MS could be considering letting third-parties build Xbox-branded devices

We’ve even heard that Microsoft is exploring options around letting third-parties build Xbox-branded devices, something that could extend as far as letting them directly use the Xbox operating system.

Thoughts?

1 Like

This will be interesting to watch. Personally I’m all for it.

I think it’s basically what they do with Windows and Surface.

Build a spec device to best demonstrate how the hardware and OS work together. I imagine Microsoft’s investment in AI for the cloud will have some benefits to working directly their own hardware and OS specs.

I am also all for it. All though I’ll probably still buy the Xbox handheld. :slight_smile:

4 Likes

Good with me. Let me buy an ultra Xbox from an oem.

Would be cool to get a decked out console for the living room

Make it modular as well.

Id like the expandable ability of a PC but the ease of use and couch comfort of a console and then a native steamdeck like device for portability.

3 Likes

I think this is what we’ve all been speculating. If you’re building an open store or hybrid then it makes sense. No more subsidizing. Can’t wait to buy the next Samsung Xbox. Honestly it feels more like a way to have a device that can compete with the smart phones only it would run the Xbox OS and have their store.

1 Like

It’s alllllll coming together. They’re finally merging their Xbox and Windows development environments. Give me a handheld and console that can run all my Xbox games, all my Steam games, all my non-Steam games (Tarkov, WoW, ABI, League/MMO). Yes please!

5 Likes

@Sydle thanks for the like. I can see that people are really underestimating the draw of Windows exclusives everywhere I read about this (especially Era). A lot of people seem content to parrot the “No SteamOS no buy” line but any theoretical Xbox/PC Hybrid would bring all the same advantages (Customized Small/Big Screen UI, Achievements, Friends, Communications, Clipping/Screenshotting, etc) AND a vastly stronger game library that includes the absolute biggest games on the planet on PC:

World of Warcraft → Windows Exclusive

League of Legends → Windows Exclusive

Escape from Tarkov → Windows Exclusive

SC:BW & SC2 → Windows Exclusive

And all the EGS exclusives are effectively Windows-Exclusive

Personally, as long as the hardware is good and the OS is good I don’t see why I’d ever buy a SteamOS device when an equivalent Xbox Hybrid device exists.

3 Likes

100%

PC gets a lot of games first, or some games just stay there. I know more than a handful of people personally who transitioned to PC for that reason and never looked back.

If Xbox can make it work, then I don’t really understand why most gamers would settle for anything less than this PC/console hybrid or a full PC.

And the other site is the most console-centric community I’ve ever seen. Many of them won’t even attempt to understand anything else until Sony or Nintendo start down that path. And I have a feeling it’s a long, long ways off for Sony and maybe never for Nintendo.

1 Like

Never really clicked before, but yeah a Samsung Xbox suddenly makes sense in my weird brain.

And the other site is the most console-centric community I’ve ever seen. Many of them won’t even attempt to understand anything else until Sony or Nintendo start down that path. And I have a feeling it’s a long, long ways off for Sony and maybe never for Nintendo.

100%. You can be absolutely certain the ‘No Steam no buy’ lines will disappear as soon as a Playstation handheld starts to become a reality.

While rational people will have been playing Playstation ‘exclusives’ via Steam on their Xbox handheld for years at that point.

If the future is a super powerful hybrid portable/plug in handheld that can play Steam and Xbox and whatever else, count me in. Can go from Journey to Halo to EU IV on one device.

1 Like

Same. I want a $2000 Xbox Hybrid ‘Console’ for my living room (read: HTPC but with the Xbox OS + PC Games)

1 Like

I must say the PC exclusive games side is something never discussed. All those Blizzard games might never grace consoles.

It’s never discussed because most enthusiast sites around are EXTREMELY console-focused. They can’t imagine that someone might want to play WoW or League or Tarkov because, well, they’re not on consoles.

That’s why I’m of the mind that if I had to choose between a SteamOS device and an Xbox Hybrid device, assuming the Xbox Hybrid device allows you to buy and launch from Steam (as well as EGS/GoG/Standalone Games) as we all expect, I don’t know why you would ever choose the SteamOS device, ever. Unless you absolute never play ANY games off of Steam and don’t intend to in the future (and how could you know this?).

Gaming media/fora in ‘ignoring many things’ shocker. To read some places the only things that matter are third person action games.

2 Likes

So if I’m reading this and what people like Jez said today on xb2 . Microsoft will have a next Xbox but other companies can also make a Xbox ? So couldn’t someone like Rog or Samsung make a more powerful Xbox that would just be more expensive but play all the games better? Plus play pc games from the steam store? If so I’m all for it. So weird saying that because I havnt liked the non exclusive approach Xbox has been doing but if you can play all Xbox Sony and pc games though the same device with multiple stores I’m so in. It would be like the portable pc market now but with Xbox consoles wow fun times ahead

1 Like

I wonder if this will result in the end of online play paywall.

Most I’d want from this is to have third party hardware vendors tackle the handheld space as they are already with more access to custom AMD hardware like how Valve has a custom (repurposed Magic Leap) chipset.

MS can co-design the next chipset to include crucial baseline performance metrics for PC GamePass titles and the Samsungs and Asus’sses can decide if they want more RAM, more storage, more battery, more screen, more buttons whatever.

I just cannot see how you manage third parties making console style hardware without it just being a SFF PC running PC Gamepass which is redundant and already exists without their input.

1 Like

Of course it would. You can’t get away with charging people to use their own internet connection when your “console” is essentially a PC.

I wager they’ve converted most all of their former XBL payers into Game Pass subscribers now anyways.

Xbox OS

Asking for it since 2022

Would be even better if it is part of Game Pass Ultimate so that I can install it on my PC for free.

OEMs will manufacture Xbox hardware for MS with varying specs and Team Xbox will provide a reference design (minimum spec)

Run xbox game or run PC game, your choice.

1 Like