Rumors of a portable Xbox, or handheld Xbox, have yet again been firing. Microsoft has recently put out a survey asking all about our interest or buying habits when it comes to handheld gaming PCs, perhaps suggesting they are looking to get a piece of the action. It’s likely still early days, but it could be sign of things to come – maybe even before the next gen Xbox?
When we hear handheld gaming PC, the first device that comes to mind is Valve’s Steam Deck. However, there has been a plethora of competition in recent years, most notably the ASUS ROG Ally, Lenovo Legion Go, and the recent MSI Claw. This has brought plenty of competition to the market, but a big player like Microsoft could really give Valve a run for their money.
Microsoft sends out survey on handheld gaming PCs
According to XDA, Microsoft dropped hints of an Xbox handheld earlier on this year, and this news has given us some renewed interest. As for the survey, credit goes to Windows Central, which spotted the seven-minute questionnaire all about gaming handhelds. On question asks: “How likely are you to purchase a new handheld gaming PC within the next 3-5 years?”. Another touches on what kind of design or features interest you most in a handheld.
Interestingly enough, there is plenty of reference to ‘handheld gaming PCs’, which does imply something different to console handhelds such as the Nintendo Switch. However, it would be a lot of sense to Microsoft to stick with their Xbox branding, and the versatility of the Xbox Game Pass on both console and PC nets them that. There have been a number of recent handhelds running on Windows 11, so it will be interesting to see if Microsoft go for the PC or console route.
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If Microsoft can indeed (or even intend to) shake up the handheld market, it will be interesting to see how it all pans out. We can’t say that we’re too keen on something akin to the PlayStation Portal, which is more of an accessory than an actual handheld gaming device.
