Xbox Handheld On The Horizon

[wprigjoigj3i40jhgi0435ejh Veteran]

Although Microsoft has made no concrete plans to go ahead with the risky venture, sources say that the company has assembled a team to evaluate its feasibility. The device would likely target the huge potential audience that embraces the iPod, although Xbox head Peter Moore (pictured) said "It can't just be our version" of Apple's player.

Moore also said that Microsoft may use the recognition of the Xbox brand to put some leverage behind this theoretical product. However, as BusinessWeek points out, the brand, which is primarily related to videogames, may not appeal to a wide variety of consumers as a non-Xbox brand would.

Recent reports of the wide success of portable media and gaming products may prompt Microsoft to consider the portable option even more seriously.

Source: BusinessWeek

[Liaqat_ali]

Man the world is going crazy on portable devices

[Ruciz]

The more the merrier. Would be great if it took full sized xbox discs but was in a handheld device, or interfaced to the Xbox/X360 and you could download portable versions from the console to your handheld and play them. Having to repurchase the same old games is getting old. *cough PSP *cough.

[stfu.]

The Xboy? Now that would be a bad name.

[The Teej]

An XBOX Handheld would be awesome! However, as you may know, Microsoft would almost definately put a Dual 512Bit encryption on the portable, just like they did on the XBOX; meaning Piracy and Homebrew would be slim without soft-modding it first.

Although, the idea of Live and its Arcade on the go would be fantastic. Although, I don't see how using full size DVDs would make it portable >.>

[Jeremy1]

I'd buy it.

[BroChaos Veteran]

i'd definitely be interested. i think there is a lot of room to be made in the hand held market. obviously graphics, but also battery life, hdd space, ergonomics, etc.

[Slimy]

If it's like the psp but has a hardrive, I want it. Actually, that's the only thing that stopped me from getting a psp, I hope ms can shove one in their handheld :yes:

[DrDrrae]

With today's technology getting smaller three times a day, by the time this theoretical product would come out, they could some how find a way to have it fit behind your ear and you will play through your mind. It will also come with a 500GB flash drive. No moving parts.

[Noxel]

I would defenitely buy it. I also did not get a PSP for the main reason that it does not have a hard drive or atleast any affordable large capacity memory cards. Hopefully they will go through with this!

[matt74441]

Well, seeing as to how well the PSP did, why would Microsoft even want to consider this?

[x-byte]

I would welcome the competition. But I doubt MS would though.

[Noxel]

Well, seeing as to how well the PSP did, why would Microsoft even want to consider this?

Because they have power and money, lol. Looks like Microsoft wants to expand and dominate in entertainment products. If they do choose to make a 'Xbox' handheld, then they can easily intergrate it with their current line of products in some form. Such as some kind of connectivity with the Xbox 360, or Xbox Live accessibility on it. The possibilities are endless.

[matt74441]

Because they have power and money, lol. Looks like Microsoft wants to expand and dominate in entertainment products. If they do choose to make a 'Xbox' handheld, then they can easily intergrate it with their current line of products in some form. Such as some kind of connectivity with the Xbox 360, or Xbox Live accessibility on it. The possibilities are endless.

Well I think one of the reasons that the PSP didn't seem to do so well was because of the whole UMD thing and the lack of internal memory storage. Knowing Microsoft, they would probably try to pull the exact same thing.

[Martyn]

Well, seeing as to how well the PSP did, why would Microsoft even want to consider this?

Well the same could be said about when the Xbox came out after the PS2 had come out. The PS2 was dominating the gaming industry at that time.

[Mx]

I'd definitely be interested in seeing a device like this from Redmond.

[Smigit]

Well I think one of the reasons that the PSP didn't seem to do so well was because of the whole UMD thing and the lack of internal memory storage. Knowing Microsoft, they would probably try to pull the exact same thing.

I reckon MS would go with some form of internal memory. They have pushed storage on consoles alot more than either Sony or Nintendo in recent years and it would just make sense since it would allow integration of their Xbox 360 and their OS. Having MSN on a wi-fi enabled portable gaming system would be sweet, as would some form of WMP. Also any media player they include, if good and if storage is right may be a way for Microsoft to finally direcly compete with Apples iPod rather than just keeping it to a war of the codec and relying on 3rd party devices.

I dont think the issue with the PSP is the UMD format, the issue is that there simply isnt enough good games. It's a lovely device but I dont have one since theres no software I want to run besides Liberty City.

edit: also unlike Sony, MS hasnt got a portable media devision in the company pushing out products so competing with themselves is less of an issue as it could be for sony who wouldnt want to make their walkman line obsolete or redundant through the release of a too media friendly psp.

Edited January 27, 2006 by Smigit