Prime Highlights:
Microsoft to integrate Xbox and Windows gaming experiences for handheld devices.
Major updates in 2025 will improve controller support and interface design.
Key Background:
Microsoft is set to elevate the handheld gaming experience by merging its Xbox and Windows ecosystems, with significant updates scheduled for 2025. The company’s Vice President of Next Generation Gaming, Jason Ronald, confirmed the initiative, aiming to bring a more seamless console-like experience to Windows-based handheld devices.
Despite ongoing efforts in the handheld gaming space, the current Windows experience for handhelds has not fully delivered the smooth, console-quality experience many users desire. Although Xbox Game Pass and the Xbox app provide access to games, the Windows interface and controller support are not optimized for portable gaming. Ronald acknowledged these challenges, emphasizing that the upcoming changes will focus on simplifying and improving the experience.
At the CES 2025 event, Ronald outlined Microsoft’s vision for a more integrated approach, merging the innovations of Xbox consoles with the broader Windows ecosystem, specifically targeting handheld gaming. He stressed the importance of creating an experience that focuses on the player and their gaming library rather than the technicalities of Windows operations.
Improved controller support and a redesigned interface will be central to these enhancements. According to Ronald, Windows was not originally designed with handheld gaming in mind, often requiring external workarounds, such as community-created versions of SteamOS, to optimize the gaming experience. To address this, Microsoft aims to introduce features that make handheld gaming smoother and more intuitive, without the need for keyboard and mouse peripherals.
Rather than building a custom Xbox operating system for handhelds, Microsoft’s strategy will be to enhance Windows with Xbox-centric features, ensuring the platform remains versatile for gaming across all devices. While the full scope of these changes will unfold over time, more details are expected later this year, with a promise from Ronald that continuous improvements will make Windows a more immersive gaming platform for handheld users.
