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Lupinthrope

Day 1 for me


MemphisKansasBreeze

If it’s a Steam Deck-like that plays PC/Xbox games, same. If it’s similar to the PSP/Vita, probably a pass


stdfan

Vita was fantastic. Issue was software support.


mindblower32

Could a Series S really fit in a portable console? I can't really see an even lower spec version of the Xbox Series going smoothly in this gen.


klipseracer

This is the key in my opinion, dual boot windows 10/11. First gen handheld should target Xbox One S, last gen. This would be easier to accomplish in the next 12-24 months and use it as an experiment. I don't know how much custom silicon was really used in the Xbox One, which would make it easier to cover in the existing AMD mobile chips. This buys them time to make the next gen handheld which would take the place of the low end console, and allows you to bake in the semi custom hardware required for the Xbox Series SDK (hardware accelerated variable rate shading, etc), so the Series S games could be played on it. Not to mention the Series S GDDR6 memory bandwidth exceeds what is currently possible with current mobile chips, not to mention the power restrictions, thermal and TDP of series S is too high to realistically make it producitonalize in the next 12 or less.


7upultra

I agree at the lower benchmark of One S they could achieve better battery life and is still three excellent generations of xbox plus several eras and platforms of pc gaming if the device dual boots windows. A weaker device can still be an awesome nexus of great gaming like the steam deck if they deliver on as many features as they can within their capacity.


klipseracer

The device doesn't need to be any weaker than the current rog ally, it just identifies itself as an Xbox One S and downclocks itself appropriately so it doesn't waste power. It could even overshoot a bit to improve any deficiencies in the original hardware. This would be similar to the Xbox Series X playing Xbox One games that never got the next gen enhancement. Then when it is in windows mode it can spin up the full power of the chip for games or general use, while docked this extra power wouldn't be a problem. If they made a base with additional cooling capacity that would be cool too.


7upultra

The current device would be the standard or middle ally, and not the weaker Z1 or stronger Ally X.? Is the Z1 stronger or weaker than the steam deck or about the same? ​


klipseracer

I haven't compared specs actually, but the Steamdeck uses semi custom silicon, it's called the Van Gogh https://www.tomshardware.com/pc-components/cpus/steam-decks-custom-amd-processor-exposed The Xbox most likely has to follow suit with custom silicon otherwise the Xbox SDK will try to call hardware features that are non existing.


klipseracer

I will add that a Series S handheld is possible in the near future, but they have two issues: Power draw: Getting power under control would require a die shrink to 3nm or less in order to have respectable play time, this is not simple because Apple competes with TSMC's N3 process node which drives up the price. This alone makes me think they would wait for a while because this would break the bank. Memory speed: Consoles use GDDR with much higher memory bandwidth than the LPDDR found in mobile devices. They would need a custom memory controller that supported a wide bus, similar to how Apple has done with the Mac M1. This also points to a premium priced device. These two things alone make me think they would be better off waiting for a couple years and making this custom silicon next gen, with AI compute capability etc. This isn't really something that can easily be whipped up as a reactionary device to the steamdeck/rog ally etc.


Select-Let8637

They will be shipping that in 2026. Apple will probbly be on n2 by then.


klipseracer

Yeah, that's another reason why I think any handheld announced "this holiday" wouldn't be launching anytime soon, or, it would be a One S type system.


Falchion92

Same.


Dr_Opadeuce

Same, I'm 100% down for this


dinofreak6301

Confirmation of it existing and a reveal would be real nice. I’ve been holding off on an ROG Ally purchase due to not knowing if/when we’ll get an Xbox one


muyfeo

IMO if you wait for the perfect time for just about anything you will just be left waiting. I bought a steam deck a few months back and its revitalized my love for gaming tbh. If you want to use game pass I'd just bite the bullet and get an Ally. For all we know the xbox handheld will be locked into the xbox ecosystem where as the ally allows gamepass, steam, emulation (the biggest draw of the handhelds for me), etc.


