The rumours are true: Xbox is following in Nintendo and Valve’s footsteps, as Phil Spencer confirms {that a} handheld is on the best way.
Approach again in March of this 12 months, it was reported that Xbox was growing its personal handheld, one thing that is wholly unsurprising given how profitable the Nintendo Swap has been (it is the third finest promoting console of all time), with the Steam Deck proving a lot common too. Xbox head Phil Spencer then added gas to that fireplace by saying that he thinks the corporate ought to have a handheld, however did not outright verify it. Now, in a brand new interview with Bloomberg, Spencer has lastly confirmed that Xbox is engaged on one thing in that vein, you simply in all probability will not see it for a very good whereas but.
Talking to Bloomberg, Spencer mentioned that the “expectation is we’d do one thing” on this planet of handhelds. Prototypes are at the moment being labored on, with Xbox contemplating the way it desires to deal with its model of a handheld, with Spencer asking his group to take a look at the market and make selections based mostly on what it learns. Nevertheless, Bloomberg did additionally word that Spencer says an Xbox handheld continues to be years away, so do not anticipate to be taking part in the most recent Sport Cross title from the consolation of your individual mattress any time quickly (until, you understand, you personal a special handheld which may run Sport Cross, which is fully doable).
The Swap actually has modified how firms are handhelds, with Nintendo being the one firm to actually go for it for a very long time now – Sony did have the PSP, which did really do fairly properly (it is estimated to have offered 80-82 million items), however the PS Vita was clearly a failure, so the corporate stayed out of the market till it launched the PS Portal. There’s estimates that that is offered between 420,000-630,000 items previously 12 months, which is not too unhealthy, nevertheless it’s clearly only a cloud streaming gadget and never a completely fledged handheld.
We’re all nonetheless ready on the Swap 2, too, which might be a very good check to see if handheld consoles are right here to remain – all now we have to do is look forward to Nintendo to really get spherical to saying it.
