There will be a portable Xbox system, but when?

A popular portable Xbox mock-up.

(Credit: 360 Rant Rave)

It's no surprise Microsoft is flirting with the idea of jumping into the handheld market. While the company has found success with the Xbox 360, Microsoft has absolutely no portable presence.

With all this time outside of the market, Microsoft needs to identify what kind of portable system the company's handheld Xbox will be. We told you about rumors of a Zune-Xbox-cell phone hybrid, but such an ambitious device will be expensive and alienate those who just want a portable gaming system.

Microsoft executive Shane Kim recently told Kikizo that Xbox Live is the "connective tissue" that will tie together the company's devices. How that tissue is implemented into a portable device will probably be one of the biggest incentives in owning a handheld Xbox. We'd imagine this connectivity would allow for the transfer of digital media (movies, TV shows) bought on the Xbox Live Marketplace. Better yet, we'd love to see all Xbox Live Arcade games feature an "on-the-go" mode as well.

Hardware speculation aside, we can't imagine Microsoft releasing such a device anytime soon. With game sales struggling due to a weakened economy, introducing brand-new portable hardware may not be the wisest of decisions. Even if Microsoft could keep the price around $150 and promise original Xbox-like graphics, would you consider purchasing a new portable system in the near future? What other features would you like to see from an Xbox handheld?

(Source: Gearlog)

[monkeyfun14]

A web browser.

Thats one of the biggest dissapointments in the original xbox lack of a browser both PS3 and Wii have one so why can't Xbox.

[Lerianis3]

A good question, and I have never really gotten a good answer from anyone from Microsoft about that.

[vorcia]

because microsoft is cheap and sucks. thats why theyre so rich

[leilani_man61]

The reason why microsoft hasn't put a web browser in is because of security. That is the biggest reason for them.

[cnetdude1977]

Web Browser? Why oh why? You want a browser go to your PC and use your browser, or your netbook or your Cell phone or a library. I have no desire for internet on a portable gaming device.

[deecee]

Really? Someone with a X-box-360 will likely use the box to browse the web instead of a computer or laptop? I think with laptops hitting 300-400 dollar price, desktop and netbooks at even lower prices, most people will have a computer before they have a X-box. And let me tell you I have my X-box 360 for a while now, never really have the urg to use it to surf the web. I have a PSP, tried surfing the web on it twice, and it stunk as a web browsing device. I will tell you, if I am sitting at home with my X-box and my PC, my preference will NOT be using the X-box to surf the web. Microsoft is smart to realize including the web browser in the X-box just because other console is doing it is a poor execuse to do something and a waste expense for little real value. Why waste company resource and software talent on something no one really care to use? Money is much better spent improving iE8 or working on Windows 7.

[The Noble Robot]

One word: Hulu

[The Noble Robot]

Another word: Netflix
Here's another: Facebook
How about: YouTube?

That's right kids, all those features of Xbox Live that you pay to use (or aren't yet available) are free on the PS3 and Wii!

[myndmelt]

Like Monkeyfun14 stated- a web browser would be delicious! (i too feel the pain of the no-browser woes on the Xbox)

-Streaming Netflix to the device.

-Ability to log into live and retrieve your gamertag, friends list, and gamerscore with out any issues.

- Ability to only need ONE xbox live account for both devices. It would be nice if a friend could be your 'guest' when playing online using the handheld, just like you using a 2nd controller on Xbox 360.
Think Halo 2,3.

I don't really care if its a cell phone, gps, sand-which maker, or dancing robot. As long as it plays games and has cutting edge graphics, can get online, lets you connect with friends in a intuitive way. If it were a phone I would hate to see them deal with single carrier nightmare like the Iphone with AT&T.

Also, I think it would be very cool to be able to stream your music and videos from Windows 7/Vista pc's that are in your 'Home Group'. Microsoft's initiatives are all about connecting all of your devices, right?

[bigjon94]

If it makes sandwiches and dances for me, im buying 12

[SNOOP_ROCA]

And if it does the laundry, add another one

[mdub311]

I don't want a portable Xbox 360. I'm sorta over Microsoft. They always seem content to do things good enough to not alienate most people and maintain their dominance, instead of innovating and producing really good products. But I think if they did make such a device, they'd really take control of the market (i.e. dominate even the likes of Nintendo which is dominating everyone now). Which is why Sony should jump on this now!