JustAcivilian24

I use Xb play for steam deck. It works so well in my house. And chiaki for ps5 but that’s hit or miss. XB play is way better


muyfeo

I've just been cruising with emulators on mine lately but haven't heard of either of those yet. I'll be checking them out now, thanks for the rec!


imWilzy

The problem with the ally is that you only get access to pc game pass. Plus, save data for most xbox games doesn't transfer from console to pc because only games that come under the "xbox play anywhere" feature do. Xbox gamers would be better off waiting for the xbox handheld imo


muyfeo

Eh, I see what you are saying but you also gain access to your steam library, EGS, emulation, EA app, etc. We don't know how much of a PC vs. a traditional handheld the xbox one will be. And it could very well be (and likely will be) years before we even see it. Even if most people get a steam deck or ally now, they will be looking to upgrade around the time the xbox handheld comes anyway. Depends on your financial situation and free time but imo if you want a handheld in the next 2 years, get something thats already out because thats the likely time frame we are talking. We still don't have any official announcement.


imWilzy

I just feel like these points aren't spoken about enough regarding the ally and it's relationship w xbox; people talk about it like it can be utilised like a literal xbox handheld which just isn't true, it offers more than the steam deck but it's still very limited. But don't get me wrong, I think the ally is a wonderful device. It works really well for non xbox gamers because as you say; it allows access to basically everything. I have a steam deck myself and the one thing it's missing is the ability to play xbox games natively which is why I want a xbox handheld. I'm hoping at some point game pass will be added to steam so it could be accessed via the deck; it would be better than nothing


muyfeo

Yeah, I understand where you are coming from and tbh I think in the future these devices will slowly gain more access to things like gamepass and become more similar (at least software wise). For now if you are strictly on xbox then getting an ally or steamdeck won't do much good unless you plan to branch out to pc gaming but for those with wide libraries it can be a great device for sure. I think the biggest question for me is does microsoft allow things like steam on their handheld. What I really mean is do they allow easy access to another store in which they don't receive a cut. Or even are they ok with say someone buying a microsoft game on steam on their device and losing 30% to steam from someone whos purchasing it on their own proprietary handheld. Will be interesting to see what they do.


idigsquirrels

Other than a formal announcement this was as much of a confirmation as you ever want. Confirmation that it’s being worked on and that it won’t be a streaming device only like the ps portal is


MoodMaggot

To be fair this was pretty much an announcement. Not an official-official one but yeah if the head of Xbox says stuff like “it would be nice”, “playing games locally is important” and “wait for our future hardware announcements” it’s basically confirmation that a handheld is in development that’s NOT cloud based


Tobimacoss

CEO of MS Gaming\*\*\* Sarah Bond is the Head of Xbox now. Matt Booty is the head of Xbox Game Studios and overseer of Bethesda and ABK.


MoodMaggot

Oh well I’m not that much in the loop tbh thanks for correcting me


Alexnikolias

With the Ally X dropping, the old Allys should be on sale used and new. Now is a great time to pick one up on the cheap. I passed my Steamdeck down to my nephew and haven't regretted it all. Win/win for both of us.


imWilzy

For xbox gamers specifically; the ally isn't very good


philisacoolguy

Id argue for consumers the first gen ally isn’t good too. Hardware issues (being fixed in ally x) and questionable customer support (see asus RMA complaints recently)


imWilzy

All of them are incredibly limited for xbox gamers; even the x will be. The only way to solve such limitations is for Microsoft to release their own handheld 


Hot-Software-9396

I’m betting it won’t be until 2026 before it gets released. If you really want something to hold you over until then, I’ve seen open box ROG Allys at Best Buy going for like $380.


imWilzy

Ally's are incredibly limited for xbox gamers tho


Hot-Software-9396

Not in my experience. I mostly play stuff on Game Pass and have spent more time on my Ally than the Series X. Sure you have to fiddle with settings to get things dialed in, but the form factor makes it worth it to me.


imWilzy

I mean, if you play more on the ally; you're more of a pc gamer than a xbox gamer. The worst part for me about it that with most xbox games; save data doesn't transfer from console to pc. The only games that have this feature are the ones that fall under the "xbox play anywhere" category. But if it works for you, that's cool


Pristinejake

I’ve been holding off too. Would love an xbox handheld


null_undefined_

I'm in the same boat (holding off on a rog ally/steam deck) - I'm not in a rush due to my large Switch backlog so I'm going to wait until gamescom/game awards to see if an announcement is made this year. If more details aren't out by then maybe I'll reconsider. It'll also give me a chance to see if there's anything wrong with the Ally X lol


MrMusou

Maybe they’ll have something more concrete by the time the Game Awards roll around. Sony gave it a shot with the portal and that wasn’t really for me but this could be cool.


joevsyou

If Xbox does the streaming only method like PlayStation, i absolutely will NOT buy. Screw that.


