Microsoft Is Combining ‘the Best Of xbox and Windows Together’ For Handhelds

Xbox main Phil Spencer has been dropping hints astir an Xbox handheld for months, but what astir Windows handheld gaming PCs? Jason Ronald, Microsoft’s VP of “Next Generation,” tells The Verge that we should expect to spot nan Windows handheld gaming acquisition alteration incorrect this almanac year.

Ronald was a roundtable panelist this evening astatine an AMD and Lenovo arena titled “The Future of Gaming Handhelds,” which was mostly a coming-out connection for Lenovo’s caller Legion Go S. But he did hint connected style that Microsoft plans to bring nan Xbox acquisition to Windows PCs, alternatively than nan different measurement astir — and expanded connected that considerably aft we caught up pinch him later.

“We’ve been really innovating for a agelong clip successful nan console space, and arsenic we partner crossed nan manufacture it’s really astir really do we bring those innovations that we’ve incubated and developed successful nan console abstraction and bring them to PC and bring them to nan handheld gaming space,” said Ronald.

After we caught up pinch him aft nan event, he confirmed that Microsoft is looking astatine combining Xbox and Windows experiences together — and that we should spot changes this very year, alternatively than needing to clasp for an Xbox handheld that mightiness still beryllium years away.

“I would opportunity it’s bringing nan champion of Xbox and Windows together, because we personification spent nan past 20 years building a world-class operating system, but it’s really locked to nan console,” says Ronald. “What we’re doing is we’re really focused connected really do we bring those experiences for immoderate players and developers to nan broader Windows ecosystem.”

Right now, Windows sucks connected handhelds, to put it alternatively bluntly, to nan constituent that a community-created fork of Valve’s SteamOS acquisition tin beryllium a acold amended measurement to premier up and play games. Ronald is intelligibly alert of nan issues. “We’re focused connected really simplifying that and making it overmuch overmuch for illustration a console experience. Our extremity is to put nan subordinate and their room astatine nan halfway of nan acquisition and not each nan [Windows] activity that you personification to do today.”

Microsoft has done compact modes for Xbox apps connected Windows that are focused connected improving nan handheld experience, but it’s a batch for illustration putting lipstick connected a pig alternatively of addressing nan halfway experience. “I deliberation we’ll personification a batch overmuch to banal later this year,” teases Ronald. “I deliberation it’s going to beryllium a recreation and I deliberation you’ll spot a batch of investments complete clip that you’re starting to spot already, but we’ll personification a batch overmuch to banal later this year.”

How Microsoft goes astir this merging of Xbox and Windows will beryllium key, but it doesn’t sound for illustration nan institution is abruptly going to larboard a civilization Xbox operating strategy to Windows. It sounds overmuch for illustration Microsoft wants to make Windows each up amended astatine gaming pinch an Xbox acquisition connected apical truthful nan pesky desktop, notifications, and bequest of Windows is hidden away.

“I think, astatine nan extremity of nan day, our extremity is to make Windows awesome for gaming connected immoderate device,” says Ronald. “The reality is nan Xbox operating strategy is built connected apical of Windows. So there’s a batch of infrastructure that we built successful nan console abstraction that we tin bring to nan PC abstraction and really coming that premium gaming acquisition connected immoderate device.”

Specifically, Microsoft has to tackle a batch of nan very basics of making Windows overmuch friends to controllers and getting that Xbox acquisition to really thrust things alternatively of nan taskbar, Start menu, and different elements. “There’s conscionable definite things successful Windows that were not designed for if you don’t personification a keyboard and mouse, for illustration thumbstick support aliases joypads and worldly for illustration that,” Ronald admits.

“There’s basal narration models that we’re moving connected to make judge that sloppy of nan operating strategy specifications it feels very natively for illustration a gaming-centric instrumentality and a gaming-centric experience.”

Ronald says nan extremity is to put an Xbox acquisition astatine nan halfway — “not nan Windows desktop that you personification today.”