Microsoft is working on getting Windows running well on handheld gaming PCs. In an interview with The Verge, vice president of “Next Generation” Jason Ronald said that the experience of gaming on a Windows-based handheld system will see changes.
Ronald spoke about Microsoft wanting to tie in the gaming experiences on Xbox and Windows more closely. It certainly helps that the operating system on Xbox consoles is already built on top of Windows, which gives the company a leg up in its efforts at streamlining handheld gaming on Windows. “I would say it’s bringing the best of Xbox and Windows together, because we have spent the last 20 years building a world-class operating system, but it’s really locked to the console,” Ronald said. “What we’re doing is we’re really focused on how do we bring those experiences for both players and developers to the broader Windows ecosystem.” One of the key ways Microsoft wants handheld gaming on Windows to be more intuitive and simple is by making the experience closer to that of console gaming and simplifying the interface. “We’re focused on really simplifying that and making it much more like a console experience,” he explained. “Our goal is to put the player and their library at the center of the experience and not all the [Windows] work that you have to do today.” It is worth noting that Microsoft has been actively updating Windows and the Xbox app to make the interface simpler to use.
Ronald refers to these as investments that users are starting to see already. More will be revealed later this year, however. “I think it’s going to be a journey and I think you’ll see a lot of investments over time that you’re starting to see already, but we’ll have a lot more to share later this year,” said Ronald.
Unlike Valve’s approach to its operating system, however, Microsoft isn’t looking to hide away the core Windows functionality.