this post was submitted on 04 Aug 2025
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[–] lvxferre@mander.xyz 170 points 2 days ago (7 children)

Microsoft is already responding to the potential shift. The upcoming ROG Xbox Ally X handheld from Microsoft and ASUS will reportedly ship with a gaming-optimized version of Windows 11 with a dedicated Xbox UI and interface that aims to streamline the experience while boosting in-game performance and overall handheld efficiency.

Given how much Microsoft wants to shove AI tools every where in Windows, I don't think this optimisation will make much of a difference.

[–] rafoix@lemmy.zip 96 points 2 days ago (1 children)

MS optimization = maximize revenue streams = more ads = more spyware

I don’t believe a thing MS says is ever meant to improve the customer experience.

[–] sunzu2@thebrainbin.org 15 points 2 days ago

Exactly... People love talking optimization and efficiency without realizing that they are being fucked over lol

They are optimizing at your expense

[–] DebatableRaccoon@lemmy.ca 22 points 2 days ago (1 children)

Given the popularity of the Steam Deck, the Xbox handheld would have to come free with the purchase of any Xbox exclusive game to stand a chance in that sphere, I think. The fact that it's Win11 immediately turns me off and I say this as someone who still uses Windows.

[–] sp3ctr4l@lemmy.dbzer0.com 7 points 2 days ago (2 children)

lol, what is this 'Xbox Exclusive Game' you speak of, in 2025?

[–] DebatableRaccoon@lemmy.ca 10 points 2 days ago (1 children)

A hypothetical one, of course

[–] woelkchen@lemmy.world 1 points 22 hours ago

Microsoft has plenty of console exclusives, so they are on PlayStation and Switch but not Windows for whatever reason. Crash Team Racing Nitro Fueled is one I'm confused why they don't trust their own platform with.

That said, they don't trust their own Windows on ARM devices either and those should definitely be capable enough to run games that come to Switch.

[–] null@lemmy.nullspace.lol 17 points 2 days ago

And if we take this as an actual attempt at a better handheld experience, then this is just further proof that competition breeds better products for consumers.

[–] k0e3@lemmy.ca 10 points 2 days ago

Yeah and honestly, whatever optimization they promise — or deliver, for that matter — won't sway me because it's the company itself and the country where it is based that I'm against at this point. So, there's no way I'm ever going to buy any MS handheld.

[–] woelkchen@lemmy.world 8 points 2 days ago

Given how much Microsoft wants to shove AI tools every where in Windows, I don’t think this optimisation will make much of a difference.

AMD's own Windows drivers also perform much worse in low power situations than the open source Linux drivers, whereas Windows game mode (or whatever it'll be called) is about reducing background tasks that consume RAM. Obviously reducing RAM consumption is beneficial but it's not the whole story.

[–] MystikIncarnate@lemmy.ca 5 points 2 days ago (2 children)

The thing that confuses me is that Microsoft is no stranger to Linux. They use it in their data centers. It's plainly obvious if you know what other offerings are doing.

Their entire front end stack for azure virtual machines is OpenStack. Some years back they integrated with OpenStack to allow it to manage hyper-v, but OpenStack can also natively manage KVM hypervisors, as it was originally designed to do, and also VMware.

Hell, I'd be surprised if there isn't a Microsoft distro of Linux floating around (not available to the public... Not yet at least).

The people who seem to be pushing Microsoft, more than anyone, are game studios. Their garbage Anti cheat rootkits work best on Windows. So use Windows so they can low jack your PC.

[–] zurohki@aussie.zone 6 points 2 days ago (2 children)

Microsoft is moving away from allowing anything to run with those low level permissions after that CrowdStrike incident where rogue security software bricked millions of Windows PCs, so that might take out kernel anticheat as collateral damage.

[–] Trainguyrom@reddthat.com 2 points 1 day ago

While I'd love to see this, they also walked that back following lobbying by Antivirus vendors. So shit will continue to roll

[–] woelkchen@lemmy.world 2 points 22 hours ago (1 children)
[–] MystikIncarnate@lemmy.ca 1 points 19 hours ago

Well, would you look at that...

[–] Wooki@lemmy.world 3 points 1 day ago* (last edited 1 day ago)

Given how much Microsoft wants to enshitify its services. Windows 11 is proven to be no exception. They have no reason to stop at the Xbox brand. Even Microsoft games like their new flight sim has not escaped enshitification race to the bottom.

Fixed