170°

Is it time for a handheld Xbox console?

The debate over whether Microsoft should release a gaming handheld is an ancient one, of course, but it's picked up a little momentum of late thanks to Xbox SmartGlass, the success of 3DS, Microsoft Surface and other industry news that pertains to portability.

allformats4350d ago

No. Let Microsoft get right releasing a home console first. When they can do that, we'll talk handheld.

Besides, handhelds are really struggling these days.

Need4Game4350d ago

handheld Xbox console? Sure. why not.

dedicatedtogamers4350d ago

Handhelds are doing fine. Last-gen we had the highest selling handheld of all time and the highest-selling non-Nintendo handheld of all time.

The thing is, Microsoft probably wouldn't WANT to make a handheld. They have Windows mobile and Windows Phone stuff which has the chance to make significantly more money, so they'll just put it on that. A dedicated handheld doesn't fit in their business model.

And remember, handhelds need to thrive in Japan to succeed, and...well...the Xbox brand in Japan? Yeah...

JBSleek4350d ago

No. Sony handhelds are struggling these days.

IcicleTrepan4350d ago

There's no reason for MS to make something like this. They sell tablets running windows 8. why make something that your own company would compete against.

edgeofsins4350d ago

They need better hardware engineers. They don't have good build quality in their systems and they show signs of laziness. External power brick still on a system already bigger then the original PS3 and they only recently achieved overclocking the GPU and still only by a very tiny amount. We also know the amount of testing done on the original 360, which was almost none.

mcstorm4350d ago

Microsoft have so of the best hardware engineers. Have you seen the Surface RT and Pro as imo there is no better looking tablet on the market right now.

The Xbox was also a solid device compared to the PS2 and your forgetting the PS3 had the YOLD until they went to the PS3S.

Also the xbox one imo looks a lot nicer than the ps4 but then again ive never liked any of the PS designs apart from the PSOne but love other Sony products like there TV's and hifi systems.

edgeofsins4350d ago

@ Mcstorm.

The PS3 YLoD? Do you think that as many PS3's died from this as did 360's from the RRoD? No, they did not. Every product has ones that break. That does not mean they are equal in that area.

I think when the XBox 360 loyalists I know in real life have had theirs break 3 or 4 times from the same issue it is not only a huge difference personally but a huge difference from the actual statistics.

I am not talking about hardware design for the looks. I am talking about engineering. The size difference is astounding. The PS4 is as big as the PS3 Slim. The XBox One is bigger then the original PS3 and it still has a power brick to come with it. The PS4 has higher performance and uses separate chips for other kinds of processing and still uses less power then the XBox One. Less power required for a higher performance system and in a smaller package.

Tablets are far different. They use parts that aren't as prone to overheating so making a sleek design isn't as difficult. I do love the design of the Windows tablet though. A kickstand built into the back and they included the keyboard case with it which I really like; it's rare for Microsoft to give extras like that. It is however overpriced by competitors standards. A Nexus 7 has the same processor yet it performs better despite having less RAM. It is also half the price. They overcharge. They spend money on others to push Windows mobile for them but they could do it themselves if they would just give better prices and release updated hardware more often.

Microsoft might have some of the best hardware engineers, MIGHT. They just don't use them like they should. If Steve Balmer actually knew about his work he would look at the box and ask why it's so big when it is an APU they are using.

It would be stunning if later on they released a version that could fit into the Kinect itself. I don't think they have vision though.

4350d ago
3-4-54350d ago

There is room for a 3rd handheld, but not really.

Every gen that goes by without legit competition to Nintendo or Sony makes it that much more difficult of a market to get into.

+ Show (4) more repliesLast reply 4350d ago
iamnsuperman4350d ago (Edited 4350d ago )

No that would really damage Microsoft at the moment. They have just come off a failed mobiliesh venture (surface thing) and going into a market that is being dominated would be a bad move. They should wait for a gap. Microsoft are loaded but not that loaded to throw money away especially when it could eat into their other costly ventures

Bigpappy4350d ago

That's surface RT. M$ has 2 versions of Surface. Surface RT, which only runs software from the market place, and is completely closed; Surface Pro which runs everything RT can run and everything Windows 7 can run. Surface Pro has a bigger SSD, has a better screen, recognizes your hand writing and has USB3 ports with the capacity to add XSD cards over 64 Gig.

So with all of that upside for surface pro, who the heck wants RT?

Like I said before. Surface is not a failure.

iamnsuperman4350d ago (Edited 4350d ago )

Surface is the brand and the whole thing is doing badly (that is numbers for the Pro and RT lumped together. . Similarly how Sony does it with their PSP and Vita sales under the PLaystation Portable section. Microsoft hasn't released figures for the Pro on its own). The Pro may be good and sell well but the RT has brought it down so hard the whole thing venture has failed regardless (both advertising budgets come into play here too) of it being 2 versions

"Recent reports from Bloomberg and from other analysts have shown that only around 1.5 million Surface RT and Surface Pro tablets have been sold ,whereas 14.6 million iPads have been sold just in one quarter"
(Source: http://www.newsfactor.com/s... )

What you said has no relevance to success or not. As we all know, success isn't the most powerful but the most user-friendly/well priced and well viewed (in the public eye) product

Bigpappy4350d ago

The surface sales can not be compared directly with Ipad, because IPad does not have direct clones and has been on the market way longer. Before surface was even released, they were Samsung, Acer and other versions already on the market. M$ did not even ship to retail stores at first and only select store still get to carry Surface. This is because they are not trying to compete with other OEMs partners. So only M$ get to decide what the success is. The surface is a proof of concept to try and show OEM partners a way forward.

sherimae24134350d ago

i guess not at this gen.... but who knows..

