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Phil Spencer, the head honcho at Microsoft Gaming, hasn’t been shy about his interest in an Xbox handheld that could take on the likes of top-tier handheld gaming PCs such as the Steam Deck OLED and the Asus ROG Ally X. However, in a recent chat with Bloomberg, Spencer made it clear that gamers won’t see such a device hitting the shelves for a while yet.
During the interview, Spencer remarked that there’s an “expectation” for Microsoft to eventually launch something in the handheld arena, but he advised fans not to hold their breath, suggesting it would be a few years before anything materializes.
“I really enjoy the idea of us creating new devices,” Spencer shared with Bloomberg. “I believe our team could come up with some genuinely innovative stuff, but we want to take it one step at a time, learning from what’s currently trending.”
For the time being, the emphasis appears to be on enhancing the Xbox app’s performance on the existing range of PC gaming handhelds, ensuring Xbox features and games gel seamlessly with these devices. Not too long ago, Microsoft unveiled a new feature called “compact mode” for its Xbox app on Windows, tailored for mobile gadgets. Windows 11 has often been criticized, including by yours truly, as a drawback for handhelds like the ROG Ally and the Lenovo Legion Go.
The interview further highlighted Microsoft’s ongoing interest in acquiring more companies, even after their whopping $69 billion acquisition of Activision Blizzard in 2023. They’re also venturing into mobile game stores, although those have hit some delays.
The Steam Deck, introduced in early 2022, carved the path for the modern PC gaming handheld. Although it received an OLED makeover, it hasn’t been upgraded with more powerful gaming chipsets, and Valve has hinted there isn’t an immediate plan for another update. Currently, most popular Windows handhelds rely on AMD’s Ryzen Z1 Extreme, suggesting this gaming niche is still in its infancy.
Meanwhile, Spencer mentioned to Bloomberg that Xbox is doing pretty well, despite trailing behind Nintendo Switch and PlayStation 5 in the console race. “The business is thriving at the moment, which bodes well for our future hardware and game development,” he stated. This success is attributed to a boom in PC and cloud gaming alongside the traditional console business.
For an Xbox handheld to stand out, it will need to offer something distinctly different from the Steam Deck and Windows machines produced by companies like Lenovo, MSI, and Asus. With several potentially exciting years ahead, any future entry from Xbox will need to bring something truly groundbreaking to the table.
