Is An Xbox Handheld In The Works?

The idea of an Xbox handheld has some potential.
Potential to fail, mostly.
Today I want to talk about why an Xbox handheld could be a terrible idea, or a great idea, depending on what it exactly is.
Especially in relationship to Nintendos new console, Sony’s new handheld, and of course, the Steam Deck.
If you want more videos like this, or just want to support the channel, considered becoming a channel member using the join button.

[@theactualTVB]

Now that a portable Xbox was a thing that was predicted in 2008, when will we get the Wii Phone or the iGame?

[@Poctyk]

iGame? an iPhone that can play normal games? Nah that will never....

[@matti...]

what about the ds2

[@Mrnotpib]

If the Wii U was so good, why not the Wii V. Which is the next letter in the alphabet, sing the song. Look it up.

[@richmanifesto1090]

I would pre-order a nintendo phone

[@matti...]

@@Mrnotpib i really liked travis scott's verse on it

[@Godzilla00X]

Miss the 3DS so much, amazing system

[@Pikaclev]

Did yours break?

[@resean2727]

What happened to your 3ds?

[@alphamarigi]

I still play mine

[@breadone_]

if only it had games that weren’t 2d platformers

[@haruhirogrimgar6047]

@@breadone_ It is a JRPG machine though.

[@failsans4079]

0:44 why the mexican band music going hard

[@uf2850]

I know, I thought I had another tab open

[@MatthewCobalt]

I wish I knew the song

[@JohnSmith-sk7cg]

I think the one chance Linux has to take off is if the rumblings of Windows 12 being a subscription actually come to fruition. The amount of work Valve has put into proton means that apart from some anticheats explicitly excluding Linux (a chicken and egg issue with userbase size), I've been able to run every Windows game I've tried on a steamdeck without issue. And proton is freely available to all and part of the Steam install on other Linux distros.

[@ThePaperKhan]

I've had some issues myself. A lot of Ubisoft games require their own launcher. Both a handful of old and new Ubisoft games require work arounds and fixes. For example, AC Revelations is my favorite AC game but requires an external patch to the Ubisoft launcher to run. Also, keep in mind games from other storefronts like Epic and GOG might not work unless you force it to run under proton, or not at all.

[@JohnSmith-sk7cg]

@@ThePaperKhan That's a steam deck specific issue since the console interface is designed around gamescope. A normal Linux desktop user installs the launcher the same way they do on Windows.

[@TheTytan007]

The "subscription" rumor is nothing more than a fearmongering bait. There is basically no logic behind this. And we know for a fact that Windows 12 was downscaled into Windows 11 24H2

[@GoogleDoesEvil]

Linux will never be able to support the kernel-level anticheat but ReactOS will because it has a Windows-like kernel.

[@JohnSmith-sk7cg]

@@GoogleDoesEvil Actually it does, see Helldivers 2 and Battlebit. It's a matter of whether devs are willing to accept Wine handling it. Which is a matter of numbers and client-side anticheat rapidly becoming irrelevant to actually stopping cheating.

[@Sandact6]

MVG was hinting at this idea too, with the cheaper of the current Xbox's being powerful enough to run in a handheld format. If Xbox wanted to launch something like that then most of the work is already done. I do agree they'd need to come with windows though. Valve and Steam Deck set the bar, you're going to need to at least get to that.

[@GoogleDoesEvil]

I think Windows is going to get a Xbox mode where it boots into the Xbox shell. Windows 10 was built to use different shells with the same underlying OS (see Windows 10 Mobile, Windows 10X, Xbox, Hololens, etc)

[@applehazeva2739]

I think of it the same way But at the same time, I want to play my Xbox Versions of those Games. Having an official offline Version of Rockstar Games, Ubisoft, EA and any other DRM-Offline-Hating Company would be very important for me. You can't play RDR2 PC Version offline. For example. This Console would be a Dream too for BC 360 Era Games that have no Controller or Splitscreen Support on PC. Like Black Ops 1

[@hotmailcompany52]

@@applehazeva2739 I've played the PC version of RDR2 on my steamdeck on the train a whole bunch of times and I didn't have internet at the time 🤔

[@zayzafy6969]

@@hotmailcompany52 for some games if you launch them once every so often on wifi they will work for a few days without wifi. Steam might've also enabled "offline mode" which functions differently. For the majority of PC gamers (most aren't on the steam deck) offline play is rarely ever allowed without cracking the game. It's sad that a pirate gets a more consumer friendly experience. Happy that you got to enjoy your game with minimal interruptions though!

