The Microsoft developer behind the recently surfaced Windows Handheld Mode took online to clarify the status of the newly leaked project. His insight arrived in direct response to a report that Microsoft is experimenting with a handheld gaming mode for Windows 11.
The April 13 leak came in the form of a video detailing a rough overview of an optimized Windows gaming experience for handheld PCs like the Steam Deck. The two-minute clip and its accompanying project were both created during an internal Microsoft hackathon in September 2022.
In a subsequent update, Reddit user AndrewMT identified himself as the original creator of the experimental feature, pointing to a 7-month-old post wherein he publicly asked for user feedback on that exact idea. Apart from this confirmation that the newly leaked video doesn't exactly detail a top-secret functionality, the developer also noted that the project itself "didn't go much of anywhere." That turn of events largely stemmed from the fact that a proper implementation of a Windows 11 handheld gaming mode was well outside the scope of the 2022 hackathon. Moreover, "the right engineers" simply weren't available at the time, the engineer explained.
That's not to say the project didn't make any waves at the company. Its creator noted that Microsoft Gaming CEO Phil Spencer personally tried facilitating future development by connecting him with some staffers "that could help," presumably due to their Windows 11-specific expertise. However, everyone was preoccupied at the time, so the endeavor itself kind of fizzled out, as per this first-hand account. The Microsoft developer said he's still hoping to see his idea through, speculating that perhaps this news cycle spotlight might help him re-pitch Windows Handheld Mode to Microsoft.
Many of today's best portable gaming consoles are capable of running Windows, and the overall handheld PC market is on the rise, not least because of Valve's success with the Steam Deck. Given that state of affairs, Microsoft seems to be facing growing incentives to complete the official Windows Handheld Mode project.
The challenges in offering a proper portable gaming experience on Windows 11 handhelds largely stem from the fact that the operating system simply wasn't designed for controllers or touch screens. The latter part is somewhat ironic, given how Microsoft was rather aggressive in pushing a touch-friendly OS around a decade ago. Yet the 2012 debut of Windows 8 and its tile-heavy UI proved to be rather polarizing, with Microsoft toning down that design philosophy for its subsequent OS releases.