News Asus rumored to launch Xbox handheld in 2025 — OEM working with Microsoft to 'unify' Windows and Xbox libraries

[Admin]

Sources say that Asus and Microsoft are working together to build the first Xbox handheld gaming console for launch later this year.

Asus rumored to launch Xbox handheld in 2025 — OEM working with Microsoft to 'unify' Windows and Xbox libraries : Read more

 

[cknobman]

I wouldnt touch this with a 10 foot pole.
Microsoft has burned people with abandoning products way too many times.
Windows 11 is garbage.
Xbox has nothing notable to justify investing in its ecosystem.

Just no.

 

[ezst036]

Looks like we have the answer as to official SteamOS support coming from Asus anytime soon.

 

[TerryLaze]

I wouldnt touch this with a 10 foot pole.
Microsoft has burned people with abandoning products way too many times.
Windows 11 is garbage.
Xbox has nothing notable to justify investing in its ecosystem.

Just no.

As long as the price is ok what would be the problem?
It will be a windows capable handheld, even if MS stops the xbox support on it asus will just turn it into a windows or even steamos handheld.

 

[atomicWAR]

I wouldnt touch this with a 10 foot pole.
Microsoft has burned people with abandoning products way too many times.
Windows 11 is garbage.
Xbox has nothing notable to justify investing in its ecosystem.

Just no.

I mean fair but the last thing we need is for Sony to be the only player in 'high end' console gaming. I use to love Xbox but sadly MS fumbled after the XB360 and lost what good will they had. ,That said I do hope they can turn things around because a world with only Sony ('high end') and Nintendo (low end) in the console space doesn't sound appealing to me as a gamer. What I see as likely is MS will blur PC/console lines further and this hand held is just the first step. If it goes well I think we'll see the same treatment with their next gen box. Guess it we'll have to wait and see.

As long as the price is ok what would be the problem?
It will be a windows capable handheld, even if MS stops the xbox support on it asus will just turn it into a windows or even steamos handheld.

This is exactly where I was heading above. If MS can deliver a good product at a good price, why hate on it when the alternative of a Sony/Nintendo duopoly isn't a good thing for gamers in the long run?

 

[cknobman]

As long as the price is ok what would be the problem?
It will be a windows capable handheld, even if MS stops the xbox support on it asus will just turn it into a windows or even steamos handheld.

Because there are dozens of existing handhelds already on the market that serve that purpose.
I would not buy anything with direct ties to Microsoft because you never know what can happen.

Windows Phone
Microsoft Band (watch)
Surface RT
Skype
And I could keep going

I've been burned too many times.

Your point would have merit if there weren't dozens of alternative consoles that have already accomplished what Microsoft is "experimenting" with.

 

[salgado18]

I mean fair but the last thing we need is for Sony to be the only player in 'high end' console gaming. I use to love Xbox but sadly MS fumbled after the XB360 and lost what good will they had. ,That said I do hope they can turn things around because a world with only Sony ('high end') and Nintendo (low end) in the console space doesn't sound appealing to me as a gamer. What I see as likely is MS will blur PC/console lines further and this hand held is just the first step. If it goes well I think we'll see the same treatment with their next gen box. Guess it we'll have to wait and see.


This is exactly where I was heading above. If MS can deliver a good product at a good price, why hate on it when the alternative of a Sony/Nintendo duopoly isn't a good thing for gamers in the long run?

Considering that every Xbox game is on Windows, and the PS5 is a console as capable as the Xbox but with exclusives, why would someone buy the Xbox? The PS5 has exclusives, plus the games the Xbox would have, and for everything else the will be PC. Mobile? All the PC-console-mobile things are out there, in every shape and form.

I believe that's a way of Microsoft saying "we don't know how to push forward, so we'll just follow the market instead of leading it".

 

[thestryker]

Anything that would be launching this year is invariably just going to be another Windows based handheld. The rumors have indicated this device is likely more of a sponsored type situation so it would have an Xbox button and undoubtedly the same control layout (which the Ally/X already have). Microsoft has supposedly been working to smooth over interface type issues as well so this may be a pilot device for that. If this also means the device is sold at a potentially lower retail price anyone in the market to buy a Windows handheld wins.

Personally speaking I've been surprised that nobody at Microsoft has sought to leverage the Xbox OS for either a version of Windows or a specific mode. I believe it's been based off of current Windows kernels for years now so it would seem to be an obvious benefit for just gaming and keeping people using Windows.

 

[DS426]

Because there are dozens of existing handhelds already on the market that serve that purpose.
I would not buy anything with direct ties to Microsoft because you never know what can happen.

Windows Phone
Microsoft Band (watch)
Surface RT
Skype
And I could keep going

I've been burned too many times.

Your point would have merit if there weren't dozens of alternative consoles that have already accomplished what Microsoft is "experimenting" with.

You're comparing apples to oranges as we're talking about Microsoft's course for the Xbox's future and as a directly related long-term strategy, how this relates to handhelds; if MS commits to going down this path, they aren't just going to let it drop as it accounts for both Xbox (traditional desktop form factor) and non-PC handhelds ("Xbox" version, granted it sounds like Xbox would just become a slightly modified, reskinned Windows 11). In other words, they aren't really carving out new space in the market like the examples you gave, or some that have essentially evolved or been succeeded under a new name (Teams).

 

[Notton]

Is this going to run a Ryzen+RDNA3.x based chip?
If yes, it's cheap, and can be jailbroken, or I can install bazzite/steamOS on it, sure, why not?
If no, but it's a Windows ARM based, I might still consider it.

 

[AkroZ]

Since when Microsoft Windows is leading handheld devices ?
There is Nintendo Switch based on FreeBSD, followed by Valve Steam Deck running on Linux, Asus comes to the party to take market share from Valve with Windows.

 

[TerryLaze]

Since when Microsoft Windows is leading handheld devices ?

Why? Where did you read that?
This article is about them starting with handhelds, and not even alone but partnering, not about them leading.

 

[atomicWAR]

Considering that every Xbox game is on Windows, and the PS5 is a console as capable as the Xbox but with exclusives, why would someone buy the Xbox? The PS5 has exclusives, plus the games the Xbox would have, and for everything else the will be PC.

One would argue if Xbox pushes towards a more PC eccentric approach with multiple PC store fronts on the console, Sony exclusives would also be available on Xbox due to Sony's push for PC releases. Flipping the script on why one would get a PS5/6 when you can get an Xbox with PC games, game pass and PS games to be purchased even if you have to wait a year for PC releases one some of those titles.

Point being I am not sure things are going to be so clear cut as your describing in the future. But if MS doesn't do something revolutionary next gen, your not wrong. MS could commit themselves to irrelevancy in the console space if they aren't extremely careful with how they handle this.

 

[Captnimo]

tldr; if it can't run steam, this is dead in the water.