Xbox Handheld UI is Coming to Your PC Get Ready to Ditch Steam Deck?

Full-Screen Xbox Handheld UI Coming to All Windows PCs Next Year

The world of handheld PC gaming is about to get a significant upgrade! Microsoft is planning to bring a full-screen, Xbox-branded user interface, currently debuting on the Asus ROG Xbox Ally, to all Windows PCs, starting next year. This move promises a more streamlined and efficient gaming experience, directly addressing some long-standing challenges in the PC handheld space.

One of the major hurdles for handheld gaming devices like the Valve Steam Deck has been the reliance on compatibility layers like Proton to run Windows games on SteamOS. While Proton does an admirable job, it's not a perfect solution, and installing alternative game stores can be cumbersome. This is where Microsoft's initiative comes in.

The Asus ROG Xbox Ally, co-developed by Microsoft and Asus, aims to provide a more comprehensive compatibility solution while maintaining a Steam Deck-like handheld UI. This is achieved by overlaying a new Xbox-branded interface on top of a traditional Windows environment. But here's the exciting part: Microsoft has confirmed that this interface, or something very similar, will be rolling out to other Windows handhelds starting next year.

But what makes this new interface so special?

• Optimized for Handhelds: The UI is designed specifically for handheld devices, addressing the unique needs and challenges of this form factor.
• Full-Screen Experience: It completely replaces the traditional desktop-and-taskbar interface of Windows, providing a more immersive gaming experience.
• Resource Efficient: Microsoft claims the new interface saves a couple of gigabytes of RAM and uses less energy and other system resources.
• Bridging the Gap: On devices like the ROG Ally, it helps bridge the functionality gap between SteamOS and Windows, reducing the reliance on additional software like Asus' Armoury Crate.

The idea of a handheld-optimized user interface for Windows isn't entirely new. Microsoft has been experimenting with this concept internally since at least 2022. Employees at an internal hackathon even identified Windows' handheld deficiencies and proposed a "Windows Handheld Mode".

A glimpse of this early experimentation was revealed in a slide deck showcasing a mock-up "gaming shell" that shares similarities with the Xbox-branded interface we see today on the ROG Xbox Ally.

This theoretical Handheld Mode included:

1. A tile-based, Switch-style gamepad UI.
2. Optimizations for touch screen interactions to improve touch points and visibility.
3. Addressing the lack of controller support outside of the Steam app and actual games.

While it's unclear if the current Xbox interface is a direct result of that early exploration, it's evident that Microsoft has been actively working to improve the handheld gaming experience on Windows for quite some time.

The promise of a streamlined, resource-efficient, and handheld-optimized UI for Windows PCs is a significant step forward for the PC gaming community. By addressing compatibility issues and providing a more intuitive user experience, Microsoft is paving the way for a more seamless and enjoyable handheld gaming future. It will be interesting to see how this evolves and the specific features that make it to the final release.

Tags: Steam Deck, ROG Xbox Ally, Gaming handheld, Windows games, SteamOS, Microsoft, Asus, Proton, Compatibility, Handheld UI

Source: https://arstechnica.com/gaming/2025/06/full-screen-xbox-handheld-ui-is-coming-to-all-windows-pcs-starting-next-year/