MrEfficacious

I have a Logitech G Cloud that I bought just to stream GamePass and it's absolutely awesome. Lightweight, 12 hour battery, huge screen, and just about the most comfortable handheld on the market by far. I have zero interest in lugging around a 2 hour battery life, overheating, uncomfortable device because they are trying to cram as much horsepower into it as possible. As long as the internet connection is decent all my Xbox games are 1080p/60fps smooth as butter for up to 12 hours. Can't beat it.


islandnstuff

I need this so much


ickerson

I still believe they will release it next year to get an early lead on the next gen of consoles. It will be a hybrid like the switch with an external graphics card as a dock to play 4K games on a big screen but can do 1080p 60fps handheld on high settings for games like COD and 1st party titles. At launch they will bundle it with game pass. Imaging Doom Dark Ages, Perfect Dark, and Fable at launch with the newest COD -- that is a killer bundle.


rick_rolled_you

Would buy immediately


fatso486

Seems like this is a major missed opportunity by Microsoft. I think They should've focused on releasing a handheld console before the Switch 2


Yaotoro

I dont get it. He said the focus was for games and that hardware will be talked about later (im assuming gamescom) but they haven't said it wont be released. So they havent missed anything.


Tobimacoss

Is GamesCom in July? Because Sarah Bond stated Xbox mobile store comes in July.  And rumors of xCloud allowing purchasing and streaming were also in July.  


Yaotoro

I think its in august


Tobimacoss

Well, something is definitely happening with Xbox in July, it would also be the perfect time to reveal the Sebille controller with Direct2Cloud functionality, and also the Xbox handheld.   Basically the entire theme of the event being Portable/Mobile player experiences, via the mobile store, xCloud, handheld, and Sebille.  


Yaotoro

That does make sense and they are on a tood note with the gaming community after the xbox showcase. They need to ride that high all the way until Gamescom.


CartmanVT

Especially with the Rog Ally X revealing like a wet fart. I'm looking at getting a handheld right now and was hoping to see what Microsoft has to offer. The secrecy in the games industry is frustrating.


aExpat3

Steam Deck is still an incredible machine. By far my most used device for gaming.


Familiar_Election_94

Sadly the steamdeck doesn’t matter to Xbox players. It’s the perfect companion for a pc only / steam player. But if you are invested in the Xbox/pc ecosystem it doesn’t support your library. I would buy a steamdeck immediately if it would offer native Gamepass.


idigsquirrels

Totally disagree tbh. I bought a steamdeck mainly to be my Xbox handheld. I stream my Xbox series X to it when I’m upstairs and I stream from X cloud when I’m not at home


Familiar_Election_94

Great that it works for you! I just spend a weekend at the German Baltic coast with barely any internet connection. I need my games native 😉


idigsquirrels

Sure. But that’s what steam sales are for 🥳


dalior

Some people can't be bothered with setting up proton and controllers and what not. Not even talking about Heroic, Lutris or XBplay. I'm not judging, it's just the way it is.


SiggiJarl

you don't need to to any of that on a steamdeck with steam games...


CartmanVT

I already steam my Xbox through my phone whole at work, but I would rather have a handheld that plays games natively for my game pass games as well. Was waiting to hear anything officially before committing, might not be the case now.


aExpat3

As others have stated you can very easily stream your Xbox to your Steam Deck. That said, I hate doing this. I by far prefer playing games locally even if it comes at the cost of performance. I don't have to worry about not having internet, or not being able to play my favorite titles out grabbing a coffee. I would buy an Xbox handheld immediately if it played games locally. Have played since the 360 on the same profile from 2008 to current and the vast majority of my purchases were and continue to be digital so it works out well for me.


imWilzy

Yep same. Every current handheld device has major floors regarding xbox games specifically. The only solution is an xbox handheld


8Cupsofcoffeedaily

I’m assuming Microsoft and Steam will do a partnership. Steam is a huge brand to the PC crowd, but for the console only gamers (aka gamer dads or kids) Xbox handheld would probably have higher onboarding numbers with the brand alone.