[@gtPacheko]

If we ever get an Xbox mode for PC, I'd drop Linux in a heartbeat. I have tons of Xbox games that I can't play anymore because my Series S died.

[@8bitnation419]

Having Windows on a handheld Xbox would be a dumb move. It would just be like everything else and it wouldn't even be an Xbox console but instead a Handheld PC, a Microsoft Surface Handheld. I'd rather have an Xbox One/Series Portable with its dedicated OS for an optimal experience. Where i can play Xbox games on the go.

[@aeron5162]

The Steam Deck has become my primary "console" in my thirties simply because it has my large and cheap to obtain Steam library, while also being easy and purpose built to utilize said games. The current slate of windows handhelds lack that and feel like a desktop experience crammed into a handheld form factor. I think a windows handheld with an Xbox branding could do very well if they could fix the current Windows handheld experience.

[@hosvet_animation]

That's the actual problem here. Xbox making a hand-held is the smart obvious choice, but Xbox has been making really bad minutia decisions for like 15 years at this point. I don't think they have the vision and dedication that Valve had to make an excellent piece of tech at a competitive price. I was 50/50 on whether they'd be smart enough to make a handheld console until I heard all this news, but now I'm putting it at 10/1 they actually make a handheld console with all the features the steam deck has and a really good handheld user interface. They just feel really out of touch at this point.

[@internetperson8224]

Loving the short fire vids. Idc about length, or care if what you says come to pass, speculation is always fun.

[@mittensfastpaw]

Well I’d get a Steam deck if I wasn’t poor…

[@Rynosaur94]

Didn't know this channel existed. Good stuff.

[@stinklord420]

Valve did amazing UI work with the steam deck, plus the touch pads make desktop usage bearable. I tried an ROG Ally and decided very quickly that until MS comes up with a more user friendly UX design more tailored for handhelds I wouldn't consider buying one. Compared to a switch or Steam OS, Windows is frustrating to use.

[@iammaybeabro4598]

Finally, the Xbag.

[@joes-jv9hk]

You blew my mind at the end

[@AlexanTheMan]

We've wanted a portable Xbox since the 360 days.

[@KonstantinKruglov]

Fun thing is that Xbox already runs WINDOWS under the hood. Windows Store games (gamepass) are not win32 apps format, like what Steam uses, it's the same or very similar thing to what Xbox runs and that's why these games can not be run in Proton (compatibility layer Steam Deck uses to run Windows games).

[@DementedApe]

They could just make a separate version of windows designated for handhelds, windows 10 home, pro, S, whatever other ones there are, why not just add a windows touch or something to that list

[@Chdonga]

I'm like the one fringe case who didn't have an OG Xbox or 360. The only way I'd waste money on an Xbox handeld is if I can play JSRF, Blinx, & Fuzion Frenzy on the go. And considering I can't get those on the Xbox marketplace, I wouldn't have high hopes that they'd fix this injustice with a handheld release.

[@Szabbyhun]

5:20 Valve said, they sold a couple millins of units(~2023 early november). Which is a huge number in the handheld gaming space(especially, in the pc/x86 space), also, its the first real handheld gaming machine after the switch.

[@nickkk420]

At 1:16 when he says like button, the like button lights up

[@JefeLo_]

Nice trumpets 10/10 background audio

[@what1fun1v3rs3]

i'd probably buy an portable windows xbox for mobile editing and as a small gaming rig

[@urias5228]

Nice backgroud music👍

[@tylerl3030]

8:00 I heard that music play and I was like "is my Dad home???" Lol

[@flamsey]

Every move you make Every step you take Phil will be watching you

[@MocchiDraws]

People dont understand that "playing console games on the go" isnt what makes a good handheld. If I want that then Ill use my Steam Deck. A good handheld needs to have a unique feature/gimmick that sets it as its own ecosystem with games centered around those unique strengths. I.E. DS's dual screens, psp's multimedia support, the rear sensor on the ps vita and 3d on the 3ds. These features are what makes a handheld work and I think companies have lost touch with this.

