Phil Spencer comments on the DirectX 12 resolution rumor.
With ASUS seemingly teasing an Xbox handheld last week, there's been a lot of talk about the device in the days ever since, and Xbox boss Phil Spencer has also teased something to do with handhelds happening in 2025
I really hope this isn't a windows based device even though coming from MS that's highly unlikely. SteamDeck is much much easier to use and offers a much better user experience than any other handheld device because it's all based on steam app. The Xbox handheld should be based on that because a Windows device with a 7-8 inch screen makes it's difficult to navigate
When the casual market learn that there’s going to be an Xbox branded Asus handheld they will cancel their Nintendo Switch 2 preorders and get the Asus. No it won’t have exclusive games like Super Mario or Zelda or Metroid or Pilot Wings or Mario Kart or Animal Crossing or Donkey Kong or Pokémon or Super Smash Bros - but who cares as it will have access to the entire library of the Steam Store running on Windows. It will also have access to Game Pass with all the modern day classics like Avowed, Hellblade II and Grounded and Pentiment.
I think we all have to acknowledge that after all the criticism of Switch 2 on ResetEra it’s evidence that it will fail to sell and the Asus will outsell it. Dreamcast pushed Sega out of hardware, we all have to accept that the perfect storm of Switch 2 pricing, an Xbox-branded Asus and Phil Spencer and Aaron Greenberg’s persuasive promotion will likely kill off Switch 2 within a month. AND YOU CAN QUOTE ME ON THAT.
@VenomUK,
I don't think that even has a remote chance of happening, Nintendo has so much brand loyalty, even with the backlash on their not so great pricing, I still think it's going to sell, Xbox doesn't have as much brand loyalty. Plus, if it's just Xbox branded ROG Ally or something similar, why not just choose a ROG ally or Steam Deck? They can both do everything that an Xbox branded handheld can. If Xbox is going to compete in the world of windows based handhelds, it has so much competition, it's going to struggle.
You're way too optimistic about the Xbox handheld and the demise of the Switch 2, I'm going to predict the opposite and say the Switch 2 will demolish the Xbox handheld in terms of sales/popularity.
@S2Killinit Satire. I’m not going to hate on people for being excited for a new console. But what is happening in the Xbox community is something wicked, content creators are hyping up the Asus to their audience about how great this thing is, and how it will be more powerful than the Switch 2 and the Steam Store outweighs any advantage the Switch 2 has with its library of games. I don’t believe they believe it but they are grifting. By all means look forward to it but don’t sell it as a Switch 2 PS5 killer.
Steam Os is amazing. By far the best. Can’t imagine MS having an OS that can top it (CERTAINLY not windows)
Windows as is, isn't a great experience for a handheld, they really need to make a dedicated handheld OS, unfortunately they've always been hellbent on making a single product for both PC/touch screen use.
I really can't imagine them making something that stands up to Steam OS, it just works so well.
This is not their in-house made Xbox handheld for next-gen, which is slated for release in 2027 alongside with the next Xbox console, which might run a version of their usual Xbox-ified OS optimized for the handheld.
This is just a brand collab to produce an Xbox branded updated Asus RoG Ally (Project Kennan), which as usual ships with Windows. Think of it as the 5th main competitor in handheld PC market, after Deck, Legion Go, Ally and MSi Claw (I know others exist, but these are the popular ones).
https://wccftech.com/xbox-h...
And RoG Ally didn't get an update this year like the Legion Go, so this Xbox-Asus one might be that?
Anyways, even with 2025 chip upgrade, the Legion Go underperforms compared to 2023 Ally and 2024 Ally X.
It can't be anything but Windows if it has the Xbox brand on it. Outside of the politics (which would be a showstopper), SteamOS/Linux can't run GamePass natively due to the crazy protections implemented by the Windows Store.
I am not asking the Xbox handheld to run steam, I just wanted a dedicated Xbox app on the handheld that handles everything from playing games, downloading games, gamepass and most importantly all updates are done from that app. Just a better overall user experience
Having to download multiple different things on a Windows based device becomes really a chore in a smaller screen.
Having the windows handheld auto launch the existing Xbox Windows app will accomplish everything you mentioned, and I'm sure that's what this will be.
