Microsoft’s upcoming Xbox handheld, likely releasing by 2027, may feature a Switch-style docking system, allowing both handheld and TV play. Reports suggest two handheld projects: one by ASUS (possibly 2025) and a "true" successor by Microsoft (2027). The latter may use Qualcomm chips, support games from Microsoft Store, Epic, and Steam, and could even run PlayStation titles—a first for Xbox. However, details remain unconfirmed. Release timelines vary, with some pointing to 2027 and others to 2028.

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[–] Justdaveisfine@midwest.social 22 points 21 hours ago (2 children)

This feels weirdly too late. I can't imagine that many people in 2027 who passed on a Switch 1/2, SteamDeck, supposed other upcoming handhelds, or the ROG Ally and are looking for a gaming handheld with money to burn.

Xbox has to really bring something hot to the table, and its certainly not whatever they've been doing with their hardware/games/IPs for the past 5 years.

[–] simple@lemm.ee 10 points 21 hours ago (2 children)

That's like saying people won't be interested in new laptops because they already own one. If new handhelds are more performant and power efficient, there will be demand for it.

[–] brucethemoose@lemmy.world 6 points 21 hours ago (1 children)

With a Qualcomm chip though… there will be some teething issues, best case.

[–] simple@lemm.ee 3 points 21 hours ago (1 children)

Well the rumored Qualcomm handheld is still two years away assuming it doesn't get delayed. Qualcomm's next generation of chips are expected to be alot better, and Microsoft have been improving their x86->arm translation layer lately. It's too early to tell if a qualcomm handheld is a bad idea.

[–] brucethemoose@lemmy.world 6 points 21 hours ago* (last edited 21 hours ago)

I will believe it when I see it. I hope so.

Qualcomm makes a lot of hype/noise but historically tends to overpromise, and also makes some unforced blunders. But a real ARM competitor would be great.

[–] Justdaveisfine@midwest.social 3 points 18 hours ago

True, though people tend to replace laptops when they fall out of support or start having hardware issues, much less often to do an upgrade looking for more frames.

I still feel Microsoft has to bring something hot to really sway anyone over since they have a long history of competing in the mobile hardware space and fumbling it hard.

[–] ampersandrew@lemmy.world 5 points 21 hours ago (3 children)

Allegedly, it's an improved Windows experience so you get the compatibility without having to use a desktop operating system on a handheld game machine. So, you get Game Pass and kernel level anti cheat games with a UX similar to the Steam Deck (ish). And besides, "everything is an Xbox". They don't care how many of these things sell as long as you're on Game Pass or buying their games.

[–] Fiivemacs@lemmy.ca 7 points 20 hours ago

Let's all call their bluff and buy none of them to see how much they care.

[–] Justdaveisfine@midwest.social 2 points 21 hours ago (1 children)

So it'll be the ROG Ally but 'better' because its less Windows than normal. Hmm.

The last part concerns me. Why am I buying into a platform that Microsoft couldn't care less if it sells at all because they make their money from subscriptions?

People don't want hardware that just gets abandoned when its not profitable enough, which Microsoft absolutely has a history of doing.

[–] ampersandrew@lemmy.world 3 points 20 hours ago (1 children)

Every time you buy a PC, you're buying a platform that Microsoft couldn't care less if it sells at all, and that's all this will be. It will be supported by Microsoft as any other Windows PC, for better or worse.

[–] Justdaveisfine@midwest.social 2 points 18 hours ago

Well a Windows license is just that: Here is a code for the OS, have fun. They don't care because most support will be from hardware vendors.

Microsoft hardware is a different beast. You need to have parts for replacement, its got to be compatible (and stay compatible) with whatever accessories are coming out, and its got to be better than its competitors on new game launches. That last part takes coordination and support with dev teams.

Don't care isn't a great option, unless Microsoft wants another Windows Phone or Zune or one of the many other failed hardware launches they've had.

