Introduction: Things have been very static in the Xbox development domain for some time now. But recently, a rumor began circulating that the same team is developing a handheld gaming version of Xbox that could change the fortunes of the gaming branch of Microsoft.
Article: During the better part of the 21st century, the landscape of console gaming became very clear-cut. Unlike the turbulent years of the 1990s, when several completely separate console behemoths were competing for the bigger slice of the gaming market, the early 2000s saw a clearing of this field. Companies like Sega went away from console development and the market consolidated into two main contenders. These were Sony’s PlayStation console system and a very similar device in many aspects, Microsoft’s Xbox. For years, the two options were pretty much the entirety of non-PC gaming space and what most of the planet used for their video game needs. However, it could be argued that the introduction of smartphones to the wider audience slowly began unlocking the mobile gaming space, which was mostly dormant since the discontinuation of series like Game Boy.
Gaming on the Go
With more and more powerful devices in the pockets of pretty much everyone, game development studios saw this opportunity and began building their mobile gaming libraries. Other gaming companies were not oblivious to that, which is why Nintendo, for example, decided to undertake a massive gamble with their Switch platform. This hybrid console allowed for an experience that is akin to the offer of classic PS and Xbox home-based devices, but also allowed for full autonomy on the move. Despite many naysayers, the console turned out to be a massive hit and basically allowed Nintendo to muscle back into the mobile market.
Now, it seems that Xbox is also eyeing the same space and developing its own handheld console. That potential gaming device is still under many layers of secrecy, just like the company’s overall approach to its possible selection of games. Here, Microsoft and Xbox developers have an additional dilemma – should the device go for cloud gaming access, standalone titles physically present on the console, or even create a route toward third-party game providers like Steam? Today, few can say with certainty what is the ideal solution for that predicament, but it is still clear that Xbox is working on a new series of products. That in itself is a big change in the company’s policies towards innovation and a sign Xbox is embracing the present state of the gaming market.
Xbox Handheld Leaks
The story behind Xbox Handheld, as many already know it, is not completely new. Original leaked information came from media outlets that follow developments inside of the wider Microsoft business ecosystem. According to the same leaks, the Xbox team is presently developing a completely native device that fits into the department’s creation process. The same rumors also showcase a desire of the developers to have an Xbox handheld offering a standalone experience for playing video games.
That would mean that unlike, for example, PlayStation Portal, the Xbox mobile console would not primarily use streaming technology. The reason for that is the fact that streaming video games demand a big bandwidth and a stable internet connection. That, in turn, would defeat the purpose of having a mobile device, being that all would basically need to be played in a home or office environment with good internet access. The leaks also showcase the existence of physical prototypes that the Xbox developers are already experimenting with. However, crucially, the leaked info shows nothing similar to a timeline or any other data that presents the possible development schedule or when would this handheld device actually reach the consumers.
Phil Spencer and Xbox Mobility
On one hand, industry rumors in the game development domain are always ripe. That is why it is too easy to discard them, especially when they discuss major changes in a company, like in this case a completely new line of gaming products for both Xbox and its parent company Microsoft. But, on the other hand, the info on a handheld device comes after the head of Xbox, Phil Spencer, previously commented on several occasions that the company is interested in the handheld market. For most industry insiders, the remarks from Spencer are clear proof that the company is working on this product in some shape or form.
From a business side, the same concept is also very logical, being that the financial success of Nintendo Switch, for example, is nearly impossible to miss by anyone in the video game industry. But, the desire for Xbox alone is far from enough to actually get a handheld device that is ready to be launched on the international gaming market. Even with a working prototype, there are still many issues that the same product would come across, including the potential to access third-party developers and their video games.
Questions and Challenges
While it can be said with certainty that Xbox is developing a handheld device, even if that project is in its infancy, many other questions remain. The success of Switch is clear, but another handheld device also recently entered the market – Steam Deck. This handheld gaming computer inhabits a space that is neither a classic home console nor a mobile device. It is big and relatively cumbersome, but it allows for full Steam library access. Xbox handheld development will have to have similar dilemmas. Microsoft and Xbox have been mentioning for some time that they are interested in reaching out to third-party game providers. That would likely be the case for the new mobile console as well.
But, what would that third-party access look like from a technical standpoint? If Microsoft wants to turn the Xbox handheld into a stand-alone device, the company would have to somehow print a selection of games on physical media. Nintendo is doing the same for its game cards, but Xbox would have to introduce a whole new native technology. Alternatively, Xbox could use the Steam library access, but that would once more demand an online connectivity feature that would negate any true mobile gaming. So, the third-party game access alone shows ironing out all of the details related to the Xbox mobile device. But, for many gamers, the very notion that Xbox is considering such a device is great news. Yet, below all of the problems, the handheld development shows that the Microsoft division has not given up on gaming innovations, even when they come with some serious changes and open questions.
Author: Ivica Milaric, Game designer and game design teaching assistant at the Novi Sada Academy of Arts, Republic of Serbia