I’ve been writing for more than a year about how Microsoft needs to overhaul Windows on handhelds and use an Xbox OS UI on top, keeping the complexity of the Windows desktop hid

Microsoft plans to merge Windows and Xbox for handheld gaming in 2025 Valve's SteamOS aims to be integrated into all gaming handhelds Microsoft must succeed with its hybrid to compete with Valve's expansion efforts.

Ronald explained that Microsoft aims to bring a console-like experience to handhelds and "make Windows great for gaming" on any device. Microsoft will have more details to share later in the year, Ronald said, adding that the idea is to move away from a Windows desktop setup on handhelds and toward a "gaming-centric" experience.

The last time I tried playing games on Windows handhelds, it was a weird process. For all the flexibility of Windows and the freedom to run multiple app stores and customize however you'd like, a lot of things act weirdly and are very hit-and-miss.

The Xbox handheld is all but confirmed to be real, but we have a long time before it will come out. Here's all the information we have so far about the console.The Latest Tech News, Delivered to Your

Microsoft has said that it plans to bring the best of Xbox and Windows gaming experiences for handheld devices.

Xbox chief Phil Spencer has been dropping hints about an Xbox handheld for months, but what about Windows handheld gaming PCs? Jason Ronald, Microsoft’s VP of “Next Generation,” tells The Verge that we should expect to see the Windows handheld gaming experience change within this calendar year.

While an Xbox Handheld direct from Microsoft might be a ways out, the operating system to power those changes is coming sooner than you think.