Uncle Phil hinting at an Xbox handheld

https://www.videogameschronicle.com/news/i-think-we-should-have-a-handheld-too-says-xbox-boss-phil-spencer/

Xbox boss Phil Spencer appears to have all but confirmed speculation that Microsoft is considering launching a handheld gaming device.

In March, Windows Central managing editor Jez Corden claimed Microsoft was working on “fully native Xbox handheld” prototypes.

And in a Polygon interview published a few days later, Microsoft Gaming CEO Spencer discussed what he’d like to see in a potential Xbox handheld

The executive returned to the subject during an IGN interview following Sunday’s Xbox Games Showcase, in which he dropped his biggest hint yet that a handheld could be in the works.

When it was put to Spencer that Xbox has been building its business around the strategy of being where the players are, be that on PCor more recently on other console platforms, he said: “So we should have a handheld? I think we should have a handheld too.”

Asked if he wanted to comment further on the subject, Spencer said: “I don’t want to say anything. I think you’ll have to have Sarah [Bond] on, our president of Xbox, which is awesome. But the future for us in hardware is pretty awesome, and the work that the team is doing around different form factors, different ways to play, I’m incredibly excited about.

“Today was about the games,” Spencer continued. “We showed some of our Gen 9 consoles, Series S and Series X, the work that we’re doing, but we will have a time to come out and talk more about platform, and we can’t wait to bring it to you guys.”

Spencer was then asked whether a hypothetical Xbox handheld would be a dedicated gaming platform or a cloud-based device.

“What I’m finding, I like my ROG Ally, my Lenovo Legion Go, fantastic, my SteamDeck. I think being able to play games locally is really important,” he responded.

Thoughts, SW? Are we heading towards a handheld war the next few years? Seems so. Either way, I’m excited for it! Are you?

I want the Xbox handheld to be compatible with PC games but knowing MS they would not have the foresight for such an implementation despite having the exclusive ability to accomplish such a task.

Certainly sounds like they’re working on an Xbox handheld for sure. I’m definitely interested to see what they might be cookin’ up.

Its probably what they'll announce to counter the Pro.

But we already have a portable Xbox:

Daniel never misses a beat😅

@davillain: That is the ghetto option

Please make this a reality. Hybrid handhelds are awesome. I love the Switch.

I'm curious about compatibility with console games. I wonder how far away it is. Maybe since it's ARM it will launch with the next generation.

Seems they're still leaving some surprises for later in the year. Perhaps something to hit back with if Sony tries to take the light with a Pro reveal.

No! They don't.

So Phil/MS doesn't have enough money to keep those 4 studios open, but have a few billion to fund R&D and then make a handheld when Series consoles aren't setting the world on fire atm.

Sounds like a dumb business decision to me.

I want a handheld to be small, I want it to slide into my pocket.

When I think ideal size I think PSP or Vita.

Anything bigger is a no go for me. The Steam Deck might be ultra powerful, I just don't use it.

So many competition with handhelds. They would need to offer something unique for this to work. So far im happy with my old deck and legion go.

Yeah, at that point you might as well shell out a bit extra for a laptop instead and get a better machine. It's about equally portable.

Only works if games are made for that screen size. Playing AAA games on such a small screen would be tedious!

Could be interesting depending on price, size, power and integration.

I can see why he's doing it, but he's doing it wrong. Console gaming is not growing, it's stagnating. Sony and Xbox see that, which is why they're branching out. A way to branch out is via the mobile audience with handhelds and smartphone gaming. It's a smart thing to do, branch out.

The issue is... You need games to attract people to platforms. The Switch sells due to the exclusives, not because it's just a portable gaming device. If it was, then what would convince people to game on the Switch, rather than just gaming on their smartphone? Microsoft should work on adding more must have exclusives to their roster.

Not interested

They are working and releasing games but exclusives is not their goal (have not been for over 7 years). A handheld Xbox would offer more than what the Switch will offer by default as in you can game on the go with the device or on a more powerful machine at no additional cost because the games are linked to your account like Steam and other digital storefronts.

@last_lap: would you keep spending money on something that is draining your wallet and not providing some benefit? MS is a business and needs to look out for uts interests

@blaznwiipspman1: Notice how the company (Bethesda) who owned Tango and Arkane didn't close them even though they are 100x smaller and obviously have less money than MS.

I guess that just makes Phil a bad business man, but he wastes billions a year paying for games to go into Gamepass, so that's a given.

Oh and draining MS wallet, please.

But will they sell that idea? The Steam Deck can do so, while having more access to games. It just depends on the type of customers that you have. Nintendo fans don't mind trading power for gaming on the go. PC fans and Xbox fans might not be willing to do so.

🤷🏽‍♂️ No idea.

It could be interesting, I am glad this new category of hand-held PCs is growing.

Think next gen there will be a handheld as well as a home console. Maybe you could connect it to the TV with a dock.

that was the business strategy, putting games on gamepass AND making games exclusive means they need to be more careful of the types of games that are released. Bethesda could afford to support turds like redfall, because in the past they would have released starfield and it would have sold in the billions of dollars. That would have supported sales flops and poor user engagement games like hi fi rush too.

With gamepass, it means the games have to be good, support themselves and generate actual players. Gamepass is great for gaming, and will support proper games being released.

Absolute gibberish, I mean you're trying to say Bethesda can support flops being a billion-dollar company, but a trillion-dollar company can't. Like I said absolute gibberish.

Gears and Halo on the road, bring it on!! :D