Fact is that MS will need to add a lot into that app to incorporate all the system level controls Steam incorporated into their handheld UI.
It'll be windows all leaks indicate this is a windows based device with a Xbox skin it will integrate other storefronts because at its core it's windows.
@venom there's is no chance that parents will be buying their kids a rog ally setting up steam and other storefronts over a Nintendo switch 2 at Christmas.
That's a mass amount of hopium there.
Portable PC's in total have barely cracked six million sold the switch 2 will continue to dominate the casual crowd all known about it and news of a switch successor has already started spreading in mainstream media
I think switch 2 will do well but dominate I think we need to wait and see. The prices of the console and games is much more than switch so don't expect parents in this inflation time to spend $600 on 2 games and a console. Since it's Nintendo it should sell but I think we are underpaying the importance of the inflated market
And an even bigger flop in the making, it's like they're just throwing crap at the wall and see what sticks or rather find another ''clever'' way to keep squeezing more money from the already miniscule and gullible fanbase. Smfh.
Squeezing money. Isn't that what sony is doing with tbe ps5pro. And what about all those remakes and locking some ps4 games to a subscription.
At first I thought this was a huge mistake on MS part. But after thinking about this more and more, while I still don’t think it’s going to do anything beyond 10 - 20 million in sales, I think that’s exactly what MS and ASUS are expecting and both are okay with.
I assume this is more of Asus saying to MS, look we have ten/twenty million of these handheld PCs already in production and we’ve only been able to sell a couple millions, partner with us and let’s brand them as Xbox handhelds ASUS will do all the heavy lifting so we don’t take a loss on all these, and all MS has to do is market the platform and put your logo, the new Xbox OS/app you’ve been working on, and together we’ll helps each other out and push more GamePass subscriptions.
That make complete logical sense as to why this came about, because otherwise….. So technically it would be a win:win for both companies, or a win for MS and a reduction of loss of ASUS, even if they only sell 10m - 20m units.
As for the handheld itself honestly, it should be solid and most likely based on the Rog Ally 7, but hopefully with the Rog Ally X case as that has a much better port and I/O layout. Plus if the Xbox OS is wayyyyyyy lighter than Windows then it should be a a good piece of tech getting more performance than the Ally 7 Windows version for around $499.
But that’s where the next problem comes into play…..Price. It’s Switch 2 all over again. The slight different is outside of the potential of DLSS, this should be a slightly more powerful handheld, especially if they create their own dock, but that dock will likely be sold separately meaning now we’re looking at $550 or more, for what will essentially be a docked Xbox Series S and a slightly more powerful SteamDeck / Switch 2 in handheld mode.
Basically what windows os turning into now every few weeks logging on I'm greeted with a hey how about some office 365 or your gamepass lapsed how about renewing and decline is in little blue writing while subscribe is a huge button
So smart of you caveman Phil sphincter. Did you get the memo on what Nintendo is releasing this year?
I dont trust Microsoft to build an OS for this looking at the Windows phone so I think this will be just Windows with a Steam like Big Picture mode locked in the UI to launch games.
This is good advice from Reaper here. I trust your advice and you've got my word...I wont buy it.
Thanks Reaper!
So in other words, it’s just another ROG Ally. I think MS has a winner🤣🤣
I remember when my sister bought a Windows phone, that thing was missing so many basic features, she didn't even own the phone for 3 months before getting frustrated and swapping it out.
I'll be honest I had a older relative that loved the windows phone cause it had a huge dial, contacts and camera button that was all it got used for.
Oh and it was bright green so easy to find
Moral of the story one person's trash is another's treasure
Windows phones weren't the best but I also remember sonys phones didn't fare too well either. As a matter of fact they're newest ones aren't doing so great either. Not even in Japan. That says alot.
@reaper22 honestly Shane about the Sony phones to I brought the Xperia 3 when they announced remote play for it and it was one of the best ones I have had the battery lasted a few days the camera was some obscene 50mp but the physical design lagged behind Samsung and I think that was a huge reason it failed
Xbox's CEO Phil Spencer assures that, even though they are expanding to other platforms, Xbox gamer's libraries aren't going anywhere.
Phil, the words of a guy who only speaks the truth.
