What is the new Microsoft handheld gaming console going to be like?

The featured image is generated using ChatGPT and DALL-E, not the actual image of the console!

Now we know that Microsoft is preparing a new handheld console and the officials tout it as the biggest generational leap for an Xbox console ever.

However, there is a tough crows out there waiting for the next big thing on a market where Nintendo Switch is still leading and Steam Deck is breathing down its neck. And then, there are also Asus ROG Ally and Lenovo Legion Go, which are already running Windows.

The game console market will reach $7.85 billion in 2024 in the U.S., according to Statista, while the number of users is expected to amount to 21.3 million by 2029.

It’s a stiff competition, but AMD, Intel and Nvidia will jump to the opportunity to help Microsoft create something groundbreaking.

Now that the Activision Blizzard deal is starting to pay off and Game Pass reached 34 million subscribers, it’s time for the next push for the Redmond giant.

What is Microsoft going to do to succeed?

Holding the Xbox on every screen promise, the new Xbox handheld will definitely have to be able to play any Xbox and PC games. You can already play Halo Infinite on your PC, Xbox, or xCloud so we know that cross-platform is doable and everyone expects it.

Imagine starting a game on the Xbox hooked to your TV, or the PC, then grabbing your handheld, loading the save on your commute and continuing to play as if nothing happen.

And yeah, if some of the games are also available on PlayStation, you can play the same title with everyone, regardless of the device they’re using. Seamless gaming, that’s what I can understand from Xbox on every screen, and that’s probably the key to Microsoft’s future success.

Microsoft had an opportunity to jump into the handheld market when Steam Deck was launched, but Sony moved quickly and cashed in. Yeah, you can make Xbox Cloud Gaming work on Steam Deck, but it’s painstaking, and you’re definitely not experiencing the same thing as you do on your Xbox or PC.

Is hybrid cloud gaming the solution?

Now, Microsoft has to build its own rig, and it has to be powerful enough to play the best AAA games in mint conditions, but also sleek and light enough not to break our arm wrists in the process.

It will all come down to a custom chip that will be powerful enough to run a slimmed-down Windows OS, but that won’t still be enough. Asus ROG Ally and Lenovo Legion Go are running Windows and have potent chips that can match the Xbox Series S or X graphics, but they still don’t cut it in terms of playability.

If Microsoft’s handheld console manages to play the games from the cloud, the device will be slimmer, lighter, and a lot more competitive on a stage where handhelds are still bulky and hard to handle.

This is the right time for Microsoft to develop a new concept and hardware to blow the market in all aspects. Nintendo pushed its Switch 2 launch to 2025, so if Microsoft manages to bring the new handheld console on the market in time for the holiday season, we will see a lot of happy gamers.

In the meantime, you can look at a Legion Go, Asus ROG Ally and Steam Deck comparison to refresh your knowledge about the handheld game consoles.

What are your thoughts about the future Microsoft handheld console? Let’s discuss in the comments below.