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Jesse Watson's avatar

Sounds great. I hope this is what they do for their next console, basically a Windows PC that's a native Xbox but also runs Steam and whatever else. Just like I think Nintendo should make a "Switch 2 box" cheaper with no screen, I think they should make this into a console as well (but maybe with higher specs if it's going to be their next console, if they even make a next console).

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Stephen Totilo's avatar

Yep. As I allude to in the piece, this strategy certainly hints that they could take this approach with their console, too. No inside scoop if they will, but it could be weird if they normalize this kind of compatibility on one type of Xbox device but then sell another that doesn't do it.

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Jesse Watson's avatar

Good point!

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manifest's avatar

Precision timing from Game File. The first new handheld to hold my interest, so I picked up the phone for more info and there was this newsletter. I suspect Xbox is betting on Option C.

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Stephen Totilo's avatar

Happy to be there when you needed me.

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Simon K Jones's avatar

I'm aware that I'm a niche within a niche, but I find it difficult to be interested in a PC handheld without touchpads. They make playing certain types of games and especially the considerable back catalogue/history of PC gaming much easier. To not include them sort of ignores a huge swathe of PC gaming history.

Great to see Microsoft finally taking this stuff seriously, though. As well as the Switch 2, Valve have some proper competition and it'll be interesting to see what they do next.

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T Bange's avatar

What I want to know is can you play MMO games like Neverwinter, Sea Of Thieves etc that are XBOX multiplater games on the handheld? Not talking about playing the PC version. Many of those games and people playing have long runs on them and characters/toons etc...

And none of those companies allow you to migrate accounts from one platform to another...

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Mattia Ravanelli's avatar

Hi Stephen, great read (as always). One question, maybe a stupid one: who is going to sell the ROG Ally Xbox / X? Will it be Asus or Microsoft? Or maybe both?

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