170°

Should Microsoft Enter The Handheld Gaming Realm In Force With Windows 10?

Will Windows 10 finally be the ultimate entrance into the handheld gaming realm for Microsoft?

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thetechzealot.com
TXIDarkAvenger3216d ago

Now would be the best time do get in the game.

W10 will be on phones, tablets, PCs, and on the Xbox One. A device similar to the Nvidia Shield Portable could be pretty great for Microsoft.

Maybay3216d ago

Yeah, Nvidia Shield is ace.

mikeslemonade3216d ago

The people don't want mobile. Don't get in!

ABizzel13216d ago

The Shield tablet is better, which is why a tablet is the route to go. Handhelds are over for everyone except Nintendo, who has 2 - 3 more gens tops.

Maltaze3216d ago

Think Shield was a great device, they just aimed too high at a very small audience. Microsoft on the other hand has the infrastructure and money to make this happen in a heartbeat. I would actually be surprised if they dont corner their most lucrative market this time around.

SteamPowered3216d ago

Ive rocked my Shield Portable for about 2 years now. Unbelievable piece of kit.

The Shield would be the pinnacle of handhelds for Microsoft to achieve.

ABizzel13216d ago (Edited 3216d ago )

It would be a horrible idea, if anything Surface is all they need if they can get a cheaper version and market it right as an Xbox tablet with controls, just like Sony should do a PlayStation Tablet. It's bigger, can hold a better battery life, have a bigger and screen, and better tech.

Handheld gaming for the core gamer is dead, outside of Nintendo. No dev wants to spend a AAA budget on a handheld game that at best sells 1m copies when they can make that game on console and sell 1m units per console.

Leave it to Nintendo, and Sony and MS should simply make companion devices for their consoles that can stream games anywhere cross-play certain games. Dedicated handhelds are dead for the core. (Nintendo handhelds are core, but they have a stable of franchises that support it, as well as most of JP, and kid gamers). For everyone a smartphone or tablet is just as good.

Making a dedicated handheld means splitting MS dev teams between 2 platforms and they already have the least amount of devs of the Big 3.

TXIDarkAvenger3216d ago

An Xbox tablet with controls is pretty much an Nvidia Shield Tablet. The Nvidia Shield portable also has a better battery life.

I feel like you don't know what an Nivida Shield is. No dev has to spend money to develop exclusively for it. The idea is to be able to stream Xbox One and PC games to the device. On top of that, it can run emulators too.

In a sense, it would be a companion to not only the Xbox One but also PC.

ABizzel13216d ago

@TXIDarkAvenger

I'm one of the most informed here. The Shield is NVIDIA 'sattempt at a handheld featuring Tegra 4, the tablet was the second device with Tegra K1, The Shield TV (their micro-console) features the X1.

The reason the Shield had a better battery life is because it uses a much weaker processor (nearly 3x - 4x weaker for the GPU computations), has a lower resolution screen, a smaller screen, and has a dimmer screen.

Which is exactly why I said they stick with a tablet interface, like Surface / Shield Tablet / PS Tablet, because it's something they already know how to make, and can offers much better performance due to it's form factor, and a much needed bigger screen for gaming.

Literally taken from my post above:

"Sony and MS should simply make companion devices for their consoles that can stream games anywhere cross-play certain games."

The Vita is already the concept you're talking about, and it's failing, the shield as well. A tablet is an easy sell, because it's already known, a form factor consumers are use to, and has a bigger screen for gaming.

But all that is for not as with the Vita if there aren't exclusive to support the system. It's what drives Nintendo's handhelds with games like Pokemon, Monster Hunter, Mario Kart, Yokai Watch, etc...

Developing an exclusive for Vita on par with games like Uncharted Golden Abyss and Killzone, were nearly 1/3 the price of a full PS3 game and team (Straight from Sony), which is too much for devs to focus on with a game that at most will sell 1m copies.

