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Rumors that the next Xbox will use Windows at its core are recirculating, and while the information isn't new, it's still making me twitchy. The chatter about Microsoft's controversial operating system making its way to next-gen home consoles comes off the back of a long weekend trying to get Fallout: New Vegas running smoothly on ROG Xbox Ally X and, spoilers, frame rates are far more stable on the Steam Deck OLED than the $1,000 portable PC.
Again, this is technically an old next-gen Xbox leak, but if you're having issues with one of the best gaming handheld options running Microsoft's OS right now, it's still relevant. The recycled conversations come courtesy of Windows Central in the form of an "everything we know so far" article that doubles down on the Series X successor being "essentially a Windows 11 gaming PC".
That in itself is a bit vague, but the idea is that the next Xbox will use a "TV-first console-like interface" that's potentially similar to the Full Screen Experience that debuted with the ROG Xbox Ally. Effectively, you'll be sent by a console-like interface by default with quick access to your games, library, and settings using a controller, but Windows will be bubbling below the surface alongside a desktop mode.
Look, I'm not completely against the idea of hardware with PC compatibility, and there are plenty of reasons I'd point you all towards Windows 11 handhelds like the MSI Claw 8 AI+, Lenovo Legion Go S, and ROG Xbox Ally X. However, while the latter does represent what's possible if you mix console comfort with wide application and storefront support, it comes with all the quirks and nonsense that desktop players have to deal with, and the list is growing with every update.
I should point out that there are issues relating to the latest Windows update (KB5074105) that are causing stuttering on even the best gaming PCs, as even RTX 5090 owners are complaining about fps drops over at Nvidia. However, before we even get to the chaos that can be caused by Microsoft's nonsense, I want to tell you about my rough experience playing Fallout New Vegas on the ROG Ally X for the millionth time off the back of the Season 2 TV show finale.
Before you start furiously typing, I am aware that New Vegas has always been a bit nuclear on Windows. I am well versed with applying patches to deal with the weird 64fps frame rate cap, making the game aware that more than 4GB RAM exists, and even switching out DirectX 9 for Vulkan. You can fetch all of those tweaks from Nexusmods, but despite my best efforts, I couldn't get the shooter to run anywhere near as well as on Steam Deck.
Don't get me wrong, quite a few of my benchmarks averaged out at around 60fps on the ROG Ally X. That sounds reasonable, but pales when you compare it to the solid 90fps I was largely able to hit at 800p on the Steam Deck OLED with the same settings applied, and I suspect Windows is at least partially to blame.
For starters, switching the screen and game resolution to 900p to better match the Steam Deck failed to boost fps at all, which is just plain weird. I've no idea why the change doesn't result in even a minor performance increase, but it felt like the frame rates were frequently dropping to around 60 and below. To make matters worse, I couldn't get AMD's Fluid Motion Frames tech to lend a helping hand, which could suggest the Vulkan patches aren't working correctly.
Now, let's pretend I somehow managed to mess up one of the above performance mods. In that instance, you could put this down to user error, but I reckon you should ask yourself whether so much intervention should be required to get a game from 2010 running over 60fps in the first place. By opting to use Windows, this is what casual console players may have to deal with in the next generation, whereas the hands-off, smooth results provided by Valve's handheld suggest Steam Machine owners will have an easier time.
I unfortunately ran into plenty of other smaller issues while playing New Vegas on the ROG Xbox Ally X that tie specifically to the Full Screen Experience and gamepad support. For whatever reason, the built-in controls would occasionally decide to stop working, leading to a lot of faff closing and re-opening tabs. Whether that was a quirk linked to the shooter's original 360 gamepad support and how the OS communicates with that is unknown, but it did serve as a reminder that I was using a Windows PC.
I could go on a rant about every little thing that bugged me while trying to traverse the Mojave Wasteland, but every gripe links back to the current state of Windows 11. I do think the Full Screen Experience is a big step in the right direction, and being able to play games across all storefronts is something that will draw Xbox fans in. If the approach is used with whatever is after the Series X, though, Microsoft will need to consider making an entirely fresh version of its operating system with less bloat, solid gamepad support, and an approach to drivers that can provide the same results as the Steam Deck, where needed.
Perhaps Xbox Ally X players really are in a guinea pig scenario ahead of the next-gen console, which could mean we'll get a very specific version of Windows by the time the Series X arrives. Ultimately, Microsoft would have to eliminate all the drawbacks of the current iteration and iron out any background desktop nonsense that could hamper fps, while making the experience feel indistinguishable from a console, and honestly? It feels like that's a big ask, considering even casually using a PC right now is a nightmare.
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