that browns your bread.
But seriously makes me wonder if this is or could be the new Xbox business. 3rd parties making hardware.
OK probably not. It's just giving players more choice as the marketers like to say. Them expanding what Xbox means. IT's a dedicated console, no it's a bird, it's a plane, it's a boot option on a Windows handheld. Xbox is more than just an Xbox.
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DeepEnigma
Gold Member
They're master-craft at that.
StereoVsn
Gold Member
Steam Deck, Lenovo, MSI and Asus themselves with previous Ally devices (that can now run SteamOS).
Edit: And a bunch of Chinese handhelds but those are even pricier.
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Gambit2483
Member
"Big and Heavy" isn't exactly a mass market flex...but sure, let's pretend those are both "good" features for a handheld...