- Microsoft could be gearing up to bring up better support for handheld gaming devices.
- A leaked video shows an early concept of a new Handheld Mode for Windows 11.
- The new mode features a new game launcher UI and support for Steam Deck-like controllers and screens.
- The concept was born in a hackathon, but it s unclear if the company will bring it to market.
A new Windows 11 Handheld Mode interface that is tailored for portable gaming devices like Steam Deck is being tested by Microsoft. The business has an early concept of a new Windows 11 interface that is specifically made to satisfy the needs of portable devices to launch games and better support controllers and touchscreens, according to a new video that was leaked on Twitter by WalkingCat (@_h0x0d_).
The film was released from a Microsoft hackathon project that took place in September of last year. Employees get the chance to share ideas during this kind of event, which could lead to the shipment of a new product to consumers. Hackathon efforts, however, are not always successful.
The limitations of Windows 11 on portable devices, such as the Steam Deck, are described in the movie. Even though there are workarounds and drivers to run the operating system on these form factors, the system doesn’t understand the device, making it difficult to utilize a controller or touch. Moreover, there isn’t even a game launch UI in Windows 11.
The new Handheld Mode interface, which replaces the traditional desktop visuals to launch games from PC Game Pass, EA Play, Epic Games Store, Steam, and many more, is part of the concept created by Dorothy Feng, a senior UX designer at Microsoft. Additionally, a form-factor-optimized virtual keyboard is part of the enhanced gaming experience.
This isn’t a brand-new operating system variant, though. Rather, it’s a mode that the user may pin to the Taskbar and activate via the Settings app.
Additionally, the experience might provide a method for mapping the controller and switching between performance and power-saving modes.
The new floating Taskbar with rounded corners and a transparent bar at the top that shows the System tray icons and clock at the right, next to the profile menu, and a search box in the middle is an intriguing feature of the design. The company has previously hinted at these new visual elements, which are anticipated to be released as part of the new features for Windows 12.
Hayden McAfee, a senior software engineer at Microsoft, created a gaming interface for Windows 11 as part of the project. Additionally, the project team has been collaborating with another programmer who has created a solution that adds compatibility between the Steam Deck controllers and the operating system.
As a result, a new Handheld Mode experience was created, complete with the required drivers, functional controllers, and a launcher that resembles the Nintendo Switch and Steam Deck and makes it simple to launch games.
It’s intriguing that the firm might be preparing to make the required adjustments to enhance the Windows gaming experience on portable devices, even though it’s uncertain if the Handheld Mode will ever be shipped.