Xbox confirms that it is developing a handheld console: this is what we know.
Is Xbox developing a competitor for the Steam Deck?
In the landscape of portable gaming, a competitor under the Xbox brand could emerge. Phil Spencer, a high-ranking executive at the company, suggested this possibility during a recent interview, noting that there are expectations for Xbox to enter the handheld console market. Prototypes are currently being developed, although Spencer cautioned that concrete results should not be expected in the short term, predicting that this could take several years.
Although the information is limited, the growing demand in the portable gaming market may provide clues about Microsoft's intentions. The continued popularity of the Nintendo Switch, along with the recent success of high-end devices like the Steam Deck and the Asus ROG Ally, suggests a significant interest in console-quality gaming experiences in a portable format.
Given that Xbox has focused its strategy on the Game Pass service, it seems logical to think that any portable device would have strong support for this platform. However, this would imply that the console would need sufficient performance to handle Game Pass titles, many of which are AAA releases that, according to some critics, the Steam Deck fails to run smoothly.
It is worth mentioning that there is a possibility that Xbox may decide not to continue with the project if the prototypes do not meet their expectations. Therefore, clarity on this initiative is expected in the coming years.
