Unleash the Power of Xbox-PC Hybrid: Microsoft Merges Two Worlds in Revolutionary Handheld Devices

Xbox and Windows Handheld Gaming: A New Era of Convergence

In a recent interview, Microsoft’s VP of "Next Generation," Jason Ronald, shed light on the company’s plans to revolutionize handheld gaming on Windows PCs. According to Ronald, we can expect to see significant changes in the Windows handheld gaming experience this year.

Combining Xbox and Windows

Ronald revealed that Microsoft is focused on bringing the best of Xbox and Windows together, building on the company’s 20-year investment in the Windows operating system. The goal is to create a seamless gaming experience across devices, making Windows great for gaming on any device.

Simplifying the Experience

Ronald acknowledged that Windows has struggled on handheld devices, often requiring users to navigate through desktop elements and legacy features. Microsoft aims to simplify the experience, making it more console-like and user-friendly. The company is working to improve controller support, thumbstick functionality, and other essential gaming features.

A New Approach to Handheld Gaming

Microsoft is not planning to port a custom Xbox operating system to Windows. Instead, the company wants to integrate the Xbox experience into Windows, hiding the desktop and other elements to create a more streamlined gaming environment. This approach will allow users to enjoy a premium gaming experience on any device, without the clutter of traditional Windows features.

Key Takeaways

• Microsoft plans to revolutionize handheld gaming on Windows PCs this year.
• The company aims to combine the best of Xbox and Windows, creating a seamless gaming experience across devices.
• Microsoft is focused on simplifying the Windows handheld gaming experience, making it more console-like and user-friendly.
• The company is working to improve controller support, thumbstick functionality, and other essential gaming features.

Image Credit

Microsoft’s Jason Ronald speaks at the Lenovo/AMD event, flanked by Valve SteamOS designer Pierre-Loup Griffais (left) and AMD chief gaming architect Frank Azor (middle right). Photo by Sean Hollister / The Verge

Microsoft’s Goal

"I think, at the end of the day, our goal is to make Windows great for gaming on any device," says Ronald. "The reality is the Xbox operating system is built on top of Windows. So there’s a lot of infrastructure that we built in the console space that we can bring to the PC space and really deliver that premium gaming experience on any device."