At this point mobile technology is up there with the PS360Wii U, and respectively speaking games that push that hardware will cost nearly as much as those retail games.

And once again everything you mentioned Surface already does (PC streaming, and soon XBO streaming). So once again a cheaper, but still capable version of Surface with controls is the way to go, not a handheld. Leave that to Nintendo.

TXIDarkAvenger3215d ago (Edited 3215d ago )

I get what you're saying but I'd personally want a portable over a tablet due to its size along with a controller attached to the screen.

The Nvidia Shield portable is the same price as the starting price for Surface 3. If its possible to make a smaller device like Shield portable at a cheaper price, sounds like a product I'd be interested in. Again, I'm just speaking for myself. Might as well use my laptop over a tablet with better specs with the same portability.

Bigpappy3216d ago

They already have phones and tablets, and have already shown games running on Surface pro using Win10. So this article is pointless.

ABizzel13216d ago

Someone who gets it. Everything this article and people in here are saying is already done on a Surface Pro (PC streaming, XBO streaming coming soon, and HDMI), educate yourselves people before speaking.

There is no point in a handheld when MS's tablet already does all of this, simply make a entry level model of it, and rebrand it Xbox Tablet.

Just like Sony needs to do to their handheld line if they want to continue with it.

+ Show (2) more repliesLast reply 3215d ago
warrior823216d ago

they should resurrect the game gear since the original xbox felt like dreamcast 2

MCTJim3216d ago

I have two of them :D I bought them off ebay with like 30 games for 10 bucks each. Boy oh boy do they eat batteries too. You need to be a wall hugger to use this device.

OC_MurphysLaw3216d ago

Why would they do this? They have Surface Pro, they have windows 10 phones...there is 100% no reason they should entertain handheld gaming specific devices at this point.

vongruetz3216d ago

Microsoft doesn't even want to make phones... why would they make a handheld console?

That said, yes they should.

LifeInNZ3216d ago (Edited 3216d ago )

Given their recent layoffs from last years acquisiton of Nokia I'm not sure where they will be taking their W10 platform on mobiles. The Surface is doing well but thats not priced at the general consumer. Lets also not forget their other mobile trainwreck that was the Zune.

To be honest, I would love it if MS had an ace up its sleeve like being able to easily install W10 on Android devices. Pair a controller with a modern tablet and you have a pretty damned good mobile gaming platform. Just need a service like XBox to start bringing more console style games!

I suppose since they have released Smartglass and Office apps on Android they might just release an XBox app for phones/tablets which gives access to the Xbox Store and Network....maybe?

Fro_xoxo3216d ago (Edited 3216d ago )

nawh.. nintendo runs that space. . not even sony could compete with the 3DS, let a lone Microsoft ^_^.

I like their focus on XO.
No point producing another platform only to neglect it like Sony did to the Vita.

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290°

Microsoft’s Surface and Xbox hardware revenues take a big hit in Q3

Microsoft just posted the third quarter of its 2024 fiscal financial results. The software maker made $61.9 billion in revenue and a net income of $21.9 billion during Q3. Revenue is up 17 percent, and net income has increased by 20 percent.

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theverge.com
darthv723d ago

Xbox content + services up 62% while hardware down 31%... seems about right with the way they tout you don't need the hardware to play. People can play on their phones or smart tv or other means. I don't hardly play on my consoles directly since getting devices like the logitech g-cloud and ps portal. Which is to also say I have been playing more digital than physical because of these devices.

solideagle2d ago

you should apply in MS PR team buddy, I think you will do a great job in my humble opinion :)

Sonic18812d ago

I thought darthv72 and Obscure_Observer already work for Microsoft 🤔

dveio2d ago

MS: "Xbox services and content without AB up 1%, with AB up 62%. Hardware down 31%. In total a loss of 350 mill."

darthv72: "Seems about right."

MS: "Excuse m ..."

darthv72: "I don't hardly play on my consoles directly."

