Xbox and Windows unite for better handheld gaming.

Xbox and Windows Unite for Better Handheld Gaming

Microsoft is improving the Windows handheld gaming experience this year by merging Xbox and Windows. Jason Ronald, Microsoft’s VP of “Next Generation,” revealed plans to bring the best of Xbox to Windows PCs, rather than developing a standalone Xbox handheld (which may still be years away).

A Better Handheld Windows Experience

Ronald highlighted that current Windows handheld gaming is subpar, with community-created SteamOS forks often proving superior. Microsoft aims to simplify the Windows experience, prioritizing the player’s game library and minimizing the complexities of the standard Windows interface.

While Microsoft has already improved some Xbox apps for handheld use, a more significant overhaul is coming. The goal is to create a console-like experience on Windows, hiding the desktop, notifications, and other non-gaming elements.

Xbox-Centric Windows

This isn’t about porting the Xbox OS to Windows, but rather enhancing Windows for gaming. Microsoft will leverage the existing infrastructure of the Xbox OS, which is built on Windows, to bring a premium gaming experience to any device. This involves fundamental changes to make Windows more controller-friendly and less reliant on keyboard and mouse input.

The focus is on putting the Xbox experience front and center, creating a gaming-centric interface that feels native and intuitive, regardless of the underlying operating system.