New Xbox Handheld Should Keep One Thing in Mind Before Its Launch or Its Doomed
Microsoft's latest announcement could be a great way for the company to move forward from its past mistakes with Xbox Game Pass.
- Recent news about an Xbox handheld being in the works at Microsoft is excellent for the studio's plans.
- It could be the perfect balance between mobility and quality gaming expreiences that the studio has been attempting to achieve as it moves past consoles.
- The new Xbox handheld will need to get several things right if it is to succeed in a gaming industry where competition is fierce.
It’s been a troubled time for Microsoft considering its recent troubles with the FTC and backlash on increased pricing on its Xbox Game Pass subscription service. Coupled with a poor response to both variants of its current-gen Xbox consoles, Microsoft has had a lot of trouble staying competitive in a gaming industry that does not really provide the scope for any mistakes.
It is a disheartening situation for a company that once stood as a rival to Sony, which is currently enjoying a dominant presence with the release of its mid-gen update to the PlayStation 5 while Astro Bot has given it yet another console-exclusive title to add to its already attractive library of games. However, recent news suggests that Microsoft may not be out of the game just yet.
What Does the Future Hold for Microsoft?
Microsoft’s acquisition of Activision Blizzard which put it under the scanner of the FTC began a series of decisions by the company that baffled the gaming community at large. Chief among them was an increase on the prices of its Xbox Game Pass subscription service alongside a revision to what was on offer with basic tiers.
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While the backlash it received may have been unfounded considering that the service’s alterations put it on par with rivals like Sony’s PlayStation Plus, it was still a blow to Microsoft’s plans to bring the services to a wide range of devices that could have allowed it to reach a wider user base with cloud streaming being an effective alternative to owning a console which many modern gamers see as an expensive option with manufacturing prices and inflation affecting prices all around.
However, the studio’s recently revealed plans for a handheld device that comes hot on the heels of Nintendo’s own unofficial confirmation of a successor to its hybrid console the Switch could allow the studio to address all of the criticisms it currently faces while also allowing gamers to enjoy Game Pass’ extensive library of games on a device that could be an affordable alternative to a home console with the added factor of mobility coming into play.
An Xbox Handheld Could Be an Excellent Engine for Game Pass’ Growth
An Xbox handheld might be a long way from its final release but it is certainly a step in the right direction for Microsoft when it plans to double down on Game Pass’ utility while removing the need for its users to purchase an expensive console that restricts them to their homes.
However, the studio must consider several factors as it approaches both the hardware and software of its device, learning from the mistakes of Sony’s PlayStation Portal while emulating Nintendo’s strategy towards the Switch that allowed the latter to pull off a brilliant reversal of its fortunes in the aftermath of the Wii U’s poor sales record.
For instance, it would do well to ensure that its new handheld is able to run games locally, an error that Sony surprisingly committed when it restricted the PlayStation Portal to being able to stream games off the same network that a PlayStation console was connected to via the Remote Play feature. It restricted the Portal’s utility to a large extent, limiting its users to playing games on the device within a limited area which made the entire handheld alternative to a PlayStation 5 rather redundant.
Furthermore, Microsoft could benefit from having a large library of first-party and third-party titles available to play on the new handheld right off the bat, a feat that it could very well achieve considering the wide umbrella of studios under its gaming division led by Phil Spencer. It would allow Game Pass to be a subscription service that offers the very best of modern gaming to a user base who would be thrilled to carry their favorite games with them where ever they went.
An Xbox handheld is a great option for Microsoft and its fans as it looks to a future in which Game Pass titles can be played anytime and anywhere. It would also help justify its high spending on the service in an industry that is rapidly changing and evolving. The company will need to strike a balance between its hardware and software in a way that allows for current-gen titles to run on the new console with enough visual and graphical fidelity to justify a price point that is sure to be considered expensive.
While time will tell if Microsoft can bring an Xbox handheld to modern gamers that puts its biggest rival Sony on the backfoot, the device’s very existence is certain to be a boon to Game Pass as it can allow the company to push its service to a user base with a device that can seamlessly run all that it has to offer without the need for further investments into a capable television set of monitor.
For my part, I certainly hope that Microsoft succeeds in its effort as it would mean that Sony will need to pull up its socks and come up with a handheld of its own in order to stay competitive – a state of affairs in which it is gamers who are the ultimate winners.