MS:

Lightning772d ago

What he said was facts. How he plays games is no concern of you. Don't get too mad about it.

Cacabunga2d ago

I can tell people like you are an absolute minority..

If service is up means their fans and fanboys accepted this model and subscribed to it. The near future you will see a big decline because the service is saturated.

darthv721d 22h ago

to you it may seem like the minority... but your bubble is shrinking because more and more are following suit. convenience is a hell of a drug and its also why physical sales only amount to 30% of overall game sales. times are changing, you either get with them or you get left behind.

neutralgamer19921d 17h ago

Darth

30% physical sales: yet Phil and xbox division are in a rush go give up on that 30%. they don't have any right to give up any piece of the pie since the control such a little of the pie to begin with

also, the market is clearly speaking that the model Xbox is pushing isn't working right now the keyword being right now. you are right about freedom to play anywhere so i hope they put their games on steam

shinoff21832d ago

But that's been ms for years. When things aren't going their way they try to change the way things are said. For instance console sales are down, they stop telling how many sold instead telling us how many hours spent in halo or headshots. So it makes sense console sales down just say people are playing on more devices then previous. What they won't say is how many xbox players jumped ship to ps5.

Cacabunga2d ago

Hardware sales are so bad that Sony and Nintendo are blowing the sales off the water with their hardware.

If Xbox are losers, others aren’t..
Xbox already tried everything with Xbox live then subscriptions went down so much that they had to find something else. Their fans subscribed then reached saturation rather quickly.

Hardware and exclusive games is where it’s at! Keep gamers excited, announce decent software and people will support you

itsmebryan2d ago

@shin
Well keep it simple Sony 's operating income is down 26% and Microsoft's is up 32%. No MS spin there, just facts. 😉
Cheers

S2Killinit1d 23h ago

MS is after diminishing consoles as a medium. They want to destroy this market because they couldnt win. MS’s vision is to dissolve console gaming.

romulus232d ago

Odd that a company that touts you dont need the hardware to play is already touting another console in the works.

darthv722d ago

They are not reliant on the HW but still want to maintain a presence (no matter how small) is a good thing. It shows commitment to the craft. It reminds me of SNK and how they made games for their own hardware (Neo Geo) while also making them for others because they knew there was a market to do so. They knew they would sell more to others but also sell to their own niche fan base.

TheEroica1d 22h ago (Edited 1d 22h ago )

Perfectly reasonable post down voted by insecure corporation friendly folk.... But not gamers. Real gamer want accessibility and ease of acquisition for all.... Company shills are the only ones still telling us that hardware locking people from games is good for us.

Chevalier1d 17h ago

@Darth

You should stop parroting metrics like an idiot without context.

"Xbox content and services revenue grew 62% in Q3 from a year earlier, “driven by 61 points of net impact” from the purchase of the third-party video game giant, Microsoft said."

61 of the 62% was from their merger so net increase is ONLY 1%

https://www.mesaonline.org/...

itsmebryan1d 9h ago

@chevalier

It looks like made a great purchase. Much better then Sony buying Bungie. 😉
Cheers

+ Show (4) more repliesLast reply 1d 9h ago
purple1012d ago

Xbox hardware revenue tanks to lowest point of Xbox Series generation

Profchaos2d ago

I'm not surprised surface is struggling they aren't relevant anymore

DOMination-2d ago

In the last two years they've started exiting the consumer market altogether. All of the newest Surface products are business models only. They can't seem to work out what they want to do with it.

XBManiac2d ago

Too expensive hardware when others offer the same or more for less? Good work, Green Team.

SimpleDad2d ago (Edited 2d ago )

"Despite some early successes for Xbox games on rival platforms, Xbox hardware is down by a massive 31 percent this quarter."
"Without Activision Blizzard, Microsoft’s overall gaming revenue would have actually declined this quarter."
"Xbox content and services would have only been up a single percent without Activision Blizzard..."
"It looks like next quarter is going to be a similar story for gaming at Microsoft, too."

