GRcade

With the rumour mill seeming to be that the next Xbox is going to be handheld I was wondering what's actually feasible at a realistic console price point?

I would imagine they want the price to be below the cost of a full console so maybe £399?
Could they make a machine with Series S power for that and would that be something you guys would consider buying?

Peter, I think you're a bit hardware obsessed.

rinks wrote:Peter, I think you're a bit hardware obsessed.

Guilty as charged .

I'd love to work in one of the console hardware design places as it'd be fascinating to see what hurdles they have to jump through with manufacturers to get the most power for the money available.
It's not just as simple as a pc builder picking parts as I'm sure they have the specs finalised a year before even dev kits are sent out.
They may be in the first stages of deciding what hardware may be in the next gen let alone the mid-gen refreshes.

Peter Crisp wrote:With the rumour mill seeming to be that the next Xbox is going to be handheld I was wondering what's actually feasible at a realistic console price point?

I would imagine they want the price to be below the cost of a full console so maybe £399?
Could they make a machine with Series S power for that and would that be something you guys would consider buying?

Digital Foundry said recently that currently it's not possible to make a Series S powered portable device, the tech needed is about 2 years away.

If I can have a decently powered Xbox handheld that has the same UI as the Series AND can run all my games then yes I'd get one €500.

I think MS are using ARM for their next home console - which means I can use Nvidia more efficiently and that's the 'biggest console leap' speak put in perspective.

Photek wrote:Digital Foundry said recently that currently it's not possible to make a Series S powered portable device, the tech needed is about 2 years away.

If I can have a decently powered Xbox handheld that has the same UI as the Series AND can run all my games then yes I'd get one €500.

I think MS are using ARM for their next console - which means I can use Nvidia more efficiently and that's the 'biggest console leap' speak put in perspective.

A release next Christmas would seem about right. They can announce and see how people react later this year and stay out of the way of a possible PS5 Pro and Switch 2 launch window.

If it's not just a streaming box, but actually runs the software locally, maybe the all graphics processing will be done in the cloud.

Even if I don't buy a Switch 2 I'm excited to see the new hardware.
It's going to be such a massive improvement on Switch 1 just given the time between versions.

Peter Crisp wrote:...would that be something you guys would consider buying?

A a current PlayStation and Nintendo gamer, I'm not looking to expand my gaming to a third platform as, for me, the costs associated with gaming are becoming too much anyway.

I would be surprised if Microsoft released an Xbox handheld as - based upon Digital Foundry's assessment that the tech would struggle to meet/match Series S performance right now - I'm unsure that another development platform would be a big success in the current market.

rinks wrote:If it's not just a streaming box, but actually runs the software locally, maybe the all graphics processing will be done in the cloud.

I hoping the cloud stuff will just be cloud saves and not needed for the games.
I have a backbone for console gaming via cloud or my tablet but I'd prefer the unit itself be able to do all the game stuff.

jawa_ wrote:A a current PlayStation and Nintendo gamer, I'm not looking to expand my gaming to a third platform as, for me, the costs associated with gaming are becoming too much anyway.

I would be surprised if Microsoft released an Xbox handheld right now as - based upon Digital Foundry's assessment that the tech would struggle to meet/match Series S performance right now - I'm unsure that another development platform would be a big success in the current market.

I have a feeling it's just in the final design stages at the moment and the decision to launch is going to rest on how they feel the sentiment is going from rumours.
I have a feeling they'll make it so that it runs games on Series S settings so there isn't any work for developers to do to get games to work but that would be just a guess.

At most developers might have to make a new display option available for whatever screen they plan to use as they'll obviopusly opt for quantum dot oled with 9k nits and Dolby Vision.

rinks wrote:If it's not just a streaming box, but actually runs the software locally, maybe the all graphics processing will be done in the cloud.

Its pretty much confirmed that its not a streaming handheld, its a dockable handheld console.

Pete, just buy a Rog Ally.

Rex Kramer wrote:Pete, just buy a Rog Ally.

I have considered it to be fair but I like console handhelds.

Steam deck is perfect marriage of handheld power with unified eco system and insane back catalogue. It really has been the best purchase I’ve made. I’m confident I’ve used it more in 5 months than 2 years of PS5 usage.

FatDaz wrote:Steam deck is perfect marriage of handheld power with unified eco system and insane back catalogue. It really has been the best purchase I’ve made. I’m confident I’ve used it more in 5 months than 2 years of PS5 usage.

This sums me up as well, if MS continue to put games on Steam then I have zero reason to purchase an Xbox Handheld. Only way I would consider it is if it supported SteamOS without any hassles and was a more powerful system over a Steam Deck 2.

If I only used Xbox consoles, the idea of an Xbox handheld would be really appealing, but the Switch fills the handheld side for me, alongside the range of Nintendo exclusives and I don't have the time for two dedicated handhelds really, the Switch and Series X fits my needs perfectly.

The draw tbh is a handheld Xbox 360/One that plays lots of delisted games in my software library. To my knowledge it’s not possible to play Geometry Wars 1, Forza Horizon 2 or Fable 2 on any existing handheld hardware.

Getting a handheld Xbox One that plays Series games via streaming would be the most compelling price point.

ITSMILNER wrote:

FatDaz wrote:Steam deck is perfect marriage of handheld power with unified eco system and insane back catalogue. It really has been the best purchase I’ve made. I’m confident I’ve used it more in 5 months than 2 years of PS5 usage.

This sums me up as well, if MS continue to put games on Steam then I have zero reason to purchase an Xbox Handheld. Only way I would consider it is if it supported SteamOS without any hassles and was a more powerful system over a Steam Deck 2.

It will be more powerful and have a Windows/Xbox UI interface.

Carlos wrote:The draw tbh is a handheld Xbox 360/One that plays lots of delisted games in my software library. To my knowledge it’s not possible to play Geometry Wars 1, Forza Horizon 2 or Fable 2 on any existing handheld hardware.

What's the emulation scene like for 360 games? Not something I've looked into at all but could be a route to playing them.

Preezy wrote:

Carlos wrote:The draw tbh is a handheld Xbox 360/One that plays lots of delisted games in my software library. To my knowledge it’s not possible to play Geometry Wars 1, Forza Horizon 2 or Fable 2 on any existing handheld hardware.

What's the emulation scene like for 360 games? Not something I've looked into at all but could be a route to playing them.

It’s not bad but Fable 2 is unplayable on the Steam Deck.