Microsoft is always at the forefront of innovation, and its latest move in the gaming industry is no different. The tech giant is now testing a Windows gaming handheld mode for devices like the Steam Deck, which is set to revolutionize gaming on the go. This new mode could change the way we think about portable gaming, making it more accessible and enjoyable to gamers all around the world. With Microsoft’s innovation and commitment to providing the best gaming experience possible, this new development is something that gamers should keep a close eye on. In this article, we will explore this new mode and what it could mean for the future of portable gaming.
Microsoft is currently exploring the possibility of a Windows handheld mode for devices such as the Steam Deck. A leaked video posted by h0x0d on Twitter shows early concepts and prototypes of an optimized Windows 11 user interface (UI) for handhelds, as well as a launcher and Windows gaming shell that’s ideal for touchscreens and controllers. The video is part of a hackathon project that took place in September, where Microsoft employees presented their ideas and projects, some of which were later supported by Microsoft executives.
The video highlights the difficulties of running Windows on a handheld gaming device like the Steam Deck, such as the lack of a dedicated launcher like SteamOS and the difficulty in navigating the Windows UI with a controller or touch. Dorothy Feng, a senior UX designer at Microsoft, created a launcher for games from various stores, including Steam, PC Game Pass, EA Play, and Epic Games Store. She also created a keyboard optimized for the Steam Deck that can be navigated using a controller and a floating taskbar.
The team behind the hackathon project also worked with a developer who created a method to use Steam Deck controls across Windows, and a gaming shell customized for Windows was created by Hayden McAfee, a senior software engineer at Microsoft focusing on gaming experiences for Windows.
While this project may not be released, it’s encouraging to see Microsoft employees pushing for it to happen. Microsoft has already supported Xbox Cloud Gaming on the Steam Deck, but its Windows ambitions for handheld gaming remain unclear. GPD and OneXPlayer, as well as Ayaneo 2, have created Switch-like handheld gaming devices relying on Windows without an optimized UI.
Asus recently announced its ROG Ally, which aims to compete with the Steam Deck and is powered by a customized Ryzen APU from AMD and Windows 11. Hence it makes a lot of sense to introduce a Windows handheld mode.
As Microsoft continues to explore new ways to enhance the PC gaming experience, the potential emergence of a Windows gaming handheld mode is a promising development. With the release of the Steam Deck drawing attention to the demand for portable gaming devices, it is no surprise that Microsoft is looking to capitalize on this growing trend. While there are still many questions surrounding what this new mode could offer, the excitement and anticipation from gamers around the world is palpable. Whether it will live up to expectations or not, only time will tell, but one thing is for certain – this could be a game-changer for the future of PC gaming.
