AT CES 2025, Microsoft VP of Next Generation Jason Ronald teased a refreshed user experience for Windows handheld gaming PCs: one that could combine the best aspects of its operating system and Xbox. While Windows 11 allows for more choice–users can access Steam, Epic Games Store, and several other marketplaces–it can be a chore to use because it is natively designed for PCs and laptops–not handheld systems with much smaller screens.
“We’ve been really innovating for a long time in the console space, and as we partner across the industry it’s really about how do we bring those innovations that we’ve incubated and developed in the console space and bring them to PC and bring them to the handheld gaming space,” Ronald said an AMD and Lenovo event (via The Verge). “I would say it’s bringing the best of Xbox and Windows together, because we have spent the last 20 years building a world-class operating system, but it’s really locked to the console. What we’re doing is we’re really focused on how do we bring those experiences for both players and developers to the broader Windows ecosystem.”
Ronald explained that Microsoft aims to bring a console-like experience to handhelds and “make Windows great for gaming” on any device. Microsoft will have more details to share later in the year, Ronald said, adding that the idea is to move away from a Windows desktop setup on handhelds and toward a “gaming-centric” experience.
Meanwhile, Xbox chief Phil Spencer has candidly spoken about the idea of a Xbox handheld device for several month, and it has been reported that Microsoft is currently working on a prototype that is still years away from being released. Meanwhile, Valve’s SteamOS is coming to more PC gaming handhelds, starting with the new Lenovo Legion Go S later this year.