If I was an Xbox owner I wouldn’t feel comfortable with what he just said
Reading his quote sounds like word salad. I'm not sure he said anything really.
I'd rather him say more of our library will be made available now. It sucks to have so many 360 era games still stuck in limbo, especially Activision ones now that they are buddy buddy.
Sarah Bond had committed to backwards compatibility, so interpreting Phil Spencer’s quote, old Xbox games will always be playable with a PS3 on PSN like cloud solution, and on new hardware if a new Xbox console is ever released.
https://metro.co.uk/2024/04...
why does this even need to be reassured? it really goes to show you how nervous there fanbase is.
Right. I was thinking the same thing. This shouldn't be some sort of 'benefit' for Xbox gamers as MS goes to Sony and Nintendo... This should just be implied. No matter where the games go in the future should have any impact on the purchased games libraries of current Xbox consumers.
What's left of them one the last 12 months I've seen Xbox consoles flooding second hand marketplaces and going for half of their RRP
In addition this interview the whole panel was clearly not believing the viewpoint but not wanting to offend their guest
When (or "if") Xbox goes out of hardware those who don't play on Cloud or prefer hardware...where will they play their library?
Not the question. If you already gave the hardware and games. Why would it disappear?
Ah yes, Phillip, the pinnacle of honesty, and he never changes his mind. We can all take his word for it without hesitation. 🤥
He did but in the follow up sentence he talked about charging pricing because they are a business so who knows maybe the next gen box has a fee to use their emulator service I imagine wine ports to a PC architecture
Phil Spencer sat down with the XboxEra Podcast crew to catch up with us and celebrate our 250th Episode. Here's a lengthy written version (edited for brevity) along with a standalone video for you to enjoy.
"I’m not trying to move them all over to Xbox anymore".
Given the current market dominance of Nintendo and PlayStation, it seems unlikely that many gamers are actively considering switching platforms.
However, if Xbox continues to face challenges in market share, we may see more of their exclusive titles eventually becoming available on other consoles or through multi-platform releases."
"I'm not trying to move them all over to xbox anymore"
Thanks Phil, because I'm not going anywhere. Just give me all your worthwhile games so I can add them to all my other ones on Playstation. Thanks amigo. Keep 'em coming
I'm still not going to buy any Microsoft game because we ultimately know what their end goal is. Take out everyone else. Now they are just applying the "tunnel out of other peoples ecosystems" strategy by bombarding them with content. regulators have already frowned upon this.
That's how I feel when Sony says they're gonna keep some things exclusive to entice ps5 sales.... Lol, nope, not buying that hunk of junk. Just sell me your games and I'll choose from there. Same exact mindset.
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who would have thought their lightning in the bottle Kinect was the beginning of their downfall.
Phil, and Xbox marketing in general talk way too much, and I really think it's been a detriment to the brand. Sony and Nintendo stay quiet for the most part and it works. And while Phil points out the 70% cut of software sales on PlayStation, Sony is getting the better end of the deal. 30% of blockbuster, AAA titles without having to lift a finger. It's also their competitor's titles which in turn has made the PlayStation ecosystem more enticing than ever before.
Phil is from that time when there used to be memes about the people in charge of the console divisions, we are not in that era anymore. He should have stepped down before well before all those Sony and Nintendo exec's. Microsoft don't operate that way sadly. They like the failing upwards routine.
So in otherwords no! The resolution-gate saga will continue.
Direct X12 is the new "secret sauce." Even though Face Off after Face off will continue to show a gulf between the two systems in terms of performance. X1 has a 1.2 TF GPU. Doesn't matter how 'low-level' you go, it can only push so many pixels. Most console APIs are already as close to coding to metal as you can get, and yes they get refined over time. Uncharted 1 to Uncharted 3, for example. But both of those games were 720p, keep in mind. Upping the resolution from 720p to 1080p simply requires a grunt that the X1 GPU will never have. Ever.
My God, the things some desperate fans are clinging to. Its getting absurd, and the Xbox media liaisons are only making the delusions worse with their half-truths and snake oil.
DX12 doesn't solve weak hardware.
Erm cool....Makes no difference to me I enjoy playing games despite specs/graphics etc.
Hence why I still play PS2 occasionally.
Standing by Phil!.