- Windows 11’s gaming UI will look more like a console, taking inspiration from Xbox and simplifying controls.
- The new design seems to become a more important rival to SteamOS and optimize usability
- It will focus on improving drivers and specific features of portable devices for smooth gaming.
It seems that Microsoft has finally recognized that portable gaming PCs could be better, mainly when it comes to running Windows 11 on them, and wants to improve this experience.
Right now, Windows 11 just isn’t good on these devices; It feels clunky and complicated, probably because Windows 11 is designed primarily for desktop computers and larger devices in general, not for compact keyboardless portable devices. This is even more evident when compared to the fluid interfaces of Valve’s Xbox or SteamOS consoles, which were designed specifically for their respective devices.
Now, Microsoft wants to bring the Xbox experience to Windows PCs, combining the two systems and elevating the portable gaming experience on Windows. This was hinted at during a panel discussion at AMD and Lenovo’s recent “The Future of Gaming Laptops” event by Microsoft’s VP of “Next Generation” (presumably the next generation of Windows gaming laptops), Jason Ronald, which took place during CES. 2025 event in Las Vegas.
Microsoft’s goal appears to be to take Xbox’s easy-to-use, console-like features, like quick access to games and easy navigation, and integrate them into Windows for portable devices. This would make it easier to use Windows gaming handhelds more intuitively, allowing you to pick up your device and play without having to deal with complicated settings or having to deal with desktop menus.
Microsoft’s VP of Next Generation, Jason Ronald, hinted that they are actively working on this and that we will see big improvements this year. It’s not about creating a new Xbox operating system for PC, but rather about improving Windows 11 itself so that it feels more like an Xbox when you play. The big idea? To make portable Windows gaming as easy and fun as playing on an Xbox, while allowing you to take advantage of the flexibility of Windows if you need it.
When speaking with The Verge, Ronald elaborated on this explaining that it will go beyond the current state of things where there are compact modes for Xbox apps on Windows 11, becoming a simplified experience similar to what you would use on a console. of games. This includes addressing things like making Windows 11 work better with game controllers and designing Windows 11 to make better use of portable gaming hardware.
Could a revolutionary update implement SteamOS?
This news is very welcome, as I know a lot of people talk a lot about the fact that Windows 11 is the weakest part of many gaming laptop PCs, including the Lenovo Legion Go, Asus ROG Ally X, and MSI Claw 8. The laptops For games running Windows 11 will often use a proxy UI to manage and run your games, but this can lead to a slower and less than ideal experience overall. Additionally, Windows 11 has to contend with SteamOS (a Linux-based operating system), as we’re starting to see devices that come in a version that runs SteamOS on top of Windows 11, like the Lenovo Legion S.
SteamOS is an operating system designed specifically for running games, it has an easy-to-use dedicated UI and none of the baggage and bloat of Windows 11.
The roundtable did not clarify whether this will mean a special version of Windows for portable gaming devices or if Windows 11 will have additions that will improve gaming on portable devices. Ronald says his team is working on “fundamental interaction models” that work regardless of the operating system used by a device and ensure users get a solid gaming experience regardless.
However, it looks like Ronald and his team may have more in store than simply layering software on top of Windows 11 for portable gaming devices. We’ll have to see how this new system looks, performs, and feels, but it sounds pretty promising, especially since portable PC gaming devices seem to be a booming market.
