Fantasized for ages by a whole category of players, the one we nickname “Xbox Portable” was once again mentioned by Phil Spencer. So no, the console is still not “official” as some suggest, but a “portable console” would indeed be under discussion at Xbox. With ever tighter schedules, many players have switched to the era of nomadic gaming with the Steam Deck, ROG Ally and other Legion Go, and Microsoft necessarily keeps a watchful eye on this market.
The Xbox Portable (again) mentioned by Phil Spencer
While Microsoft is in difficulty with its Xbox Series range, and with its video game strategy as a whole, the CEO of Microsoft Gaming, Phil Spencer, indulged in some confidences, with Bloomberg. The man notably wanted to confirm Microsoft’s interest in the nomadic market, and indicates that we can expect the company to “do something in this area“.
Phil Spencer, however, tempers: “ In the long term, I would like us to make devices like this, and I think our team could do some really innovative work, but we want to be guided by what we learn and what is currently happening in the market. » In other words, there’s no point harassing your favorite video game seller, the Xbox Portable won’t see the light (if it actually sees the light of day) for a few years.
And even though the ultimate gaming experience still consists of playing on your sofa, comfortably seated in front of a 4K Smart TV or a high-end monitor for PC gamers, the game “nomadic” is attracting more and more (something that Nintendo had already understood in 2017 by launching its hybrid Switch, and which had its small success).
Indeed, due to lack of time, many people now favor playing games on a portable medium. This allows you to play anywhere, anytime, without ever having to monopolize the living room TV. Practical especially for parents.
In the meantime, Microsoft promises to optimize the Xbox application already available on our smartphones and tablets. Added to this is the (delayed) launch of Microsoft’s online store for mobile games, in order to bypass the omnipotent AppStore and Google Play. A few months ago, Sarah Bond, head of Xbox hardware, announced that the group was also working on a new generation of Xbox consoles.
Incidentally, Phil Spencer took the opportunity to place a little sliding tackle like Eric di Meco from the heyday of the competition, targeting in particular a certain PS5 Pro.
Without ever naming Sony’s new console, the CEO of Xbox indicates that it will be necessary to show creativity and adapt to new business models, new products, new modes of access. “We will not grow the market with $1000 consoles” he concluded. But perhaps he has already forgotten that Microsoft is launching an Xbox Series
