The Xbox Games Showcase took place over the weekend during the summer game fest announcement bonanza, revealing a thrilling lineup of games and numerous announcements including the future of Xbox hardware.
Xbox Reveals Hardware Updates and Game Announcements at Xbox Games Showcase
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Phil Spencer Plays Coy About Xbox Handheld Rumors
In an interview with IGN during the The Xbox Games Showcase, Xbox head Phil Spencer shared insights into the future of Xbox hardware, confirming the development of a new all-digital iteration of the Xbox Series X. Spencer expressed his enthusiasm for the future of Xbox hardware, stating, "The work that the team is doing around different form factors, different ways to play, I’m incredibly excited about."
While the focus of the Showcase was primarily on the games, Spencer hinted that more detailed announcements regarding hardware would come in the future. "Today was about the games… but we will have a time to come out and talk more about platform, and we can’t wait to bring it to you," he added.
The discussion then inevitably turned to the much-rumored Xbox handheld console. Spencer was asked whether this new device would be cloud-only or allow for local installations and gameplay. Though not quite confirming speculations and rumors, he did agree that Xbox has to "have a handheld." Additionally, with regard to handhelds, Spencer honed in on how important local gameplay is, saying that "being able to play games locally is really important."
Earlier in the year, Spencer teased the possibility of Xbox expanding into the handheld market. He outlined two potential approaches: a hardware approach, where Xbox develops its own handheld device, and a software approach, which focuses on enhancing the Xbox gaming experience on existing handheld devices running Windows, such as the Legion Go and the ROG Ally.
Although Spencer did not outright confirm the existence of an actual Xbox handheld console, he reiterated his excitement about the company's hardware projects, stating, "Microsoft’s hardware is ‘pretty awesome’" and something to be incredibly excited about.