That is crazy... so A/B/K is carrying the whole Xbox gaming.
Oh and Microsoft will be fine. Windows, Office and Cloud are growing with each pc purchase.

purple1012d ago

Activision: "we gonna need a bigger rucksack/backpack please"

Microsoft: "why's that"

Activision: "to carry yo' weak ass'

Profchaos2d ago (Edited 2d ago )

Top brass have also wanted to start seeing returns on the 100 billion they have put into various Xbox related moves so seeing more multiplatform games is highly likely especially from abk

It's basically saying that PlayStation is the reason Xbox is afloat right now thinks to Ps5 versions of COD

Kornholic2d ago

So basically PS and PC gamers' money is keeping Xbox on life support.

MrDead2d ago

The only growth MS will get out of the console industry is if it supports it's rivals platforms. Xbox is a pointless machine now. I can see them on a big push for live next, and they won't give up on trying to buy Steam.

+ Show (1) more replyLast reply 2d ago
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110°

Garry's Mod Removing All Nintendo Content From Steam Workshop After Takedown Request

The developer of Garry's Mod has announced it is in the process of removing all Nintendo-related content from Steam Workshop after receiving a takedown request from Nintendo.

gurp3d ago

first emulation, now this
even though I don't play Garry's Mod, it is still bad

Inverno3d ago

I was reading it's all just false reports from a troll who's done things like this in the past and not Nintendo themselves.

-Foxtrot2d ago

Well the games creator Gary Newman confirmed it himself on Twitter.

Inverno2d ago

Seems that's still being debated.

150°

Sony Patents To Prevent You From In-Game Harassment By Reading Your Emotions

A new patent recently published by Sony wants to gather biometric data of gamers to track whether one is being harassed using AI tools.

Profchaos3d ago (Edited 3d ago )

I hope this is one of those patents that never comes to fruition.

I already dislike the fact you can pay a significant amount for a online service buy associated games and content on said service and get banned from that service over potentially a misunderstanding the bans are already handed out for flimsy reasons

I'd rather see money invested in a ban that simply removes the offensive players ability to communicate with unknown players allow them to continue party chats with friends but not with Joe blow on cod.

exputers3d ago

Agreed. Blizzard recently banned a college Overwatch 2 player who's dependent for saying "shit." Pretty harsh.

Profchaos2d ago (Edited 2d ago )

How rediculas really. You can't say a word that's allowed in most PG films and prime time TV but the game is based around killing the enemy team using guns, explosives etc.

It's just backwards.

just_looken2d ago

What your talking about is called block list

In 2006 a spaceship dropped of the playstation 3/xbox 360 i say that that generation was the last great gen with game functions/tech that has yet to comeback

Anyhow the playstation 3 if you block listed a id they could not talk to you in chatroom with either text or voice. But that was pre mind fucked 2018 when people were more human than sheep.

But hey gta 6 is coming out billion dollar budget without a single player custom character creator and without singeplayer coop off/online something saints row 1-3 had on the xbox 360.

z2g3d ago

Take my social security and bank account numbers too! Here’s a picture of my wife and our address.

phoenixwing3d ago

Cmon where's the pictures of your children. Don't hold out on them.

H93d ago

At this rate I feel Sony will eventually sell a room to play games in it where they can monitor your every breath

jambola3d ago

I genuinely get a bit worried sometimes when a friend says something that could be offensive In a party
Because I have no trouble believing some bans would happen when in a private party for saying something wrong

SegaSaturn6693d ago

I want them to censor erotic content by measuring my groin temperature so i dont get too distracted while playing black ops 2.

Popsicle3d ago

Terrible idea. Not only do I not consent to providing my biometric data, the potential for mishandling biometric data is almost a certainty. Positive stress and negative stress can produce similar changes in biometrics. Interpreting the precise emotion a person is feeling is not only invasive but could be easily misconstrued. I hope this never comes to fruition.

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