Only Microsoft Can Save Windows-Powered Handheld Game Consoles

The Nintendo Switch is a miracle. These are all things Windows is notoriously terrible at, and that doesn’t bode well for the companies trying to build handheld gaming consoles with Microsoft's desktop operating system. In the aftermath of the Switch and Steam Deck’s success, it seems like every company even remotely connected to gaming hardware is trying to build a handheld. You’re a Beta Tester It might seem like handheld manufacturers are opting for Windows out of some obvious benefit to players. Some work is under the hood, like optimizing games to run on portable hardware without unnecessary power drain or building an interface designed for controllers, since most people aren’t going to buy a gaming handheld to plug in a USB keyboard and mouse.