A Portable Xbox Looks Pretty Certain

News Type: Event — Seeded on Wed Jul 22, 2009 7:17 AM EDT

Article Source: PC Magazine

technology, microsoft, video-games, xbox, xbox-360, video-game, console, portable, handheld, shane-kim

The portable Xbox is coming: That much, it seems, is no longer up for debate. The question is when such a device will arrive. In an interview posted today by gaming site Kikizo, Shane Kim, a Microsoft corporate VP, confirmed perpetual rumors that the company's popular console will finally be getting a handheld counterpart.

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{"commentId":8359178,"authorDomain":"michaelsautter"}

Michael Sautter

Can Microsoft beat Nintendo?

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3 votes

#1 - Wed Jul 22, 2009 6:01 PM EDT

{"commentId":8369807,"authorDomain":"Books83"}

Books83

It would be interesting to see Microsoft in the handheld space. But lets be honest hear it just wouldn't be Nintendo they would have to deal with. While yes Nintendo is a dominant force in the handheld space Sony isn't no slouch.

The other problem is that both the PSP and DS have world wide appeal. Microsoft to date has not been able to make any significant penetration in to the Japanesemarket. If they were to make a handheld they would have to get major support from third party devs both in the west and in the east. None of Microsoft's developers are adapt at making games that appeal to the Japanese market. One that both Nintendo and Sony have to a point locked down.

But this is all speculation at this point. They could do any number of things to make themselves a competitor. From full Live integration to full Zune marketplace integration and so on. They were laughed at when they got into the console race yet here they are with the xbox 360 and a major player. I think the biggest roadblock they have ahead of themselves in the handheld space is what are they as a first party going to do for software. Like with the consoles first party software sets the tone of the system.

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3 votes

#2 - Thu Jul 23, 2009 5:52 AM EDT

{"commentId":8397915,"authorDomain":"chasing"}

Chasing

MS doesn't need to beat Ninty or Sony - they just need to make money. And if they can create a compelling piece of machinery, especially one with bells and whistles, game/app store, integration into the Xbox 360 "experience", and, who knows, maybe streaming Netflix where available, it can make a space of its own. Just as Ninty isn't really competing with Sony or MS in the living room, MS need not take the current occupiers of the handheld space on directly.

But they probably will and it will likely be stupid. But one can hope, right?

{"commentId":8397915,"threadId":"632611","contentId":"3047557","authorDomain":"chasing"}

2 votes

#3 - Thu Jul 23, 2009 11:40 PM EDT

{"commentId":8572358,"authorDomain":"SirThinkswaytomuch"}

Sir. Thinkswaytomuch

I'm not surprised. I've always assumed that MS had something in the works ever since Xbox was launched (and even more so after the PSP).

I do, however, want something with Live integration. Now, I haven't picked up my PSP for a few years, but it had no infrastructure whatsoever outside of in game ones from developers. If MS can put together a device that is portable, yet also has a practical, well thought out infrastructure like Live, it's a winner.

Especially if we get Natal integration on top of Live.

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1 vote

#4 - Sat Aug 1, 2009 3:40 PM EDT

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MICHAEL SAUTTER

Backyard

A Portable Xbox Looks Pretty Certain

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