Portable game consoles: Microsoft wants to combine "the best of Xbox and Windows"

With a portable Xbox reportedly on the way, portable gaming consoles that run on Windows, like the Asus ROG Ally X, could soon be entering a new era. Microsoft is working on an overhaul of its operating system to make Windows more user-friendly for portable consoles, while still integrating features from the Xbox experience.

Microsoft wants a unified experience for portable gaming on Windows

Microsoft wants to combine the best of the Xbox and Windows environments. During a roundtable discussion organized around the launch of Lenovo's Legion Go S, Jason Ronald, corporate vice president of Microsoft's Next Generation division, explains Microsoft's desire to simplify the use of Windows for gaming. The goal is to make this platform as intuitive as a console, by putting players and their game libraries at the heart of the experience.

Currently, Windows is often perceived as impractical for portable gaming, in particular because of its interface designed for a keyboard and mouse. A flaw so well-known that Valve jumped into the breach by offering SteamOS in April to those who want to install it on their portable PC console.

For its part, Microsoft wants to create an environment that hides the traditional elements of the Windows desktop, such as the Start menu or notifications, to replace them with a more fluid and gaming-focused experience, similar to what the Xbox interface offers.

Changes expected as early as 2025

Microsoft plans to launch these improvements before the end of the year. Rather than developing a specific operating system as is the case on Xbox, the strategy is probably to adapt Windows so that it works better on portable consoles. This includes better controller support, joystick interactions, and easier access to the Xbox library.

The goal, Ronald says, is to build on the advances made on Xbox consoles and integrate them into Windows, while meeting the needs of gamers and developers. “We want to make Windows a great platform for gaming, no matter what device you’re on,” he said.

Source: The Verge