At CES 2025, Microsoft’s Vice President of Next Generation Jason Ronald showed off a new user experience for Windows portable gaming PCs that could combine the best of the operating system and Xbox. Windows 11 allows for more choices (users can access Steam, the Epic Games Store, and several other marketplaces), but it’s harder to use because it’s primarily designed for PCs and laptops, not portable systems with much smaller screens. It can be cumbersome.
“We’ve been innovating in the console space for a long time, and it’s important to us that we work together across the industry to see how we can bring the innovations we’ve cultivated and developed in the console space to PC,” Ronald said at the AMD and Lenovo event (The Verge). (via) said: “I’d say it combines the best of both Xbox and Windows, as they’ve spent the last 20 years building world-class operating systems, but they’re really limited to consoles. What we’re doing is what we’re really focused on. “How can we bring this experience to the wider Windows ecosystem for both players and developers?”
Ronald explained that Microsoft aims to bring a console-like experience to portable devices and “make Windows great for gaming” on all devices. Microsoft will share more details later this year, Ronald said, adding that the idea is to move away from the Windows desktop setup and toward a “gaming-focused” experience.
Meanwhile, Xbox chief Phil Spencer has been candid about the idea of an Xbox handheld device for months, and Microsoft is reportedly currently working on a prototype that’s years away from release. Meanwhile, Valve’s SteamOS will be rolling out to more PC gaming handhelds later this year, starting with the new Lenovo Legion Go S.