Sony already has product lines that people want integrated together: cell phone(smart phones especially), cameras, gaming, and music players. Sony does each of them well as separate products. I want an all in one Sony PSP/Cyber-shot camera/Walkman/Sony Ericsson Smart Phone. I would pay a lot of money to have a device that could do all of these things, because ultimately it would be cheaper to buy an all-in-one device, than to buy them all individually. I would like to see them put their minds together and come up with a device that isn't a stripped down version of themselves, but truly does what each can do together in harmony. Sony Ericsson is already integrating Walkman and Cyber-Shot brands into their phones. They've even done some nice Smart Phones that show a lot of potential. The PSP is already trying to be an all-in-one media device, but it needs some tweaking and improvements. I think the day will come (hopefully in the next 3 years) that Sony will actually do this. Their new president has been beating the drum that their different companies need to work together more and innovate together instead of being separated as their own entities. Sony is uniquely set up to really accomplish a product like this completely in-house, where as Microsoft would really have to rely on potentially complicated partnerships with other companies to pull this off.

Will Sony or someone else be able to pull off such a device? Who will be the first to attempt this? Time will tell and I can't hardly wait!

[SNOOP_ROCA]

Thats crazy, now why don't you go post in a Sony article?

[prettytonyshort]

"They always seem content to do things good enough to not alienate most people and maintain their dominance, instead of innovating and producing really good products"

Have you seen project Natal and MIlo? That will the most innovating hardware to come to gaming in years! It took what Sony and the Wii have tried to do, albeit badly, and taking it to the extreme. Hell Wii is even now releasing a "fix" called motion plus. That's how it should have been from the start.

Microsoft learn from rushing the 360 out the problems so wait and see what project Natal is then come talk about innovation.

[kirobz]

A web browser? I've always read people saying that they dont need web browser on their xbox360 because its a gaming console....lol

I would love to see MS going on this one...and PSP would have a competition...My wife has a DS and there are barely good games on it..

[Lerianis3]

Well, those people are stupid. The fact is that a web browser or an ability to run Windows Vista/7 on the console would be the 'no-brainer' that makes me buy an XBox360 when I have been holding off on it for awhile now.

[skylac]

(This is in replay to Lerianis3's comment below) Having a web browser and the ability to run Windows Vista/7??? Seriously??? Why would that make you want an XBox? If Microsoft actually gave you those abilities, I would slap Microsoft and tell them they don't need a console any more and to just produce games for the PC because that's all the XBox would be in that case. I agree with you Kirobz, I don't think that a web browser on the 360 is a good idea.

[SNOOP_ROCA]

It would only work if the xbox controller came with a keyboard built in. I know there's an attachment keyboard, but a built in one would be nice

[solomonrex]

Why aren't they putting games on the Zune HD? What is wrong with them?

[cbaisa]

they probably will. the tegra chip will handle gaming well. if it isn't available at launch, gaming will make its way to the ZuneHD soon thereafter.

[holyreki]

Of course I'd buy one. I'm a gadget junkie. Most of the time when Microsoft gets involved in a new catagory, it's good for the consumer because everyone's forced to compete to keep up with the large coffers at MS.

[jonathan_likes_cnet]

Game sales aren't completely down from a struggling economy, we've seen that game sales have done well up to now, it's just summer, and as all summers go in gaming, there is not much to play. Gamers will buy games no matter what if there are games they want to buy.

As for a portable gaming system from Microsoft, no thanks. I recently sold my PSP2000 and barely use my DS. Ever since I got an iPhone 3GS, it has taken up all of my gaming time. People that say it isn't a real gaming system or a threat have no idea how developed it is, and games like Castle of Magic, Real Racing, and Rolando have been consuming my gaming life. Games coming out like Dexter and Livefire seem to be capable of keeping it this way.

iPhone is all I need for portable gaming.

[chrkeller]

My xbox died thanks the Thompson drive. My 360 died thanks to the well known RRoD. I don't see myself buying any Microsoft products anytime soon. Thanks, but no thanks.

[Lerianis3]

Big deal. Products die sooner or later. How long had you had the original XBox for before the drive died? Anything over 4 years for a DVD drive, even just a read-only drive, is pretty damned good lifetime!
As to the 360 dying of the RRoD? It's a crapshoot. There are some ORIGINAL 360's that have never died from that, better than 50% in fact. I had a Playstation die not 2 months after I bought it, so it's pretty much... any console can have that happen.

[dpenny13]

I agree. My original xbox struggled to load games from the get go and eventually died. As for Lerianis3 saying its better than 50%, is that suppose to be a good thing? Thats a horrible statistic!!! I work in a retail environment where we service our own products and over the last couple years we have had to service at most 1 or 2 wii's, maybe 5-10 ps3's but probably had to service at least 50-75 xbox 360's. That is horrible!!!

