Katarzyna Petru
Microsoft wants to enter the portable console market, but their new hardware may be dead on arrival. First impressions? Mixed. The co-creator of the original Xbox left no stone unturned on the project. The new Xbox handheld… is actually a modified ROG Ally with the Microsoft logo.
During a recent presentation, Microsoft showcased something that was supposed to be a response to the growing popularity of the Steam Deck and ROG Ally. However, instead of a revolution, we got a rebranding. The new Xbox handheld is essentially a modified ROG Ally running on Windows 11, rather than any specially designed console system.
On paper, it looks like a “PC in handheld form.” In practice? Laura Fryer, the former manager of the Xbox team, states bluntly: “There is absolutely no reason to buy this hardware. Xbox as hardware does not exist – that division is dead.”
Missing classic games, high price, questionable sense
The criticism didn't come out of nowhere. The console does not support classic titles from Xbox or Xbox 360 – forget about Ninja Gaiden Black, Halo 3, or Sonic Unleashed. The handheld only runs games from the Xbox Play Anywhere program – that is, the exact same titles that can be launched on a regular PC with Windows.
On top of that, there's the starting price: around 599 euros. For many gamers, it might be more cost-effective to buy a regular laptop, Switch 2, or... Steam Deck, which offers a more stable system, cheaper games, and community support.
Even the industry says "no"
Laura Fryer is not alone in her assessment. Earlier, Mike Ybarra, former president of Blizzard Entertainment, urged Microsoft to focus on what really matters – games – instead of "unnecessary hardware".
Microsoft has been teetering on the edge of a reputation crisis for months – layoffs in the Xbox division, studio closures, and the uncertain future of the Gears and Halo series. Now they are adding hardware that – as Fryer points out – brings absolutely nothing new.
Who needs it?
For now, it seems that the new handheld Xbox will be a device for a handful of fans who mainly play on PC and want something "on the go". But if someone is looking for a true console experience in a mobile version – Microsoft most likely has nothing to offer them.
Is this just a blunder, or a sign of a larger identity problem with the Xbox brand? Time will tell.
Source: ithardware.pl
