An Xbox Portable Could Save The Series S Or Kill It Forever

The upcoming Xbox Games Showcase may reveal Microsoft’s next console, and if the rumors surrounding it are correct, the Xbox Portable will avoid the mistakes of the lackluster PlayStation Portal. Despite the Portal’s financial success, its longevity is dubious, as an expensive gadget with the singular function of streaming games from a PlayStation console. PlayStation fans have been able to do this on their mobile devices and computers for some time thanks to the PS Remote Play app, and the officially licensed Backbone controller offers ideal tactile controls for mobile users, making the Portal entirely pointless.

The official PS Remote Play app requires the use of a DualShock 4 or 5 controller on PC and Mac computers and the Backbone One PlayStation Edition for tactile controls on Android or iOS devices, but third-party PlayStation streaming apps offer more options. Chiaki for Windows works with any Xinput PC controller, and PS Play: Remote Play works with any Android controller.

Since online leaks suggested the Xbox Portable will be officially announced soon, fans have speculated as to what such a device might look like. Since Microsoft is synonymous with the Windows PC operating system every bit as much as the Xbox gaming brand, some suspected it might simply be another portable form factor PC like the ROG Ally or Lenovo Legion Go. Statements from Xbox CEO Phil Spencer suggest that may not be enough, indicating an aim for a portable that offers an experience closer to an Xbox console, complete with offline play. This would easily outshine the PlayStation Portal.

One of the most underrated PlayStation 5 console exclusives is finally making its way to Xbox Series X|S nearly three years after it launched.

While some suspected the release of a mid-generation redesigned Xbox would kill Series S, the Xbox Portable could have the reverse effect. It is extremely unlikely that the technology powering the Xbox Series X could be fit into a portable form factor at a price