[@MichaelChin1994]

Oh yeah. I think you're right on the money. The Steam Deck convinced me to switch to Linux. I am very happy I haven't needed to jump to Windows 11. It looks like an AI driven privacy nightmare. If you aren't right, Microsoft should hire you because you are right.

[@SpectraFGC]

I mean, the xbox has always run a modified version of Windows NT i believe. It would make a ton of sense for Microsoft to restructure the OS to work better with portable handhelds and maybe cut down on the bloatware before selling it on handhelds. it could work

[@eichen97]

7:50 Didnt expected you to start playing some CUMBIA as background music out of nowhere. kinda caught me off guard with that.

[@hobve936]

love the fucking cumbia

[@_mameluco]

Hold up was home boy using corridos as his back ground music?? 🤣🔥 I need to know

[@richmanifesto1090]

I want a handheld machine that integrates with the xbox console ecosystem but has a steam deck like desktop mode but windows

[@emmanuelchavez7748]

The cumbia music tho

[@Soul_king115]

Is that Peso Pluma music in that i hear

[@MyJesus30]

THE CAT MOVING HIS LITTLE ARM

[@Tex_Mex_A_Lex]

The music in the background 🇲🇽🇲🇽🇲🇽

[@Elitekampfsocke]

I would like to buy an Xbox handheld. Why? Quite simply, I have a large Xbox library with many games that I only have on this platform. But reason number 2 is as follows: I prefer playing handhelds at home. I use my Switch almost exclusively in mobile mode, and I also play more on the Steam Deck than on my significantly more powerful PC.

[@spook3809]

Always knew Whimsu was a cat of culture

[@binshakbooga9238]

The next xbox running windows would actually be the right approach if they fully commit to this 3rd party tactic. It at least makes their console unique in comparison to a switch 2 or ps6

[@mattc7420]

Would be nice to see a reliable mobile device that can play anything my Windows PC can away from home.

[@haruhirogrimgar6047]

As much as I will talk nicely of Steam Link, it just doesn't work well for games that work best with a mouse.

[@mechguy83]

Track ball or track point (ol thinkpad nipple) would be sweet on a hand held machine

[@cashnelson2306]

new 3DS has this

[@StarsAndSticks]

I don't know Mr. Kiro, ya boy right here is the guy choosing the Xbox handheld.

[@CarlosDeLosMuertes]

I've been saying for a while that Microsoft needs to do basically what they did with the Surface for Handheld gaming PCs. Maybe slightly different since Xbox isn't really a premium brand (hell make a cheaper Xbox version and a premium Surface version), but really set an example for this class of device. Personally I would just want 2 or more USB ports and if they could make some form of Joy-Con like controller that detaches then things would be perfect. I bought a Leigon Go last year, but I would have probably bough an Xbox version given similar specs. Either way Microsoft needs to improve Windows for this space. I have been thinking that personally I would be served better with a "gaming phone" since I mostly just watch videos "on the go" and a good laptop for when I'm traveling. but an Xbox Surface sounds like it would be fantastic.

[@8bitnation419]

A lot of people would buy a Portable Xbox. Only the Steam Deck and the Switch is competition for Xbox and perhaps PlayStation if they jump in too. Everything else cannot compete due to how expensive they are. The Rog Ally, the MSI Claw, Aya Neo, Legion Go all cost almost double that of a Steam Deck. These companies cannot afford to drop the price of their handheld, since they do not have software to fall back on. But both Sony and Microsoft can. Having Windows is a bad idea for an Xbox handheld, unless Microsoft wants to create a Surface Portable. Windows is not UI friendly, bloated and isn't as efficient as a dedicated console OS. Both Sony and Microsoft just have to make a handheld console that's cheaper than the competition and port their huge backlog of games over to it for an optimal experience with good enough battery life and stable framerates. Who the hell doesn't want to play Series, One, 360 and Og Xbox games on a handheld. Plus their's Game Pass which will give you even more games to enjoy for free. But the big sell would be exclusive games. Games you cannot get on the competition. Putting Windows on it turns the handheld into a generic device. And allow for games to be purchased and installed elese where.

[@Monsuco]

If USB-C docking stations were just a bit more common a portable Windows handheld gaming device could actually be pretty useful. It could turn into a mid-tier gaming PC when you plugged it into a dock.

