Microsoft just made every Steam Deck clone a little bit better

Microsoft is dipping its toes into the conversation around the Steam Deck and its growing roster of rivals with a new update for the Xbox app on Windows.

Devices like the ROG Ally and the Lenovo Legion Go have their individual strengths, they all share a weakness in that none can offer the seamless end-to-end gaming experience of Valve's handheld. The one player in the gaming space that can change that is Microsoft since it sits in the unique position of being able to change and improve the operating system that powers all of these handheld PCs.

Microsoft is said to have been internally testing a more compact version of Windows for a while now. There's no word on whether or if that'll ever make its way to consumers, but in the meantime, the company is looking to roll out a trimmed-down take on the Xbox app for Windows PCs. The new Compact mode layout ditches a full-size sidebar in favour of a drawer of icons.

The pitch here is that Compact mode will offer a more intuitive user experience on Windows devices with smaller screens like the Ayaneo, ROG Ally and Legion Go.

In a blog post announcing the feature, Microsoft's senior product manager for Xbox experiences Dominique Gordon said that the company would be partnering with ASUS and other manufacturers to ensure that Compact mode is enabled by default on handheld devices.

Compact mode won't solve every software-related pain point for devices like the ones mentioned above but it's a solid start. More than that, it's a possible sign that Microsoft may have its own ambitions for the category.

A Compact mode for the Xbox app might be an easy win for the Windows ecosystem, but the idea that it could be the first step towards Microsoft stepping into the game with its own take on the Steam Deck isn't as crazy as it once was.