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Xbox is working on handheld gaming prototypes, its gaming CEO has confirmed,

I don't think they will release anymore traditional consoles, that's a sinking ship
What does this statement mean from earlier this year? Although this is 9 months old at this point, I thought we were still going to get some news of something.

"We’ve got more to come. There’s some exciting stuff coming out in hardware that we’re going to share this holiday. We’re also invested in the next-generation roadmap. What we’re really focused on there is delivering the largest technical leap you will have ever seen in a hardware generation, which makes it better for players and better for creators and the visions that they’re building."

 

Zacfoldor

Member
So next gen we get a console and a hybrid from Xbox.

Both, we assume, will also play Steam.

A platform agnostic prebuilt and with a bespoke OS setup, if properly subsidized, could be a solid option. However, I don't know how MS plans to not lose heaps money on such a device.

I could see a situation where someone buys this off MS, installs Steam and never buys a MS game on it, or even gamepass.

How will this go mainstream in an overcrowded market?

Either they remove the steam feature or charge a higher price I guess. They must have some really smart people over there if they can figure out how to get this launched and make it successful, because I'm throwing up my hands here. I have no idea how this could work.

Also of note, it appears this is a bit further out than previously reported, no? Perhaps they will not release "early" next gen. If they kick this steam thing to the curve and start making games exclusive again, they could be not as stuck as they are now.
 
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Brucey

Member
I don't think they will release anymore traditional consoles, that's a sinking ship
Yes zero talk about a series console successor but possible protoypes/free thinking ideas of a mobile devices a few years away. Basically no gaming hardware anytime soon. Sarah Bonds words from April 2024 were absolute horsedung.

"We are moving full speed ahead on our next generation hardware, focused on delivering the biggest technological leap ever in a generation."
 

Bernoulli

M2 slut
I don't think they will release anymore traditional consoles, that's a sinking ship
with how expensive are games to make now, the smartest thing to do is to switch to handhelds that have the power of a series S or lower
unless there is a major change in how games are made next gen games like on PS6 will cost much more but still looking close to current gen
 
If its not a lighter version of windows optimized running games, that thing is done for. It would literally be the xbone they wanted back in 2014, an all in one device.
 
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HeisenbergFX4

Gold Member
What does this statement mean from earlier this year? Although this is 9 months old at this point, I thought we were still going to get some news of something.

"We’ve got more to come. There’s some exciting stuff coming out in hardware that we’re going to share this holiday. We’re also invested in the next-generation roadmap. What we’re really focused on there is delivering the largest technical leap you will have ever seen in a hardware generation, which makes it better for players and better for creators and the visions that they’re building."

Largest technical leap could mean anything by their standards

One could argue adding PSSR to the pro was the greatest technical leap we have seen yet in consoles
 

Thebonehead

Gold Member
No just a promise I would stop talking :)

MS Execs every time you post on 'Gaf

Images Repair GIF by getflexseal
 
So next gen we get a console and a hybrid from Xbox.

Both, we assume, will also play Steam.

A platform agnostic prebuilt and with a bespoke OS setup, if properly subsidized, could be a solid option.

How will this go mainstream in an overcrowded market?
The box will sell people on it if it offers all of this at console pricing.

They will entice people with a free month of GP too.
 
Largest technical leap could mean anything by their standards

One could argue adding PSSR to the pro was the greatest technical leap we have seen yet in consoles

So I guess, I should infer some sort of hybrid type console with PSSR equivalent type or frame doubling capable device.. not unreasonable I suppose as what we are seeing Apple put out with energy consumption versus performance on their 3 nanometer M4 chips. I suppose in a few years AMD should be close to that level on the CPU side.

Sounds like this is definitely the last disk based generation for MS then. Even though we have seen other markets already pointing in this direction. Next gen is going to be fun to watch.
 

Taur007

Member
The market is so well developed now and there is a handheld for just about every specific handheld taste out there. I don't see what exactly MS can bring to the table that excites me. Chances are it will come with some caveats of being either locked Xbox app or something in that style. In the eras of Steam Deck OLEDs, Rog Ally X, Legion Go and all those charming chinese off-brands like OneXFly and GPD Win, I don't see what more MS in particular can do to excite me. Sure they can be way more aggressive with price but price is hardly universally high given that you can find a high performing RoG Ally Z1E version very cheap used. And knowing how Microsoft works, this project is just as likely to get canned the moment the winds turn in a different direction.
It doesn’t have to bring anything new, just be a great device that’s on the same level as the competitors. You’re forgetting about brand power too, people will simply purchase cause it’s Xbox and it’s “official” vs some off brand people may not have heard of

I think If Sony released a psp today and actually supported it unlike vita, it would actually give the switch a run cause people love Sony and it’s synonymous with high quality gaming, imagine spiderman port on a native handheld and not that portal crap
 

Matsuchezz

Member
Nobody cares what Xbox is doing but, the weirdos, those people will buy whatever turd comes out of MS’s ass call it fresh and exciting and buy it. Just like hellblade 2. That was a pretty turd.
 