[@TheChrisRolla]

I hope so

[@michaele1654]

An Xbox Steam Deck is an idea I've thought was great for years. Having (almost) every Xbox One game, plus hundreds of Xbox 360 and original Xbox games available to play when I'm on a train or airplane? Yes please. How long have people wanted Rare Replay on Switch? An Xdeck (that is a horrible name), if it existed, would let me play Rare Replay on the go. I am already sold. I mean the Steam Deck is like 60% of the way to being an Xdeck due to the Gamepass support, but it will be nice to have the option to play these games portably. I recently played through Bully on Steam Deck and it still really holds up. I bet there's a bunch of forgotten games from the late 2000s that would be perfect on a handheld. Look at how fun Lego games are on Switch. There is almost 20 years worth of Lego games available on Xbox via backward compatibility. Plenty of $10 backwards compatible Xbox 360 games would literally cost $60 if they were released on Switch unchanged. A handheld Xbox would be a good thing.

[@toddvogel8887]

I mean, the equivalent of a Game Pass Steamdeck does make some sense to me, and sounds fairly appealing.

[@lenowoo]

Windows is so full of legacy stuff you still can find things from 1995 in it. . If they can just strip it down to the core and build UI around sff. . It can be good.

[@GundamGokuTV]

I mean with the Steamdeck, and ROG Ally. The Handheld PC space is growing. So it makes me think, who better to make a Xbox OS for PC and gaming with Xbox Gamepass integration then Microsoft. It makes all the sense in the world

[@terig5584]

I really think the next Xbox might run Windows. Based on what little we know, I can’t shake the feeling the next Xbox is going to blur the lines even more and basically be a mid tier gaming PC (and priced basically accordingly). The end of true home consoles is going to come sooner than later. If you think about comparable technology, it’s actually a little wild they’re still around.

[@cavifax]

You really getting us mexicans tuned id with those background songs

[@JuanxDlol]

The next xbox ? i rly rly tought that Xbox series S/X should've launched with Windows Xbox OS, it would break new markets ideas and basically be a throw back to old days of Commodore kind of way.

[@mrshmuga9]

1:02 …we’ll be watching him, lol.

[@Planag7]

Honestly I just think it's going to be an official partnership with ROG Ally or something like that. That way it can be a functional Windows machine but still have that back door for Game pass

[@campbellhenderson5945]

Having a dedicated gaming machine that runs windows that can also support a keyboard, mouse, word, excel is such a catch all device and I would love that.

[@hosvet_animation]

If it worked as a generic 3rd party usb controller for other consoles too that'd be the real Xbox all-in-one gaming device.

[@mrshmuga9]

“word, and excel” Functionally that’s just a laptop with a controller, lol. People aren’t gonna use their Xbox handheld as a general PC. To do that would mean hooking it up to a monitor (because it’ll be too hard to read unless you want the keyboard right up against your stomach), and connecting a keyboard and mouse. It then becomes useless as a portable PC because you’re not gonna be able to do all that on the train like a laptop, nor will it be convenient even if you’re carrying it from one desk (your house) to another location. Laptops are thin and easily portable. A big ol’ handheld, plus a mouse and keyboard is a mess to carry. And the average consumer isn’t going to care if it runs Windows applications or not. It’s not the primary selling point of the device or why they’d care in the first place. The form factor of a laptop isn’t as nice as a handheld for gaming on the couch, but no single device is going to be optimal for both “office work” and gaming. There requirements for what makes both excel, are diametrically opposed. You need at least a 15” screen for desktop applications, but that’s too wieldy for a handheld. You want a simple design for a handheld, but that means lugging all the other desktop accessories around. At that point, they might as well just make a Windows tablet that runs Windows Store games. Because then it’ll have a keyboard function (touch) without carrying crap, and you could (theoretically) buy one of those cases with controllers embedded. It would still probably be too heavy to hold for very long though. You’d probably have to set it on your stomach while lying down. But again that’s only if you’re doing rudimentary desktop tasks. If you need to hop between various programs or doing more visual work, you’ll likely want a bigger screen / sit at a desk to make it less cumbersome.

[@vibri_]

I'm guesding it'll just be their take on the PS Portal.

