Microsoft has released an update to its Xbox app, optimizing it for small handheld computers. These devices have been growing in popularity as a middle ground between smartphone gaming and full-sized home based consoles.
These mobile consoles are becoming more appealing, as they run the same Operating Systems as computers, either Windows or Linux. While not as sleek as tablets, they can pack more computing power to play ever demanding games. Tom’s Hardware explains:
Microsoft has announced a new UI update to the Xbox app aimed at improving the app’s user experience on small Windows-based handheld gaming PCs — like the ROG Ally and Lenovo Legion Go. This new layout, called “compact mode,” collapses the left sidebar into icons, giving players more space to browse content. It’s not a massive update, but it is one step forward in Microsoft’s efforts to improve Windows 11’s handheld gaming experience.
If you are not familiar with the Xbox app, it is the hub for all of Microsoft’s gaming content on Windows and is the place where you can purchase PC games, as well as gain access to Xbox Game Pass. To the left of the home screen is a sidebar that shows you all of your most recently played games and gives you easy accessibility to Game Pass, your Library, cloud streaming, and the Xbox store.
Handheld gaming has always been a central part of the industry, but has made an even bigger return with these devices. While the Nintendo Switch held a quasi-monopoly for a decade, the class as a whole is rapidly growing. The Verge explains this trajectory:
Thanks to devices like the Nintendo Switch (which Nintendo framed as the conclusion of a decades-long journey to make the perfect do-everything gaming device) and Valve’s Steam Deck (the best combo yet of power and portability), there’s now proof in the market that you can have a console that does everything well and makes almost no compromises.
The handheld gaming hardware industry is suddenly bursting with innovation. The Switch and Steam Deck are both still excellent devices, but Asus, Ayaneo, Logitech, and others are their own paths as dedicated handheld systems. Analogue’s consoles are so good, they’re usually out of stock; Anbernic, Retroid, and others are building popular emulation devices; and even your phone is rapidly becoming a much more serious gaming device. There will always be gamers who want the most, best, and fastest gaming experiences, and PCs and dedicated consoles will always be for them. But most gamers will be perfectly happy with the device in their hands.
Beyond the hardware, deploying the games that can run on the platform is where the real revenue is. Steam has cornered its own share with its Steam Deck, but Microsoft has a huge advantage. This is due to running both the most widespread OS on computers and its whole Xbox ecosystem with game development.
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