Microsoft just casually dropped a nuke on the console wars, and nobody actually saw it coming. In a recent public statement, they came around and agreed that Sony’s first-party titles could be playable on this Xbox/Asus handheld hardware. Wait-wait, what? Yeah, you heard that right. And the lines separating platforms are now blurring faster than a drunk gamer’s vision after an all-night Destiny 2 raid.
So basically Stephen Totilo was inquiring about the appearance of PlayStation games on Microsoft’s handheld devices or basically the new competitor to Sony’s late Nightingale, and the response almost lethargically laid it on the table: “Well duh, it runs Windows.” Since, by design, the new handhelds are basically mini Windows PCs, they certainly can do everything an ordinary gaming PC can do; being so means any licensee can PP and PC-port a set of PlayStation titles. Somewhere about mind-blowing?
From that moment on, the gaming community lost its collective mind over this. While some reactions were pure gold (GaminFanatics): “I am not spending 1500 dollars on a tablet,” to which TimoTim19 responded, “It is a PC haha,” Then there is a classic Twitter slapfight started by Peewee78368 and Kepnach64 about… I am honestly not sure about what anymore. Console warriors will always be those who war.
And now it gets really juicy. Microsoft’s stance basically says that Sony couldn’t block their PC games from running on these devices if it tried. HarryT nailed it; any attempt to block would be utterly futile and invite unwelcome investigations from the FTC. Businessese answer for ‘Try it and see what happens.’
Hardest price debate went on in replies: some claiming handheld will be $800, other swore it’ll be $600, and GaminFanatics kept yelling about building a full 4070 setup for less. Meanwhile, Nyv_09 chimed in with a hard take: “Guys, this has been working with every Win11 handheld device for years 😂.” Be careful, sometimes the truth hurts.
Whatever does this mean for the future? Well, confusedbrit001 said it best: “So everyone is third party now…” Those walls between ecosystems are probably crumbling faster than a Call of Duty player’s patience during a bad match. PlayStation exclusives on Xbox hardware? Xbox games selling like hotcakes on PlayStation? Maybe, the console wars have actually been quietly ending not with a bang but a big whisper (and loads of cross-platform).
Be real with me here- handheld gaming is really big. Try to imagine the prospect of playing Ghost of Tsushima on the morning commute and Halo Infinite on lunch with the same device. That convenience could alone just make it huge; although as GaminFanatics says, “buy pc, buy gamepass” is an option. But where’s the fun in being practical?
One thing that is for sure: gaming is heading for a fresh change faster than ever; Microsoft is playing 4D chess while everyone else is still figuring out how to play checkers. Regardless of whether you are Team Xbox or Team PlayStation or Team “Let Me Play Damn Games,” one thing proves: the future of gaming is not about walls; it’s about bridges. So maybe just maybe, we’ll actually stop arguing about plastic boxes and play the games.