[@urphakeandgey6308]

If Xbox wants to be an actual thing within the console industry again, this is probably the way to do it. Heck, they don't even need to make a Steamdeck type thing. Imagine if MS or Xbox just made an actual good Windows phone that can play full fledged Windows game, stream to a TV without latency, and connect to Bluetooth controllers. Pair this with game pass and better internet in the future for Xcloud, and that'd basically solidify mobile gaming as the future, which I definitely think is.

[@theautomaticfiend]

Doesn't Xbox run windows already in a kind of way? I think it always has since even the first one ran a modified windows 2000.

[@rackneh]

I think microsoft may actually have a chance at making their own a viable option if it can natively run windows AND play xbox games natively. 3:41 oh yeah lmao we came to the same conclusion They did some amazing stuff with the Surface lineup, I think I can get into it but they're gonna have to sell it at a loss like Valve did with the SteamDeck. And the dock experience has to be amazing

[@NJdaniels96]

I remember before the Xbox Series X launched SomeOrdinaryGamers floated the idea that it could be able to dual boot Windows and Xbox's OS.

[@bulkbogan6235]

Omg I would love to hold hands with Xbox that is so cute 🤗

[@3RST-GAMING]

The hardware just isn't there yet, however, I could see them using AI to enhance their game streaming compatibility, making a handheld that stores partial game files on the back end temporarily and airframe generation could mean you'd use less data and need less processing power for the device running the games on their servers

[@gbr4732]

I would 100% buy one just for game pass, I have a PC for game pass but I would jump on that device

[@MateusEstaticaTomagnini]

Now with windows on arms and the consoles being more and more like a PC and less like dedicated hardware, it's the perfect time that the new Xbox is just a windows machine.

[@dirtiestharry6551]

If Xbox handheld is a real thing, all it needs to succeed is a stripped down windows akin to tiny 11 with new UI that is designed for smaller screens with controllers in mind.

[@clayre839]

Low selling the portable Xbox I feel this is the significance of Game Pass in their current business model and how big of a deal it is to a lot of consumers

[@zubiddydoodoopop]

Just move all the Xbox stuff to PC. Let me pop in an OG Xbox or 360 disc into a Windows 11 PC and I'll finally upgrade from Windows 10. Their biggest strength should be integration. They were preaching that in 2013 as it being an all in One box. They can finally make that happen but they keep choosing that 3rd place mentaility by not making that slam dunk move. I'd actually start buying stuff off the MS store if they suddenly had 3 extra generations of software to peruse

[@asuperrandomguy8266]

Sound pretty trip the idea of putting a gaming disc on a pc and it working

[@thefernofrommarsgaming4204]

6:20 90% of games on steam work on linux, it's just anti cheats that impede linux gaming. Some companies like for example epic games quote "don't have enough employees for linux support".. they said this after laying off thousands of workers 💀 It's not really profitable for larger companies to move to a operating system that they can't extract user information from.

[@ProGremlinPlayer]

I'd die of liver poisoning if i drank everytime you said xbox

[@suspecm6316]

This actually made me realise that Linux isn't the gaming OS because it keeps sabotaging itself, but because Windows would never let it be that.

[@asuperrandomguy8266]

Gaming isn't the ideal gaming os because it don't have enough to company care about porting with makes having fewer game results into linux not having alot of players and the circle continue. It's a chicken and egg situation.

[@jodyjohnson265]

I seriously hope that it doesn't turn into a cloud gaming device because I really want to play all of my Xbox games on a handheld and yes I would love to spend the $200 for it.

[@jamespereira8339]

I rather have a dual boot handheld one with Xbox os for compatibility for my Xbox librarie and the another is windows/Linux for another stuff

[@alex.g7317]

I mean… you could say the exact same thing about a PSVita 3. It’s in the same boat as an Xbox Handheld when you put it the way you put it in the video.

[@mrapollo_17]

Justice for robit 🤖!

[@henryfleischer404]

I hope Microsoft does not make this, I want more people to switch to Linux, since I did recently. I use Debian btw.

[@LevitatingCups]

every move he makes, they'll be watching you -internet police

[@FTChomp9980]

As long as it is a Native Handheld I would buy it but if it like a Cloud Streaming Device well no just no.