[chrkeller]

My original xbox died within 18 months. And yes it is a very big deal, products shouldn't just die, sad to see Microsoft has convinced some people otherwise. Also 4 years is good lifetime for a DVD drive is the dumbest thing I have ever read on the internet, there is no reason why a DVD drive shouldn't last at least 10 years. In fact I have some old DVD players I have passed onto family that work just fine that are pushing 10 years. Perhaps the most absurd thing in Leraianis post is any console can die... seriously, sure there is always going to be a certain amount of failure with hardware, such as below 10%. The 360 is up around 33%, it is failing 3-4 times more than the competition is, that isn't acceptable. The 360 does not have a typical failure rate, it is well beyond anything we have seen before. Failing hardware isn't acceptable, thinking otherwise is being a poor consumer.

[make_or_break]

chrkeller: well ALL products DO die. Anything made by people is automatically imperfect, especially when it comes down to how cheaply circuitry is done these days. You want affordable? Well there's a price to pay for being cheap. I'm just thankful that it doesn't happen more often. And I'd rather have it happen to an electronic gadget than say, any of our cars...or the refrigerator or furnace...it still stings the wallet but it's always cheaper than the trip to the service department down at the car store or a service call from the appliance guy.

Certainly we don't want any of our gear to crap out if only to get the most bang for our bucks, but that's life. When it comes to consoles, my VERY early-run 360 is still running pretty strong (knock wood) w/ no sign of RROD, yet my barely 2 yr old MGS4 bundled 80GB PS3 is on life support. My original Xbox was still working the last time I booted it up (about 4-5 months ago), but my *2ND* PS2 was in the crapper, totally refusing to boot (gee, where have I seen this before? OH YEAH...with my FIRST PS2!!!). And don't get me started on my Wii. Because of the lack of games that appeal to me I've rarely used the thing, but a while back I rudely discovered that its optical drive no longer will READ when the unit is oriented in the horizontal position, which for its first 3-4 months was exactly how I had set up the Wii before switching to the vertical orientation when I redid my gaming area. But conversely, my trusty old Gamecube is still running strong (booted up a couple of days ago).

I'm not hard on my gear, yet "stuff" still happens. It's not that I actually LIKE Microsoft, but occasionally we get lucky and find that examples of their products DO work. And (gasp), there's no brainwashing involved. Imagine that...

[Renegade Knight]

Agreed. My Xbox died and the 360 wasn't backwards compatible. I had just splurged on a lot of Xbox games that I ended up having to get rid of. A recent RROD issue and well, I haven't bought an Xbox game in some time. My money goes to the PS3.

[chrkeller]

As mentioned earlier, I accept hardware failing in the 3-5% range, maybe even close to 10%. The xbox 360 has been well documented, it fails at 33% rate if not higher. Sorry but that is far too high. I will not throw my money towards a company that cannot produce a reasonable failure rate. Having 1 out of every 3 xbox consoles fail isn't acceptable. Comparing the 360 failure rate to any other console in the history of gaming is fanboyish at best, apples and oranges. The xbox 360 is so far beyond the typical failure rate it isn't even funny. I will be avoiding Microsoft, I work hard for my money and only support products with acceptable reliability.

[steve5200]

Lerianis3, Do you work hard for your money? I know I do, and I expect my purchases (especially major ones costing several hundred dollars) to last for a while. A 50% success rate is unacceptable and flat out abysmal. I wish I owned a widget factory and had a customer base of thousands of people just like you so that I could pump out cheap garbage and make huge profits and have people coming back for more. I'm guessing you are maybe a younger person and your folks buy everything you want.

[juventus88]

Nobody will ever be able to get through to the xbots who support M$ to the death. Its pretty sad when xbox owners point fingers away from the xbox. Im glad some of you have had playstations fail, but in the 10 years the PS2 has been out I can get you at least 10 original PS2s that still work and still play DVDs, from friends alone. Never once have I had a PS2 fail on me sans the one that fell from a mantle. At the end of the day, you wont hear anything about a Sony or Nintendo failing, bc it doesnt happen that often and when it does happen its overlooked bc xbox's horrific, i mean customer appreciative failure rate. And too this day the only people that talk down on Sony or Nintendo are Xbox owners, Ive yet to meet one person who has a PS3 or Wii talk down on the other, probably bc of that Unix software that Apple uses so well......its funny how in real life a Unix based OS doesnt fail that often, but when people bring up Windows/Vista/M$ ppl laugh or cry...based on a real business scenario, a company that cares about its consumers doesnt make a large profit, due to the reinvestment of funds into bettering the soft/hardware.....Bill Gates is rich because he doesnt care, if he or M$ cared, they would have next to no money after fixing all their mess ups. Long live M$ hahaha its a pun in itself.

