Microsoft has been a competitor within the video game industry when it comes to Nintendo and Sony. While the company has a successful launch with their line of home consoles, it’s curious as to why Microsoft never launched a handheld portable gaming device. As it turns out, there were multiple designs in the past, but it’s unclear as to if we’ll ever see one launch into the market.
Speaking to Gamasutra, Xbox boss Phil Spencer had spoken of the times Microsoft had created a rough design of portable Xbox handheld devices. It seems that the company was always brainstorming of different ideas on how gamers can enjoy the latest titles.
At one point, Microsoft had even come up with a cheap Xbox stick that would allow gamers to stream their Xbox anywhere within the home along with playing more low-powered video games. Of course, none of the ideas ever came into full production.
“Well, let me say that a number of times we’ve designed, roughly designed, an Xbox handheld, or a cheap Xbox kind of stick that you could plug in and stream from an Xbox in the home, or play low-powered games….we are always thinking and brainstorming on different scenarios of where the console could go. Or the gaming experience, I guess, more specifically, could go.”
In the end, Microsoft still believes that the home television is the prime source of gaming. That, however, may come to a change now that Nintendo has successfully launched their Switch console which was developed to allow gamers to take it on-the-go.
