Key Takeaways
- Microsoft is working on a handheld gaming device that won’t be available for a few years.
- The success of the Nintendo Switch and Steam Deck shows a market for portable gaming devices.
- The handheld system could be closely tied to Xbox Game Pass.
Microsoft has confirmed that it’s working on a handheld gaming device, though it’s still in the early stages of development and likely won’t be available for a few more years.
The Xbox brand has never entered the portable gaming race, which was dominated by Nintendo for the longest time.
Nowadays, there are way more portable options on the market, such as Valve’s Steam Deck, so it’s not unusual for Microsoft to also take the plunge.
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Phil Spencer, the Chief Executive Officer of Microsoft Gaming spoke to Bloomberg UK about the current Xbox brand. Spencer mentioned that Microsoft is working on prototypes for a handheld gaming device.
“Although the company is working on prototypes and considering what it might do, Spencer also asked his group to look at the market and develop its vision based on what it learns. Such a device is a few years out, he said.”
Unfortunately, this new handheld system is still a few years away. This means it could be released alongside the Xbox Series X’s successor, possibly as a companion system.
Microsoft Could Be Going The Steam Deck Route
The runaway success of the Nintendo Switch and Steam Deck proves there’s a rabid market for portable gaming devices that can easily be hooked up to a TV for a big-screen experience.
If Microsoft enters the market, then it already has a leg-up via Windows gaming and Xbox Game Pass. Chances are, it would come bundled with a Game Pass subscription, giving instant access to a huge library of titles.
The bulk of Game Pass titles can be run on low-end hardware. Meanwhile, Microsoft has an Xbox Cloud Gaming service, which can be used for bigger games.
This means that the portable system will likely be closer to the Steam Deck in design. It’s possible the next generation’s Xbox Series S (the weaker/cheaper system) is the portable one, existing alongside beefier hardware.
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Microsoft won’t be the only company in the handheld space in a few years’ time, as Nintendo is working on a successor the Switch. And while Valve has downplayed the idea of a new Steam Deck in the near future, it’s still a distinct possibility.
Whatever the case, Microsoft will be facing stiff competition from Nintendo’s new console, as well as the existing handheld devices (including mobile phones.)
Hopefully, the allure of a dedicated Xbox Game Pass device will be enough to carry Microsoft’s future hardware endeavors.
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