Foxgod4350d ago

No, leave that market to Nintendo, they are the only ones who got a working recipe for that sector.

Cam9774350d ago

Fanboy alert!
Why do you have to bring your misery to every comment section?

Genesis12954350d ago

This is true, the only handheld gaming device i've purchased have all been by Nintendo they are perfectionists, but if it just so happens Microsoft do decide to release a handheld game console then they will need to push it strongly and build on a concept that attracts customers not sure how a portable kinect would go ...., but again they've got Microsoft phones and tablets so its highly unlikely.

Aceman184350d ago

just gonna say no, i'm not sure they'd get that right.

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300°

Looming Xbox layoffs threaten Microsoft's reputation

Even as the company sets out to overhaul the very definition of Xbox, cuts at its studios risk creating a negative image reminiscent of EA's worst era

Read Full Story >>
gamesindustry.biz
Jingsing3d ago (Edited 3d ago )

I appreciate the article but this guy must be living in a delayed universe, The reputation was ruined 10+ years ago and hasn't recovered since. As such people have voted with their wallets and stopped buying Xbox products in large amounts.

YourMommySpoils2d ago

Their reputation was lost way before that. From the moment Microsoft said they entering the console business, we all knew it would be a downgrade.

Bathyj1d 11h ago (Edited 1d 11h ago )

That's not true at all the OG Xbox had drive and they had hunger and they wanted to accomplish something. It was a great console.

they didn't quite reach their goals and they gave up prematurely because they couldn't win. It was halfway through the Xbox 360 when kinect released and that was when they lost their way and we're a rudderless ship ever since

Agent751d 9h ago

In all fairness, Xbox had some great games with online play, Xbox 360 even better. Xbox consoles started to die with the Xbox One. Ditch consoles for the PC and PS.

YourMommySpoils1d 1h ago

@Bathyj hard to compute ay. Xbox was never better than a PC and that's all they ever were. A demo box. Doesn't get more true than that.

3d ago Replies(1)
isarai3d ago

What reputation is this threatening exactly? 😂

Lightning773d ago

Rumors of Turn 10 being either shut down or hit with massive lay offs is on the horizon.

The issue is MS will do something right only to do something very, very wrong. And they do this what seems calculative at this point. Doesn't matter what they do the Investors and leadership want more and more money an endless bottomless pit of purr insatiable greed. A company that acts like it's broke or hurting is what really, really infuriates me. They've surpassed apple again well over 3 trillion who acts like they're a million dollar company is fk stupid. Pivots and changes for no reason and can't do things for more than a year with out a pivot or changing their metrics.

Christopher2d ago

That would be really bad since Phil just hyped up next year as a big Forza year at Summer Game Fest.

1Victor2d ago

@christopher: “ That would be really bad since Phil just hyped up next year as a big Forza year at Summer Game Fest”
The key word big can be ether good or bad 🤷🏿only time can tell

DarXyde2d ago

First Forza being generated entirely via AI?

If any company would do it, it'd be them.

Nacho_Z1d 17h ago

Isn't the point that it's irrelevant how profitable MS is, the suits have decided it's time that the Xbox division started making them money. Hence the layoffs, the pivots.

hennessey861d 12h ago

That wouldn't surprise me, as motorsport has been heading down hill since the great number 4. Where as playground have consistently put out better games. I think the two studios will be merged under playground games banner.

2d ago Replies(2)
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70°

2025 Cloud Gaming Trends: Growth, Challenges, and the Push Toward B2B

2025 cloud gaming trends are looking good, but it’s not all smooth yet. We break down what’s working, what’s not, and what comes next.

Read Full Story >>
clouddosage.com
darthv724d ago

As someone who has been gaming nearly as long as gaming has been around (since the early 70's), you'd think I'd be against this. Having grown up with all the major platforms and the whole notion of physical ownership... but I'm not. i embrace this as it is a revolutionary convenience. And one i know for a fact many (especially here) have not even given the fair chance to use. I get it... i was there too. But now i have a new outlook on it. It really is a hell of an option if you just want to play with no commitments. By no means am i saying this should replace traditional gaming, its an option. And one that people should look at optimistically as a way to compliment traditional gaming. There is room for both to thrive.

Zerobalance3d ago

I tend to use streaming on new games in GamePass. To see if I like the game. If I do, I'll download it for a better experience. It's so convenient & useful.

90°

The 'Stop Killing Games' initiative is close to its final deadline

Ross Scott—also known as Accursed Farms on YouTube—has been fighting tooth and nail for almost a full year to help spearhead game preservation. Starting after it was announced that Ubisoft's The Crew would be shutting down, permanently ending support for the game, Scott launched the "Stop Killing Games" initiative.

That makes a twofold deadline for the Stop Killing Games initiative. Or, at least, one headed up by Scott: The UK petition, which ends July 14, and the EU Citizens' Initiative, which ends July 3.

M3talDiamond6d ago (Edited 6d ago )

If you live in the EU then Please sign this or our game ownership rights and game preservation is
at stake. I know there isnt much time left but please consider signing the petition

-Foxtrot5d ago

I never knew Ross Scott was doing this

I love Freemans Mind

Inverno4d ago (Edited 4d ago )

People whine and in the end don't do a thing. Then whine more when they get screwed some more smh. If this makes it then it'll be monumental for consumers. That Pirate software guy was no help either smh.

GazCBG4d ago

The EU Date is the 31st July not the 3rd

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