Microsoft also requires that some software be included with their licenses, so we end up with the puzzling inclusion of things like Microsoft Teams, Office 365 (complete with Word, Excel, and PowerPoint), and (see notes)… Microsoft Clipchamp …on a device that is, on its face, a gaming handheld. I know everyone has their own preferences, but I feel pretty safe in assuming that 95 percent of people who might be interested in the ROG Ally X aren’t interested in it for its lackluster video editing capabilities.
Hope on the horizon
In late 2023, Microsoft introduced a preview version of its Xbox app called Compact Mode. This offers portable gaming consoles running Windows a Steam Deck-like interface designed primarily for controller input, and there have already been Some pretty major updatesMost notably, the Jump Back In feature allows players to immediately launch their most recent games.
On competing devices like the Steam Deck or Switch, this feature is considered “how it’s always worked,” but it’s still a welcome addition, even if apps like Asus’ Armoury Crate already do it. Plus, at the moment, the Xbox app only shows games you’ve purchased through Microsoft, meaning my Jump Back In consists of… LonelyI guess little by little.
There are rumors that Microsoft might be working on a portable game consolewhich, if true, would be great news as it means that Microsoft is likely to continue optimizing Windows for the category. At the same time, it could be awful news for competing manufacturers if they are not also allowed to benefit from that work.
In simpler terms: if it’s an official Xbox handheld gaming console that can run all Windows-based games with an interface comparable to your living room console versus a poor-quality handheld console with a plastered-on interface, it wouldn’t be hard to guess which is more likely to succeed.
That seems unlikely to happen, as Microsoft has so far been unable to compete in selling console hardware. Instead, the company has adopted An “Xbox Everywhere” StrategyWhile Nintendo and Sony sell boxes that run their games, Microsoft wants to make Xbox a platform where you can play games on any desktop, laptop, tablet, phone and TV you own.
I’d argue that none of these aspects are as important as getting handhelds to work well. The Switch showed how much people want to take their games with them, and the Steam Deck proved that even some major AAA games can run well on portable hardware. If Microsoft wants Xbox to be everywhere, it may need to adopt the model that Google uses for Android. Google makes and sells its own Android phone, but it lets competitors build on its platform, and quite often, they beat them at their own game. Google still benefits from having its services run on competitors’ devices, so either way, Google wins. A similar strategy could work for a handheld Xbox built on a work platform that Microsoft shares with third parties.
Right now, Windows portable devices are in trouble. Even the best options consume more power, have poorer interfaces, and cost more than devices like the Switch or Steam Deck. With each update that moderately improves these devices, Windows’ impenetrable wall becomes more apparent. Until Microsoft steps in, it doesn’t look like this status quo will change anytime soon.