[–] supersquirrel@sopuli.xyz 1 points 21 hours ago

Allegedly

[–] brucethemoose@lemmy.world 8 points 21 hours ago* (last edited 21 hours ago) (2 children)

Using Qualcomm chips

Oof.

Why didn’t they go AMD, or heck, even Intel? They have GPU-heavy APUs in the pipe that would mostly just work.

Intel, in particular, is not bad power-wise as long as they aren’t clocking chips to very edge like they’ve been doing, and won’t necessarily have the TSMC capacity constraint. That’s huge.

[–] Die4Ever@retrolemmy.com 5 points 17 hours ago* (last edited 17 hours ago) (1 children)

I honestly thought the entire point of the Series S was that they would later be able to shrink it down into a portable device without any game patches

Call it the "xbox series s" without capitalization lol, Microsoft loves confusing names, right?

[–] brucethemoose@lemmy.world 1 points 4 hours ago

Yeah, that would be perfect!

Or (alternatively) they could majorly underclock the a shrunken series X chip to make it equivalent to an S.

[–] jacksilver@lemmy.world 8 points 21 hours ago (1 children)

I mean choosing Qualcomm means they're targeting Arm chips, which Intel and AMD don't make.

It would probably mean a longer battery life, but I'm not sure how that would work for backwards compatibility and power.

If that's true though, it would really set this device apart from the competition.

[–] brucethemoose@lemmy.world 9 points 21 hours ago* (last edited 21 hours ago) (2 children)

It means emulation with pretty much every current title, and graphics driver issues and sluggish game out of the wazoo (as Qualcomm is very different than AMD/Intel/Nvidia).

ARM being more power efficient is also kind of a meme. Intel/AMD can be extremely good when clocked low (which they can do since there’s no emulation overhead), with both the CPU/GPU. Apple just makes x86 look bad because they burn a ton of money on power efficiency, but Qualcomm is more in the “budget” space. No one is paying $2K for an Xbox handheld like they would for an Apple product.

[–] jacksilver@lemmy.world 3 points 20 hours ago (1 children)

Yeah, I know it would mean emulation, the question is more if they can deliver. Since they state it will work with all Microsoft, Epic, and Steam games. Assuming any of the leaks are right.

[–] brucethemoose@lemmy.world 2 points 19 hours ago (1 children)

Games are complex. Qualcomm/MS may tune it for the most popular titles, but I just don’t see how they can catch up to years of desktop GPU driver development.

[–] jacksilver@lemmy.world 2 points 18 hours ago

Yeah, that's exactly what I was thinking.

[–] LandedGentry@lemmy.zip 2 points 19 hours ago (2 children)

Idk where you’ve been lately but Apple has gone way budget friendlier with Mac mini’s. You can get a serious machine for $1200

[–] brucethemoose@lemmy.world 1 points 3 hours ago* (last edited 3 hours ago)

The base M4 is a very small chip with a modest memory config. Don’t get me wrong, it’s fantastic, but it’s more Steam Deck/laptop than beefy APU (which the M4 Pro is a closer analogue to).

$1200 is pricey for what it is, partially because Apple spends so much on keeping it power efficient, rather than (for example) using a smaller die or older process and clocking it higher.

[–] jacksilver@lemmy.world 1 points 18 hours ago (1 children)

I thought he meant more R&D, but even $1200 would be way too expensive for a console (especially a handheld).

[–] LandedGentry@lemmy.zip 2 points 18 hours ago

Base model is $699 IIRC so PS5 pro price if we’re being pedantic lol

[–] commander@lemmy.world 5 points 21 hours ago

I never get the mind blowness some people get about a hypothetical future Xbox branded handheld that could runs all these stores that can play PlayStation games. It's a PC. You can play PlayStation games on Windows devices for years now. It's not a gotcha big brain strategic masterpiece on Microsofts part. Pay Valve to play PlayStation games. Current Xbox gamers in the future pay Valve to play 3rd party games rather than Microsoft