If its not a lighter version of windows optimized running games, that thing is done for. It would literally be the xbone they wanted back in 2014, an all in one device.

Unless the completely redesigned windows os, don’t think Xbox team, wants to touch that pile of crap, it’s obviously going to run Xbox os for obvious reasons, ease of use, user friendly etc, compatibility with Xbox software, why would they use windows, they just need to make the Xbox os semi open like ios, to be able to compete with steam deck, make sure the hardware is better then steam deck, and some unique features, like 3d screen maybe, sell it at a loss, and they have a winner, ms can thank me later. If they listen to me that is.
 
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Hrk69

Member
Nobody cares what Xbox is doing but, the weirdos, those people will buy whatever turd comes out of MS’s ass call it fresh and exciting and buy it
You know you are dead wrong.

Handhelds are kind of having a resurgence with devices like the Steam Deck and Switch, so it’ll be interesting to see if Xbox can actually make something exciting enough to shift the narrative a bit.
 

Matsuchezz

Member
You know you are dead wrong.

Handhelds are kind of having a resurgence with devices like the Steam Deck and Switch, so it’ll be interesting to see if Xbox can actually make something exciting enough to shift the narrative a bit.
Handhelds are cool. A Ms handheld I am not sure about. They suck!
 

EDMIX

Writes a lot, says very little
The massive lolz, I like how every "rumor" we stated is slowly being confirmed by them...
 

Ceadeus

Member
Now that's interesting! Let's shake up the gaming world a bit, Sony is a snoozefest right now

Edit: well to be fair Xbox too 😬
 
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yes, more reacting to the competition by being at least several years too late. Good luck with that.

xbox is a sinking ship and they want to make it sink faster by playing catch up. Even if they release a handheld into the market now, it would still be a failure as they would be competing with not only Valve and Nintendo, but also the likes of Asus, MSI, Lenovo, etc.
 

bitbydeath

Member
What does this statement mean from earlier this year? Although this is 9 months old at this point, I thought we were still going to get some news of something.
"We’ve got more to come. There’s some exciting stuff coming out in hardware that we’re going to share this holiday.
They just released new hardware not long ago.

We’re also invested in the next-generation roadmap. What we’re really focused on there is delivering the largest technical leap you will have ever seen in a hardware generation, which makes it better for players and better for creators and the visions that they’re building."
They were pushing for ARM hardware, not sure if still the case but it would fit the “largest technical leap” definition, if it’s still happening.
 
They just released new hardware not long ago.


They were pushing for ARM hardware, not sure if still the case but it would fit the “largest technical leap” definition, if it’s still happening.

LOL good catch, the and changes everything. I have been thinking this whole time we were going to hear something this year all this time from reading what came out from the press. I just went back and watched the video.


Below is what she said:

"We’ve got more to come. There’s some exciting stuff coming out in hardware that we’re going to share this holiday and we’re also invested in the next-generation roadmap. What we’re really focused on there is delivering the largest technical leap you will have ever seen in a hardware generation, which makes it better for players and better for creators and the visions that they’re building."

Below is what was put out on the websites which reads differently to me as it is the same topic she is referring to:

"We’ve got more to come. There’s some exciting stuff coming out in hardware that we’re going to share this holiday. We’re also invested in the next-generation roadmap. What we’re really focused on there is delivering the largest technical leap you will have ever seen in a hardware generation, which makes it better for players and better for creators and the visions that they’re building."
 

welshrat

Member
Closed eco system handheld....Yuk!

Somehow I can't imagine Xbox will allow me to stuff their handheld full of emulators & ROM files, can you?
100% this, my attraction to the steam deck was, ps remote play, pc remote play, steam library, linux desktop when required and great emulator. None of these things will exist on an MS deck
 

RavenSan

Off-Site Inflammatory Member
I'm a simple man. I want a handheld that runs (natively) my steam library & my xbox library. So basically just do Windows on it, but allow it to run the xbox OS or whatever the hell you need to do to allow me to natively run my xbox library. I'm kinda doing that now with my steam deck and xcloud, but natiiiiiiiveeeeee.

Do that, and I'm sold day one.
 

Mattyp

Not the YouTuber
Why would anyone buy this over a steam deck outside of game pass users. I can't imagine anything Microsoft could do to make this handheld more attractive then say an asus ROG.

Unless it has a tailor made OS for it that can proitize battery, life but at that point, it probably won't be able to run windows games.

So it's back to why should anyone who doesn't use game pass buy this hand handle instead of a steam deck?

The surface hardware team would shit over the steam deck. So you’re getting something that does exactly the same thing the steam deck does just with better performance and quality.
 