[bfloater162]

I will buy one the day it comes out.

[bobbyfly16]

Aren't the game sales dropping because no new games haven't been coming out? Just watch, they'll go up in the fall when they start to release new games like they always do.

[skinnysimmons]

i would pay almost any amount for a zen sony handheld, but if Microsoft is willing to do it first i will bite. then maybe 3 years down the road when sony gets one put together ill get that.

[santellan17585]

In order for a device like this to be a success, it would not neccessarily need Xbox-Like visuals. Give me at least the capabilities of the Sega Dreamcast and you have a winner here. As for features, a browser would be nice, direct connectivity to Xbox Live, ability to play XBLA games, maybe have XNA Studio be compatible with it for hopeful indie devs, and new titles exclusive to the new device based on popular Xbox/Xbox360 titles.

[captainbudget]

Personally, if it had the capability to download and play Live arcade games and xbox originals that would probably be more than enough for me. I like the notion of playing something like Portal or Castle Crashers on the go (maybe use built in wi-fi for multiplayer). MS could easily allow your profile to be shared between the console and handheld for game syncing / management as well as Netflix streaming for on the go.

I don't necessarily think a whole new platform needs to be created with a new catalog of games like the PSP, I would be happy being able to play the stuff I already purchased without having to shell out more money for something that can only be played on a tiny screen.

[nathan_addicted_to_cnet]

been looking for this since 2006

[dirty305boi]

id buy it but id hope to be able to play all the games ive already downloaded...also it should come with alot of internal memory and an option for external memory...the original graphics would be fine....wi-fi would be nice and internet access....some way to plug it to the xbox360 to transfer info if that would be needed...Ohhh and i hope it still has the triggers even if they make em smaller...

[tienkou]

I think MS should stay out of the hand held realm for a while. There's nothing new there, unless they can make an unprecedented graphic improvement. I don't want to play some tiny version of the same game I have on my 360 already.

And as far as the RRoD I had it once and only once and MS replaced it quickly no questions asked. Then the replacement had a faulty DVD drive and scratched up my Conan. They replaced the unit and gave me a $49 voucher (I still had the receipt and had the game only 3 days). I haven't had any issues since, the unit they sent was brand new.

So don't bash MS so much, If you go buy #s they have more so it makes mistakes look larger in comparison. ie 10% * 1,000,000 = 100,000 * 10% = 10000

As far as the 360 they got lucky Sony messed up and they lost developer favor. Now I would trade my 360 for anything - until it blows up. I would take a portable from MS only after a year of proving itself.

[bmason1270]

tienkou You're a blind fanboy.

"So don't bash MS so much, If you go buy #s they have more so it makes mistakes look larger in comparison. ie 10% * 1,000,000 = 100,000 * 10% = 10000"

The xbox failure rate is 30%. As of 2008 there were 10,000,000 xbox 360s sold. That is 3 Million that failed. Or 1 in 3. Not 1 in 10.

In your case your failure rate was 2 out of 3 but don't bash MS because they "replaced it quickly" LOL

[chrkeller]

bmason is exactly right. The failure rate is around 30%, far too high no matter how you slice it.

[thegreenmenace]

I think the Xbox 360 should have a web browser, ya! and an irobot vacuum, and a urinal and a french press and a skype app, ya!

[agriffith96]

I have no interest in a PSP like Xbox handheld. I would rather see them us the Zune to be the portable gaming device for the Xbox 360. It would just make more sense. Apple is doing well with their iPhone games.

[toddybody]

Uhh..are you really going to cite the wii as a hardware aspiration?

[JKsolstice]

Honestly, I think the portable space is the biggest opportunity for developers to create new gaming experiences given the right hardware. It's all about modes of imput and control. If Microsoft were ahead of the curve, it could incorporate all of the various tried and true modes of imput into a convergience device- Read: resistive touch screen for stylus control, good dpad/buttons for traditional gaming, 2 analog sticks for shooters (stylus control optional), and a tilt sensor. Of course, integrated wifi with a decent browser, and a mic that could be used for VoiP and games would probably be in there too. Such a device is well within the realm of current technology, and would provide a good developer with pretty much every tool they could need to create a compelling portable experience. I've always been a portable gamer, and given the success of the current portable market, it's disappointing to see the big companies resting on their laurels and rehashing new versions of 6 yr old hardware.