Nuked Hey there, tech enthusiasts! It’s your buddy Nuked here, ready to dive into some exciting news about the future of gaming handhelds.
Microsoft is gearing up to merge the best features of Xbox and Windows for handheld devices. Xbox chief Phil Spencer has been hinting at this for a while now, but let’s talk about what’s happening with Windows handheld gaming PCs. Jason Ronald, Microsoft’s VP of “Next Generation,” recently shared some insights with The Verge, indicating that we should see significant changes in the Windows handheld gaming landscape this year.
During a panel at an AMD and Lenovo event focused on the future of gaming handhelds, Ronald hinted that Microsoft aims to enhance the Xbox experience on Windows PCs instead of waiting for a dedicated Xbox handheld device, which could still be years away. He emphasized the importance of bringing innovations from the console space to PC and handheld gaming.
Ronald pointed out that after 20 years of building a top-notch operating system, Microsoft is now looking to integrate those experiences for both players and developers into the broader Windows ecosystem. Currently, using Windows on handhelds is less than ideal—let’s be honest, it can feel like trying to fit a square peg in a round hole. But fear not; Ronald is aware and is working on simplifying this experience to make it more like console gaming.
While Microsoft has introduced compact modes for Xbox apps on Windows, Ronald believes there’s still a lot of work to do. He teased that we can expect more updates later this year, as they’re committed to continuous investment in improving the gaming experience on Windows devices.
Over the past year, Microsoft has made strides in enhancing Xbox apps for handheld use. However, it seems they’re not planning to just slap an Xbox operating system onto Windows. Instead, the goal is to improve Windows itself for gaming while incorporating an Xbox-like experience that hides all those pesky desktop distractions.
Ronald stated that their ultimate aim is to make Windows fantastic for gaming across all devices. Since the Xbox operating system is built on top of Windows, there’s plenty of infrastructure from consoles that can be adapted for PCs to deliver a premium gaming experience.
This effort will involve addressing some fundamental issues with how Windows interacts with controllers and ensuring that the gaming experience takes precedence over traditional desktop elements. Ronald acknowledged that certain aspects of Windows weren’t designed with non-keyboard and mouse users in mind, but they’re actively working on changes to make everything feel more like a dedicated gaming device.
In summary, Ronald emphasized their commitment to placing an Xbox-centric experience at the forefront rather than sticking with the current Windows desktop setup. Exciting times are ahead for gamers everywhere!