[@bradbradson4543]

Look at all these videos 😊

[@rorbee]

Theory: phil keeps liking weird tweets to get whimsu to make more videos

[@SevenPilot]

I disagree with the fact that not many people would buy a portable Xbox without windows. If it is made in its own OS, then games can be optimized better and then the console can be made cheaper. If they pitch the handheld as a thing for casual gamers, (like a switch) then it would sell better. To the average person who doesn't watch tech KZbin or is a gaming nerd, being able to change graphical settings may be intimidating. To us, (people who watch this video) this might sound stupid, but the average person isn't that tech savvy.

[@conza1989]

Xbox Advance SP

[@gary.420]

Screw the portable xbox, or even the next xbox have the current series s/x run windows and boom you have the cheapest entry level gaming PC on the market, and a potential home run for windows.

[@GhostSlay3r]

I would buy an Xbox Handheld which is an actual handheld Xbox, not a Windows PC. Why: We get to use the Xbox OS. More manageable in a smaller device compared to a Windows. It would be cheaper. They could then subsidize the handheld because they get a 30% cut from every purchase in the store. Xbox Backwards Compatibility is simply amazing. Many, especially 360 era videogames have poorly aged/horrible PC ports which lack controller support etc. Vital for handhelds. (Steam software can kinda remedy this, but still a longshot from native support) Play your Xbox library on the go. I'm primarily a PC gamer, but I have many games only on Xbox. I can't run those games I own, on a Windows handheld like my ROG Ally. Xbox inclusives. Yeah most "Xbox inclusives" can be played on both Xbox and PC now. There aren't many, but there is still some games only available for Xbox. Like Gears of War 2 and 3. I love your videos man, but i disagree without many of your points here. But thanks for sharing another point of view :)

[@gamergod9182]

technically, Xbox is already running Windows. the system software has always been a modified version of WIndows all the way back to the OG Xbox.

[@ghetoboss7513]

the thumb nail is just the gba advance sp

[@NotWorthIt101]

a gaming device in your hands always a great thing if you managed to do it right. i always since i was kid wanted to be able to game on something i can take it with me anywhere anytime

[@give_me_my_nick_back]

steam deck does not sell bad at all, on contrary! I'm very much surprised how successful it is, it's pretty much the pandemic paradox just as they said about covid, at first no one has it but then suddenly the people you know get it and then everyone else gets it so steam deck is at that point when lots of people around me got one so just a step before everyone else getting one, probably on pair with switch...

[@startrek2365]

As a develpoer I can tell you that xBox has been running a version of windows since the xBox One was released.

[@flaviapunktexe6924]

This is what Microsoft was missing in its hardware library all the time. All major VG companys got one until this point

[@technicallyme]

I'd go for the Xbox. I have an asus ally but windows is clunky

[@Wol333]

Make a 3DS with a 7 inch top screen that runs Windows and has special hardware so it can run every XBOX game by ripping them to its SSD. Would sell like hotcakes.

[@cosmicrevolt7476]

This just an f-you to Lord Gabin. Little does he know that Lord Gabin fights back

[@jdg1251]

holy shit what is this cumbia playing in the background

[@TheTytan007]

Xbox already runs a reanimated corpse of Windows 10 Mobile lmao. Windows 11 already is... pretty great on tablets. As for handhelds Microsoft basically needs to solve that scaling issue on sub 10" devices, finally ship Windows Core OS (after years of development and reboots) and ship consoles shell on desktop. Also make a cheaper cloud first more phone like version. Also running Windows btw

[@amazingdrewH]

I mean unless it also plays my Xbox library that isn't available on Windows there isn't really a point to them making a handheld at all when actual hardware companies are making Windows handhelds

[@bradbradson4543]

Microsoft already has surface devices and they seem to struggle with that. I can't imagine they'd make a portable gaming device. I think they'd partner with other companies, but other companies are already making portable windows devices

[@Redarmy1917]

SteamOS for desktop clients! The only way for Valve to strike back!

[@user-ce6px3nj4r]

that's a pretty big "what if"...

[@Planag7]

They keep throwing money at bad things. Lol

[@ciprianmogosanu7169]

the first thing they would buy would be a cheap thing,nintendo for sure will price it again 350-400 if microsoft can offer a 400 unit with the power of a series s would be a sure thing

[@ko55579]

Needs to able to play Xbox One/Series games