Astray

Member
The surface hardware team would shit over the steam deck. So you’re getting something that does exactly the same thing the steam deck does just with better performance and quality.
Steam Deck is a remarkably-engineered piece of tech, I don't think Surface team can improve on things unless Microsoft makes drastic changes to Windows and ships some sort of custom version..
 

justiceiro

Marlboro: Other M
We don't "need" a Microsoft handheld device. We simply need windows to better work on the existing handhelds. Navigate windows using only the controller. Better control over the resources that are available for games.
 

Punished Miku

Human Rights Subscription Service
We don't "need" a Microsoft handheld device. We simply need windows to better work on the existing handhelds. Navigate windows using only the controller. Better control over the resources that are available for games.
And that's exactly what they're doing first. Then they said they'll try hardware and people are entirely free to buy it or skip it. Literally zero downside as far as I can tell.
 

Kenpachii

Member
What gets my hopes up is that they make a "handheld friendly windows" that cuts out a ton of bloat that would be something.
 
I cannot see how an Xbox handheld would change the console's fortunes when the Steam Deck and Nintendo Switch exist.

The Switch is a compelling system because of Nintendo's extensive library of exclusive games. The Steam Deck is a compelling handheld because it lets you play PC games on the go. Where does the Xbox fit into this when 90% of its Game Pass library compromises of games that are also available on PC? The Xbox has so few exclusives these days especially compared with the original Xbox and 360 days.

But it is just like Microsoft to copy whatever else is successful, right? They did that with Kinect, trying to latch onto the Wiimote craze at that time, and now they want a slice of the Nintendo Switch pie. I really wish they'd just do their own thing, something that makes them stand out from the both Nintendo and Sony. This is what will drive Xbox sales not copying everyone else and trying to get into markets that already exist.
 
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RaZoR No1

Member
I cannot see how an Xbox handheld would change the console's fortunes when the Steam Deck and Nintendo Switch exist.

The Switch is a compelling system because of Nintendo's extensive library of exclusive games. The Steam Deck is a compelling handheld because it lets you play PC games on the go. Where does the Xbox fit into this when 90% of its Game Pass library compromises of games that are also available on PC? The Xbox has so few exclusives these days especially compared with the original Xbox and 360 days.

But it is just like Microsoft to copy whatever else is successful, right? They did that with Kinect, trying to latch onto the Wiimote craze at that time, and now they want a slice of the Nintendo Switch pie. I really wish they'd just do their own thing, something that makes them stand out from the both Nintendo and Sony. This is what will drive Xbox sales not copying everyone else and trying to get into markets that already exist.
What games were released in the past few years, that were Xbox exclusives and not released on MS PC Store or Steam/Epic?
Or let us say were not playable on a Windows machine without emulation?

I honestly cannot remember one/any game atm...
 
I cannot see how an Xbox handheld would change the console's fortunes when the Steam Deck and Nintendo Switch exist.

The Switch is a compelling system because of Nintendo's extensive library of exclusive games. The Steam Deck is a compelling handheld because it lets you play PC games on the go. Where does the Xbox fit into this when 90% of its Game Pass library compromises of games that are also available on PC? The Xbox has so few exclusives these days especially compared with the original Xbox and 360 days.

But it is just like Microsoft to copy whatever else is successful, right? They did that with Kinect, trying to latch onto the Wiimote craze at that time, and now they want a slice of the Nintendo Switch pie. I really wish they'd just do their own thing, something that makes them stand out from the both Nintendo and Sony. This is what will drive Xbox sales not copying everyone else and trying to get into markets that already exist.

They are doing their own thing. They are going to the only platform holder to release their games on all other platforms as well. The problem with your thinkign is the handheld has nothing to do with changing the consoles future they aren't interested in that. Every time Xbox announces something I see people speculating how it will affect their hardware market share. They are done with that game and I don't understand what people don't get about that. This handheld has nothing to do with capturing more market share and is just them giving people more options and ways to play. I could even see them just releasing the OS and not even doing the hardware. It's still a prototype.
 

Brucey

Member
All next-gen console stuff is 2027 afaik.
Thanks, I think previously there was talk of Xbox "going early with GTA 6" versus say PS6 in 2028 etc. Honestly if series is tanking so bad then is there really any pressure to release a ps6 in 2028, with PS5 and now Pro yet to hit their stride? They could easily go for a long generation which is great news for developers.
 
How they have Game Pass and cloud plus 10s of billions being thrown around to still be years away from a handheld or a hybrid console like docking a Nintendo Switch is beyond me. A perfect marriage of hardware, perhaps going an open store and market segment offering.

Again make it great, part of the existing Xbox ecosystem, open it wide to other stores/emulators and loss lead the fuck out of it with some real power and quality hardware. Combine Elite controller updates, Switch-like capabilities, Series S and X type models for price vs performance points. Honestly you could write the brief with Chat GPT and be under way in a year or two to market. Does my head in.
 
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