Microsoft cuts the Windows 11 bloat for Xbox handhelds

Microsoft just demonstrated it can put Windows 11 on a diet if it really wants to, with the announcement of PC gaming handhelds running a slimmed-down version of the operating system under the hood.

Each new version of Windows has piled on features – often unwanted – slowing down even the most powerful PCs compared to the days when it ran in megabytes.

At an Xbox event, Microsoft unveiled a pair of handhelds, built in partnership with ASUS: the Xbox Ally and Xbox Ally X.

While enthusiasts will debate specification differences between these handhelds and others, such as the Steam Deck, of most interest to Windows 11 users is that the devices can jettison unnecessary parts of the OS to enhance the gaming experience.

In a briefing reported by The Verge, Jason Beaumont, vice president of experiences at Xbox, said: "When the player boots into the full-screen experience, there is a whole ...