Phil Spencer, Xbox's chief, has been dropping hints about a potential Xbox handheld for months, but what about handheld Windows gaming PCs? In an interview with The Verge, Jason Ronald, Microsoft's VP of “Next Generation,” revealed that we should expect significant changes to the Windows handheld gaming experience within this calendar year.
Ronald, speaking at an AMD and Lenovo event titled “The Future of Gaming Handhelds,” was on a panel discussing Lenovo’s Legion Go S. He teased that Microsoft's plan is to bring the Xbox experience to Windows PCs, rather than reverse the process, hinting at changes to come soon.
"We've been innovating in the console space for a long time, and as we collaborate across the industry, it's about how we bring the innovations we've developed in the console space to PC and handheld gaming," Ronald said. After the panel, he elaborated that Microsoft aims to merge Xbox and Windows experiences, with changes expected this year, rather than waiting for a potential Xbox handheld that could take years to materialize.
“We’ve spent the last 20 years developing a world-class operating system, but it’s mainly confined to the console. Now, we’re focused on bringing these experiences to the broader Windows ecosystem for both players and developers,” Ronald continued.
At the moment, Windows on handheld devices is lacking, with community-driven alternatives like Valve’s SteamOS proving to offer a better experience. Ronald acknowledged the shortcomings: "We're working on simplifying the experience and making it feel more like a console. Our goal is to center the player and their game library, not the complex Windows setup."
Microsoft has already introduced compact modes for Xbox apps on Windows aimed at improving handheld gaming, but as Ronald pointed out, these are more like superficial updates than solutions to the core issues. “We have more to share later this year,” he teased. "It’s a process, and you’ll see ongoing investments that have already begun, with more to come."
How exactly Microsoft will merge Xbox and Windows remains to be seen, but it doesn’t appear that they’re planning to port a separate Xbox OS to Windows. Instead, Microsoft is working on improving Windows to make it a better platform for gaming, overlaying the Xbox experience to conceal the complexities of the desktop, notifications, and other traditional Windows elements.
Key to this is ensuring that Windows is more controller-friendly. “Windows wasn’t initially designed for controllers, joypads, or thumbsticks,” Ronald admitted. "We’re focusing on improving those fundamentals to make the experience feel naturally like a gaming-focused device."
The ultimate goal is clear: placing the Xbox experience at the center, moving away from the traditional Windows desktop. Stay tuned for more updates as Microsoft works on these ambitious changes, which could reshape the Windows handheld gaming landscape in 2025.
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