Well yes, that’s typically how new markets work. This is not a bad thing.
Comment on Xbox and Asus introduce the new ROG Xbox Ally and ROG Xbox Ally X gaming handhelds
HeyJoe@lemmy.world 4 days ago
It’s officially the era of the handheld. There’s going to be so many failures… nobody is going to buy all these different options, 1 or 2 will succeed, and the others will fade out once they realize the numbers will never be what they expected.
Plebcouncilman@sh.itjust.works 4 days ago
NuXCOM_90Percent@lemmy.zip 4 days ago
I think MS took the right path here by just partnering with ASUS (okay… ASUS sucks but…). ASUS is already making a handheld every year and they are very well received (until anyone needs to RMA something). But ASUS also has their entire laptop and monitor and component divisions.
My worry is more the GPD and Aya Neos of the world. They kind of dragged handheld form factor laptops kicking and screaming… and then Valve ate their lunch. Rightfully so because the GPDs and Ayas were always horrible to use and full of bloat (and maybe spyware) but it still sucks.
But this specifically? MS are doing the same thing Valve are. The idea will be that you buy a handheld and then install the OS/ecosystem you want on there. Valve want SteamOS (or just not Microsoft) on everything. MS wants Windows+Game Mode on everything. And, because this is post 2010s MS, Valve wins either way because Steam also runs on Windows whereas gamepass is locked to only Windows.
I DO think the implication of needing an xbox button (which can also be the steam button) and adaptive triggers to get “xbox certified” is gonna suck and be a way to deprecate older devices. But I doubt those will be hard requirements for a few years.
Because… we are due for the next console generation in 2-3 years, right? We just got the refresh SKU for PS5 and that will line up for the usual 6-8 year cycle. And this positions MS to push their requirements controller wise.
HeyJoe@lemmy.world 4 days ago
I don’t dislike what I saw. Personally, I just think they are already too late to enter the market and be a big success. We just saw the numbers that Linux is killing it in almost all categories on the Legion compared to a windows OS, which is pretty bad news to have less than a month before showcasing this. It’s not like the Xbox brand is doing that wonderful these days, either. I think it will sell but not do as good as expected, and they will move on or completely give up. From what I hear, Xbox in general, is barely holding on these days. I love what gamepass did, but that may be all that remains if they can’t sell more hardware.
If I had to pick any 1 device that’s either out now or soon to be out, I am definitely not picking this one. I will also be sad if they fail since we all know the competition is what keeps things from getting stagnant and also keep prices down.
NuXCOM_90Percent@lemmy.zip 4 days ago
I just think they are already too late to enter the market and be a big success.
The handheld form factor laptop gaming market is still in its (perpetual) infancy.
We just saw the numbers that Linux is killing it in almost all categories on the Legion compared to a windows OS,
Yeah…
windowsforum.com/…/lenovo-legion-go-s-how-steamos… (apologies for blatant chatgpt bullshit but I needed data)
Battery life probably actually doesn’t matter for the vast majority of users who would only be playing for an hour or two at a time, at most, between charges. And MS have acknowledged that with the focus on basically the same thing Valve sort of kind of does which is to have a gaming specific mode for the OS that disables a lot of background processes.
At which point we get to framerate and multiplayer gaming. The former basically being noise between the platforms and the latter still pretty much Windows only for Reasons.
It’s not like the Xbox brand is doing that wonderful these days, either.
I mean… this seems to be related to that. MS have already heavily hinted (outright said?) that the next XBOX is literally going to run (likely this version of) Windows and Gamepass and porting Halo to everything is already a sign. Like, think of this less as an “XBOX Handheld” and more as a “Windows gaming handheld”… which sounds worse to me but…
If I had to pick any 1 device that’s either out now or soon to be out, I am definitely not picking this one.
I mean… for the average user who does not have a visceral disdain for Windows at this point… why wouldn’t you? This does gamepass AND Steam AND Fortnite. And most people don’t realize that asus armory crate or whatever the fuck is worse than cancer.
Because ASUS was going to release this no matter what. The difference is they added another button (in a horrible location apparently) and let MS give them money to brand it as an XBOX. But the goal, at least from MS, is not to necessarily outsell and dominate the market. It is to make people think Windows is also for gaming (which it still very much is) and to further dilute the XBOX brand for whatever the hell is gonna happen in 2-4 years when the next console gen hits.
DoucheBagMcSwag@lemmy.dbzer0.com 4 days ago
End console wars did.
Begun, the handheld wars have