Microsoft is exploring options to customize Windows 11 for handheld PCs

Alleged footage of a Microsoft handheld gaming hackathon presentation has leaked. It shows that a team within the company has been working on a Windows 11 shell that should run well on handheld PCs such as the Steam Deck.

In the two videos, posted by @_h0x0d_, it can be seen that the prototype is a separate mode for the Windows desktop, similar to how the Steam Deck switches to the desktop from gaming mode. In addition, there is an extensive onboarding process in which the necessary drivers are installed and the prototype uses the taskbar for touchscreens, which was recently released. The interface also shows a selection menu for a standard launcher, with choices from Xbox, Steam, EA Play, Epic Games, Battle.net and itch.io.

In terms of controller support, Microsoft is emphasizing support for it in an on-screen keyboard, but it also talks about mapping controller keys to standard Windows functions, such as task manager.

The hackathon dates from September, as can be seen on the slides. Microsoft hasn’t announced anything, so nothing is certain yet. It is true that handheld PCs are gaining popularity and although the Steam Deck has its own SteamOS, there are also handhelds that come with a ‘regular’ Windows installation, at most with some adjustments from the manufacturer. Examples are the Aya Neo, ASUS ROG Ally and the Onexplayer.