Handheld gaming has carved out an impressive legacy in the gaming world. While there were a few contenders before it, the Game Boy by Nintendo truly revolutionized on-the-go gaming by offering experiences akin to the NES. Nintendo didn’t stop there; it continued to shape the handheld landscape with new versions of the Game Boy and later, the groundbreaking Nintendo DS, which took center stage in 2006. Though PlayStation dabbled in this arena, Xbox chose to steer clear—until now.
Rumors have swirled for over a year, but Phil Spencer has finally confirmed in a candid chat with Bloomberg that Xbox is indeed crafting a handheld device. While Spencer noted that it could be several years before this device actually lands in gamers’ hands, there’s one element that seems poised to give Xbox a unique competitive edge when the time comes.
The market for handheld consoles is more crowded than ever. Take the Nintendo Switch, for instance: in its seventh year and boasting Lite and OLED variants, it has surpassed 140 million units sold. Despite being technologically outpaced by recent PlayStation and Xbox consoles, the Switch’s portability, brand loyalty, and family-friendly appeal have kept it a powerhouse for close to ten years.
Valve threw its hat in the ring back in 2022 with the Steam Deck, which quickly garnered acclaim as a top-tier handheld capable of running demanding games with minimal limitations. As the gaming landscape evolves, Xbox’s forthcoming device might see a slightly altered competitive field. With a successor to the Nintendo Switch slated for revelation next year and Valve already working on a new iteration of the Steam Deck, the competitive set might not have changed too drastically by the time the Xbox handheld debuts.
Plus, there’s buzz from a Bloomberg report hinting that PlayStation might be in the early stages of its own handheld project. If true, Xbox is looking at some serious rivals when its device finally launches.
One potential trump card for Xbox could be Game Pass. This past year, Xbox has actively pushed the idea that the Xbox experience isn’t tied to a specific console; it’s about embracing any device running the Xbox app. At the forefront of this strategy is Xbox Game Pass, often shown in ads being enjoyed via console, PC, mobile, and on several other gadgets through Cloud streaming.
When Xbox officially unveils its handheld, you can bet Game Pass will be a central feature, and here’s why that’s a game-changer. In the immediate future, users of the Xbox handheld would get access to a vast library of games at no extra cost. With an exhaustive range from high-profile releases to indie gems, players can instantly dive into game worlds and truly gauge the machine’s prowess.
Looking ahead, Game Pass ensures an ever-refreshing collection of titles that beckon players to return time and again. While a new PlayStation handheld might offer experiences through its PS Plus lineup, Game Pass still holds an advantage since PS Plus doesn’t launch first-party games straight onto its service. This advantage will only grow sharper as Xbox expands its first-party roster with giants like Xbox Game Studios, Bethesda, and Activision-Blizzard.
Curious about more wishes for Xbox’s handheld? Stay tuned.
