I would never buy an Xbox handheld. Why would you want a handheld that is locked into Microsoft’s ecosystem even more than a Windows handheld? You’ll get maybe ten to fifteen years out of it, then it will become a brick that Microsoft has abandoned. You will never have fond memories of playing on the Xbox handheld that you can recreate with physical hardware. You’ll never get to show your kids what gaming was like on the thing, because the authentication servers were shut off years ago, and now it is a worthless paperweight.
Microsoft is at least good about supporting their gaming hardware for quite a while. But better than other consoles still isn’t good enough. I’ve got a computer from ~1990 that still works and can play contemporary PC games. You can bet the Steam Deck will still work in 2060.
Microsoft could just drop a Windows handheld that can play Xbox games natively.
The Xbox already runs on a custom VM based on Windows 10/11. Microsoft themselves are the only ones keeping the two who systems separated by artificial software limitations.
Microsoft : “When we added all the extra ‘features’ of Win11 into our Xbox OS, we saw a severe drop in performance. So we have kept them separate.”
Customers : “So you do agree the features in Win11 are detrimental to the user experience?”
Microsoft : “Fuck no, those features are essential for a user. Btw, have you upgraded to Win11?”
I would never buy an Xbox handheld. Why would you want a handheld that is locked into Microsoft’s ecosystem even more than a Windows handheld? You’ll get maybe ten to fifteen years out of it, then it will become a brick that Microsoft has abandoned. You will never have fond memories of playing on the Xbox handheld that you can recreate with physical hardware. You’ll never get to show your kids what gaming was like on the thing, because the authentication servers were shut off years ago, and now it is a worthless paperweight.
That’s way longer than most consoles last before the servers get turned off
Microsoft is at least good about supporting their gaming hardware for quite a while. But better than other consoles still isn’t good enough. I’ve got a computer from ~1990 that still works and can play contemporary PC games. You can bet the Steam Deck will still work in 2060.
Microsoft could just drop a Windows handheld that can play Xbox games natively.
The Xbox already runs on a custom VM based on Windows 10/11. Microsoft themselves are the only ones keeping the two who systems separated by artificial software limitations.
They could, but they won’t.
They could also release a handheld gaming PC that runs Windows under their Surface brand, if they wanted to go that route.
Microsoft : “When we added all the extra ‘features’ of Win11 into our Xbox OS, we saw a severe drop in performance. So we have kept them separate.” Customers : “So you do agree the features in Win11 are detrimental to the user experience?” Microsoft : “Fuck no, those features are essential for a user. Btw, have you upgraded to Win11?”
Way ahead of you. I would never buy an Xbox. Or anything microsoft for that matter. It’s just been better this way.
No, it would use the same Microsoft auth it already uses for xbox, outlook, windows etc.