Microsoft’s gaming bigwig, Phil Spencer, has had his eye on an Xbox handheld device for a while, looking to tussle with some of the top dogs in handheld gaming PCs, like the Steam Deck OLED and Asus ROG Ally X. But, in a recent sit-down with Bloomberg, Spencer laid it out plain and simple: that gadget isn’t just around the corner.
In the chat, Spencer mentioned there’s an “expectation” for them to dive into such a venture. However, he pointed out that folks shouldn’t hold their breath, as it’ll be a few years before anything hits the shelves.
“Over the long haul, I love the idea of us crafting devices,” Spencer told Bloomberg. He’s optimistic about the team’s potential to shake things up, but emphasized that they’re keen on first learning from the current landscape.
For the moment, Microsoft seems more interested in refining the Xbox app on existing PC gaming handhelds and ensuring Xbox’s features and games blend smoothly with those devices. Just recently, they rolled out a “compact mode” UI update for the Xbox app on Windows, aimed specifically at mobile devices. Many, including me, have pointed out that Windows 11 can be a bit of a rough ride on handhelds like the ROG Ally and Lenovo Legion Go.
The interview also hinted that Microsoft hasn’t closed the chapter on acquisitions, even after their colossal $69 billion buy of Activision Blizzard in 2023. They’re also tinkering with mobile gaming stores, although those plans have faced some delays.
When the Steam Deck debuted in early 2022, it set the tone for modern PC gaming handhelds. While it’s gotten a boost with an OLED screen, Valve isn’t jumping to release a beefier chip just yet. Most leading Windows options are rocking AMD’s Ryzen Z1 Extreme, so it feels like the PC gaming handheld scene is still in its infancy.
In the meantime, Spencer expressed to Bloomberg that despite Xbox trailing behind the Nintendo Switch and PlayStation 5, business is humming along nicely. “The business is performing right now, which I believe means a brighter future for hardware and the games we create,” he said, noting a surge in PC and cloud gaming alongside their traditional console market.
For an Xbox handheld to really shake things up, it can’t just blend into the crowd with the likes of the Steam Deck and Windows machines from big players like Lenovo, MSI, and Asus. The coming years may see some big shifts, so a late entry will need to pack some serious punch to get noticed.
