AT CES 2025, Microsoft VP of Subsequent Era Jason Ronald teased a refreshed person expertise for Home windows handheld gaming PCs: one that would mix the most effective elements of its working system and Xbox. Whereas Home windows 11 permits for extra choice–users can entry Steam, Epic Video games Retailer, and a number of other different marketplaces–it could be a chore to make use of as a result of it’s natively designed for PCs and laptops–not handheld techniques with a lot smaller screens.
“We have been actually innovating for a very long time within the console area, and as we accomplice throughout the business it is actually about how will we carry these improvements that we have incubated and developed within the console area and produce them to PC and produce them to the hand-held gaming area,” Ronald mentioned an AMD and Lenovo occasion (through The Verge). “I’d say it is bringing the most effective of Xbox and Home windows collectively, as a result of we now have spent the final 20 years constructing a world-class working system, however it’s actually locked to the console. What we’re doing is we’re actually targeted on how will we carry these experiences for each gamers and builders to the broader Home windows ecosystem.”
Ronald defined that Microsoft goals to carry a console-like expertise to handhelds and “make Home windows nice for gaming” on any system. Microsoft can have extra particulars to share later within the yr, Ronald mentioned, including that the thought is to maneuver away from a Home windows desktop setup on handhelds and towards a “gaming-centric” expertise.
In the meantime, Xbox chief Phil Spencer has candidly spoken in regards to the concept of a Xbox handheld system for a number of month, and it has been reported that Microsoft is at present engaged on a prototype that’s nonetheless years away from being launched. In the meantime, Valve’s SteamOS is coming to extra PC gaming handhelds, beginning with the brand new Lenovo Legion Go S later this yr.