DailyTech

Tag: handheld

  • Microsoft’s Xbox Handheld Plans Reportedly Shelved; Firm to Optimise Home windows 11 Gaming Efficiency

    Microsoft has paused the event of its Xbox handheld gaming console, based on a report. Beforehand anticipated to reach as a part of the corporate’s subsequent era of consoles, the native Xbox handheld has been placed on the back-burner. The Redmond firm is reportedly engaged on optimising Home windows 11 for handheld consoles, in order that it’s on par with Valve’s SteamOS, which presents higher efficiency and battery effectivity. Different upcoming consoles, just like the Xbox-branded Asus system (codenamed Challenge Kennan) are mentioned to be unaffected by Microsoft’s choice.

    Microsoft Shifts Focus to Home windows 11 Amid Risk From SteamOS

    Home windows Central experiences that Microsoft’s inside Xbox handheld console has been shelved, which signifies that it may not arrive in 2027, alongside Microsoft’s next-gen Xbox consoles. The primary celebration handheld shouldn’t be the identical as different upcoming moveable consoles like Asus’ Challenge Kennan, which remains to be anticipated to reach later this yr.

    The corporate plans to work on optimising Home windows 11 to run on handheld consoles, which implies that upcoming third celebration handhelds may arrive with a extra optimised model of Microsoft’s desktop working system. In our evaluations of beforehand launched handhelds, we have discovered that a few of the greatest points with Home windows working on these gadgets embrace poor battery life, navigation points, and software program updates.

    Microsoft’s choice to focus its efforts on Home windows 11 for handhelds might need been spurred by the SteamOS’ growth past the Steam Deck. Earlier this yr, Lenovo unveiled the Legion Go S, which presents higher efficiency than the Steam Deck, and likewise runs on Valve’s working system. SteamOS can be anticipated to reach on comparable handheld gadgets sooner or later.

    SteamOS-powered gadgets will not be Microsoft’s solely concern, with the Nintendo Change 2 proper across the nook. The Japanese agency’s handheld is slated to reach in choose markets in June, and can compete with present moveable consoles.

    The Redmond firm’s give attention to optimising Home windows 11 for handhelds may enhance the general expertise of utilizing these gadgets. Asus is predicted to launch its Challenge Kennan console later in 2025, as per current experiences. The system was not too long ago spotted in a listing on the US FCC website, giving us a great have a look at its design.

    The report signifies that the first-party handheld from Microsoft might need been able to working Xbox video games, and the corporate nonetheless plans to launch a native handheld. It is presently unclear whether or not this system will make its debut in 2027 or 2028, which is when the corporate’s next-gen consoles are anticipated to reach.

  • Xbox Handheld Gaming Console to Arrive With Customized AMD Processor, Tipster Claims

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    Microsoft is alleged to be creating an Xbox handheld gaming console, and particulars of the system’s specs have surfaced on-line. Whereas Asus is anticipated to launch an Xbox-branded handheld system with a devoted Xbox key within the coming months, Microsoft’s system could possibly be outfitted with a low-powered processor developed by AMD, in keeping with a leaker. Microsoft can also be anticipated to launch its next-gen gaming console in 2027, which is anticipated to compete with the purported PlayStation 6.

    AMD to Develop Customized Chip for ‘Actual’ Microsoft Handheld

    In keeping with particulars shared by consumer KeplerL2 on the NeoGAF boards, Microsoft will use a custom low-power APU designed by AMD on its handheld gaming system. The leaker would not present extra particulars associated to the ability consumption or the structure of the processor.

    The consumer claims that the customized APU designed by AMD shall be used on the “actual” Xbox handheld from Microsoft. In the meantime, the Xbox branded handhelds which can be produced by different OEMs like Asus, shall be outfitted with different processors just like the AMD Ryzen Z2 Excessive, Intel’s Lunar or Panther lake CPUs, Nvidia’s N1, and the Snapdragon X Elite 2.

    Earlier rumours had steered Microsoft’s first-party system is perhaps outfitted with an Arm-based chip, which sparked issues associated to backwards compatibility. If the leaker’s declare is correct, then the Xbox handheld ought to supply compatibility with a wider vary of titles.

    Whereas there is no phrase on when Microsoft’s personal Xbox handheld console will make its debut, Asus is anticipated to launch an Xbox branded model quickly. The Asus ROG Ally 2 was recently listed on the US FCC website alongside the ‘Challenge Kennan’ mannequin, which seems in a black colourway with an Xbox button.

    The black variant of the ROG Ally 2 is reportedly powered by an AMD Ryzen Z2 Excessive (36W) APU, paired with 64GB of RAM. In the meantime, the white variant has a much less highly effective AMD Aeirth Plus (20W) APU. These fashions are anticipated to sport a 7-inch show with a 120Hz refresh price.

    The subsequent-gen ROG Ally console may debut quickly with some notable {hardware} upgrades, and Asus beforehand teased its arrival by way of a submit on X (previously Twitter). On the time, the corporate did not specify whether or not it could be an Xbox-branded system, however Microsoft responded to the submit with a meme, which could have been a touch on the collaboration on the upcoming Challenge Kennan handheld system.

  • Nintendo Change 2 to Assist Textual content-to-Speech in GameChat, VRR Assist Restricted to Handheld Mode

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    Nintendo Change 2 has been confirmed to assist a few accessibility options weeks forward of launch. The hybrid console will include text-to-speech performance and dwell captions for its GameChat function for in-game communication. Nintendo has additionally clarified variable refresh charge assist on Change, confirming that the show function will solely be obtainable in handheld mode.

    Textual content-to-Speech on Change 2

    Textual content-to-speech performance will be seen in a gameplay video displaying off the brand new GameChat function (by way of OatmealDome on Bluesky). As seen within the clip, customers will have the ability to kind of their message in GameChat and the Switch 2 system will learn it out. Within the Bluesky put up, the person additionally mentioned the Change will probably assist USB keyboards for textual content enter, identical to the unique Change.

    [Switch 2] GameChat helps text-to-speech. If enabled, you’ll be able to kind in textual content and the system will learn it for you. Whereas not explicitly confirmed, USB keyboards ought to be supported too (the Change 1 already helps them for textual content enter).

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    — OatmealDome (@oatmealdome.bsky.social) May 16, 2025 at 9:19 PM

    In a separate video posted by the person, the Change 2 may also be seen supporting dwell captions in GameChat. A chat field on the correct facet of the display screen will show transcriptions of what different gamers say in GameChat.

    VRR Assist on Change 2

    In the meantime, Nintendo has clarified that the Change 2 won’t assist variable refresh charges in docked mode. VRR will solely be obtainable in handheld mode, the corporate has confirmed in a press release to NintendoLife.

    “Nintendo Change 2 helps VRR in handheld mode solely. The inaccurate info was initially revealed on the Nintendo Change 2 web site, and we apologise for the error,” the corporate mentioned. Nintendo, nonetheless, refused to substantiate or deny if VRR assist might be rolled out for docked mode in a future firmware replace.

    Nintendo had initially listed VRR assist for the Change 2 in docked mode on its web site, however references to the identical have been later eliminated. The hybrid console is confirmed to assist as much as 4K decision, HDR and framerates of as much as 120fps when linked to appropriate TVs.

    The Nintendo Change 2 is ready to launch on June 5. The console begins at $449.99 within the US. Nintendo has mentioned it expects to promote 15 million items of the Change 2 within the present fiscal .