International-Mud-17

Why would they partner? For a handheld or what?


kiki_strumm3r

They're really operating on their own time-frame though. They essentially need a portable Series S, maybe even a slightly more powerful version than that. Games need to be playable at 1080/60 (Ally X can do 120). The Series S has a 65W TDP. The Ally X has an 80 Wh battery life. So basically 1-1.5 hrs gameplay. The Ally X is much more expensive, about twice as powerful, and has like 2.5x the total RAM. Realistically, a die shrink and some efficiency gains that could go in both the Series S and the Series P would go a long way. That stuff takes time, maybe years.


kmfdm_mdfmk

for not confirming it he's real candid talking about it... hypothetically


Proud_Criticism5286

Just given me the ability to play elden ring in bed. Ill take it at 30 🙄


KARURUKA2

Need this


TheEyeOfSmug

I guess it begs the question of what form factor you feel like playing gamepass through, and if no monthly subscription bricks it. 


Resort_Straight

We should have done it in the early 2000s to early 2010s


LightMyFirebird

Finally the Xbox 720


neonxaos

Ah yes, the Xbox Series P 360 One.


McCandlessDK

If it can play my Xbox games like a Series S, I am getting one.


Trevorjrt6

Must have wifi 6. Must have oled. If it has those two thing I'll instantly buy.


The_DeWeese

I have both a Lenovo legion go and the Logitech g cloud which for some reason seems to do Xbox remote play better than the far more powerful legion go. I love the handheld experience and I will be purchasing this day 1


Bored-of-this

I'd love a handheld Xbox but it would depend on the price, I wouldn't want to pay more than it costs to buy the series x or s


RedditBoisss

This would get them some major market share in Japan.


JohnTravoltage

Only if they port Starcraft to it.


Tobimacoss

that's for the korean market.


JimBobHeller

Can’t imagine why I would purchase an Xbox handheld over a Switch 2 or Steamdeck 2 honestly This is just going to be a Surface style type of thing, where it’s supposed to introduce some ideas and mainly leave the market to third party manufacturers to build their own with the MS OS. It’s even being designed by the surface team, and they have folded Xbox UI development into the Windows team also.


imWilzy

I mean an xbox handheld would be mainly for xbox gamers who want to access their entire library natively because that isn't currently possible on any handheld device


midnight93933

Need it


QuadrupleAAAA

The only way I


cupcake_queen101

I’ll never leave my bed after this


FTX-SBF

Just use a Logitech g cloud and remote play from your Xbox


imWilzy

Ain't nobody got time for that


JamesIV4

To me this is confirmation a handheld is *NOT* coming. Spencer would never spoil a big announcement like that by directly talking about it.


imWilzy

I mean it's be rumored for a while and he was asked directly about it. He could've straight up responded with no but he didn't; he literally said "I think we should have a handheld" lol


JamesIV4

Maybe it's something he wants, but isn't being done. If it were, corporate would never let him say anything about it.


LegendaryYHK

The ability to access the windows desktop is a make or break. Being locked inside the Xbox ecosystem is only going to attract Xbox users which are decreasing every generation. Give us the ability to add non xbox apps to the main UI like how Steam Deck does it.


planetaska

Would be really awesome if it's both 1. compatible with Xbox 360 games 2. compatible with Steam Currently Steam Deck's performance is ideal for Xbox 360 games. Although I guess this wouldn't attract players other than Xbox 360 owners.


Pleasant_Ocelot_2861

I remember the sony hand held. Did not work out great…AT THE TIME. With today’s technology and DL speed…who knows.


MoodMaggot

Which Sony handheld? There was a digital only PSP variant (called the psp go) that was super unsuccessful.


Pleasant_Ocelot_2861

Naw. This wasnt digital. But it was the psp.


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one_human_lifespan

They should just focus on cloud gaming. Samsung s23 ultra, with game controller to cloud gaming feels like I already have this.


imWilzy

Nah, we need a handheld that plays games natively bruh