Summary
The upcomingXboxGames Showcase may reveal Microsoft’s next console, and if the rumors surrounding it are correct, theXbox Portable will avoid the mistakes of the lackluster PlayStation Portal. Despite the Portal’s financial success, its longevity is dubious, as an expensive gadget with the singular function of streaming games from a PlayStation console. PlayStation fans have been able to do this on their mobile devices and computers for some time thanks to the PS Remote Play app, and the officially licensed Backbone controller offers ideal tactile controls for mobile users, making the Portal entirely pointless.
The official PS Remote Play app requires the use of a DualShock 4 or 5 controller on PC and Mac computers and the Backbone One PlayStation Edition for tactile controls on Android or iOS devices, but third-party PlayStation streaming apps offer more options. Chiaki for Windows works with any Xinput PC controller, and PS Play: Remote Play works with any Android controller.
Sinceonline leaks suggested the Xbox Portablewill be officially announced soon, fans have speculated as to what such a device might look like. Since Microsoft is synonymous with the Windows PC operating system every bit as much as the Xbox gaming brand, some suspected it might simply be another portable form factor PC like the ROG Ally or Lenovo Legion Go. Statements from Xbox CEO Phil Spencer suggest that may not be enough, indicating anaim for a portable that offers an experience closer to an Xbox console, complete with offline play. This would easily outshine the PlayStation Portal.
Xbox Is Getting Another PS5 Console Exclusive This Summer
One of the most underrated PlayStation 5 console exclusives is finally making its way to Xbox Series X|S nearly three years after it launched.
Xbox Portable May Be More Console-Like Than Windows
Not Just A Remote Streaming Device
While some suspected the release of a mid-generationredesigned Xbox would kill Series S, theXbox Portable could have the reverse effect. It is extremely unlikely that the technology powering the Xbox Series X could be fit into a portable form factor at a price point acceptable to the consumer market, but specs equivalent to the Series S are another story. The custom AMD CPU featured in the slim Series S has already been eclipsed by the popular AMD 7840, designed for laptops and small form factor PCs. A variant of that CPU is already featured in the ROG Ally.
The number ofSteam Deck Verified games exceeds 1,000now, and while there are still PC titles that go beyond the limits of Valve’s portable, given its popularity, many developers aim to make games that will function smoothly on the Steam Deck, especially indie studios. Outside the Steam ecosystem, the benchmark set by the AMD 7840 offers another optimization bar to aim for. Many game developers attempt to appeal to those who own various portables from ASUS, Lenovo, and Ayaneo, among others, that consistently make use of that CPU and its built-in GPU, prioritizing compatibility over pushing the envelope graphically.
The Ryzen Z1 Extreme processor featured in the upper tier ROG Ally and the Lenovo Legion Go is essentially a modified version of AMD’s 7840U, which is also used in devices like the Ayaneo Flip DS, the Onexplayer Onexfly, the GDP Win Mini, and the upcoming Orange Pi Neo, among others. That makes compatibility and optimization with the 7840U and its variants a desirable benchmark for developers to aim for to market their games to the new wave of portable PC gaming fans.
Given thatBaldur’s Gate 3’s Xbox Series Sversion had to omit its split-screen play feature, and other more demanding games struggle on the smaller, cheaper Series X alternative, some gaming fans felt the Series S was holding Xbox back. A portable form factor Xbox would almost certainly lean closer to the Series S than the Series X in terms of raw power, and an Xbox Portable could easily be a consumer success if it successfully merges the simplicity of the Switch with the capacity to run current-gen titles. That success could help keep the Xbox Series S relevant.
A Successful Xbox Portable Could Prop Up Xbox Series S
Console Parity Could Be An Aim For Developers
When consumerscompare Steam Deck to ROG Allythey weigh the superior specs of the ASUS device against the streamlined interface of Valve’s portable, along with its leaner Linux operating system, which allows it to punch above its weight in performance. The Switch provides an even more user-friendly experience, but it is held back by aging hardware. An Xbox Portable with full offline playcould essentially package the Series S into a new form factor. Developers aiming to ensure their titles perform well on such a portable could yield many more games that are, in essence, “Xbox Series S Verified.”
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With no specifics confirmed at present, there are still some possibilities that could spell the end for the Series S. If the Xbox Portable features a docking option like the Switch, sales of the Series S might evaporate entirely, but itcould still ensure current Series S owners a steady stream of well-optimized games. If the device’s specs surpass Series S, that is another matter altogether. An Xbox Portable can easily outdo the one-note PlayStation Portal if it features offline play, butXboxcould either salvage the Series S with its portable or put the nail in its coffin.
