The release of Valve’s Steam Deck has ignited a significant challenge, almost like a spark under the seat, for Microsoft’s gaming division. For years, Microsoft has been making unpopular changes to the already cumbersome Windows OS, but now it seems they are making a conscious effort to cater to gamers on their platform.
As a result of this, we now have the ASUS ROG Xbox Ally portable device, along with its more potent X version. These devices will showcase their own interfaces specifically tailored for Windows handhelds. Although various companies have developed unique user interfaces for handheld Windows 11, they are generally subpar compared to Valve’s efficient SteamOS. However, Microsoft is now actively addressing this issue and making improvements.
In the latest edition of the Official Xbox Podcast, Phil Spencer, head of Xbox, discussed an upcoming handheld device. Although no concrete launch date has been announced as of yet, this portable gaming PC has been under development for some time now. Spencer mentioned that the project has brought Microsoft’s Windows and Gaming divisions closer together than ever before.
In a podcast episode, the head of Xbox expressed that the partnership between the gaming organization and the Windows team was the closest they’ve ever worked together during his 30 years with the company.
Spencer clarified that the two teams are collaborating closely on the project, uncovering fundamental problems with the Windows user interface to produce a more efficient and user-friendly device. By concentrating on ways to enhance the user’s experience, there could potentially be an engaging gaming experience for Windows on a portable device.
As a gamer myself, there’s a certain charm in backing an open platform, but I yearn for it to function like a plug-and-play device, much like a gaming console. That’s exactly what I believe the synergy between these two teams (Xbox and ASUS ROG) can accomplish – creating something truly exceptional together.
Over time, the division between Microsoft’s Gaming and Windows development teams has resulted in several challenges. Initially, there was the Microsoft Store, initially intended for Xbox Play Anywhere games on computers. Regrettably, it was poorly managed.
Following, we have the continually evolving Xbox Application, which has significantly advanced over the past few years, yet still lacks polish. Given that it’s now integrated with Windows, one might anticipate a superior gaming experience via this platform; however, this assumption would prove incorrect.
It’s exciting to see more Linux gaming choices coming with the launch of SteamOS devices, as this could potentially make Windows a more enhanced experience all around. The ASUS ROG Xbox Ally (quite a long name) seems like an encouraging start. However, considering it’s Microsoft, there’s always a chance they might find a way to mess things up.
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2025-06-11 12:40