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GamesRadar
GamesRadar
Technology
Phil Hayton

Now that the Series S costs even more, I can't help but feel Microsoft wants us to look at handhelds and say, "this is an Xbox"

Phil Hayton holding Steam Deck OLED with Xbox logo on screen and plants in backdrop.

It might sound like the beginnings of a cheesy meme, but Microsoft's "this is an Xbox" strategy is now in full swing. Not only is the gaming giant pushing to transform its brand into a platform, but it has even just given players a reason to play Game Pass on gaming handhelds and other devices by increasing its console prices.

Ironically, by proclaiming that almost every internet-connected device is part of its ecosystem, Microsoft still has me asking, "What actually is an Xbox?" Yes, it's a console like the Series X or S that can run Microsoft's games natively, but at the same time, even if we ignore the idea of running the system's library using cloud shenanigans, I can install and run every new Xbox game on a handheld or a PC.

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