Independent hardware developer UPspec Gaming is looking to shake up Microsoft's Xbox Series S by turning it into a semi-portable gaming console with its xScreen attachment. This new accessory would broaden the scope and utility of the incredibly successful Series S. The xScreen could become one of the first major third-party accessories to release for Microsoft's new console.
While competitors PlayStation and Nintendo have both released multiple handheld consoles over the years, Microsoft has never launched any official portable gaming devices in the Xbox hardware family. With no obvious plans to open the door to traditional on-the-go gaming anytime soon, many Xbox fans have been itching to play their favorite titles without being constrained by their home entertainment setup. Although Microsoft has made some steps in that direction with its xCloud game streaming for mobile, there may still be room in the market for more tactile and reliable mobile gaming options when it comes to enjoying Xbox titles.
Now, UPspec Gaming is volunteering itself to fill that market space with a short trailer for the xScreen attachment. A thirty-second video offers a closer look at the device, which seems to plug into the HDMI port of the Xbox Series S directly without needing a separate power supply. What appear to be two speakers on the top side of the device can also be seen, but the music-backed video doesn't provide any insight into their audio quality. The video also is framed around different scenarios, mainly social ones, when the xScreen could come in handy, calling to mind the marketing of the bestselling Nintendo Switch. UPspec Gaming has noted that the xScreen shown in the video is just a prototype, and a retail-ready model will be developed through a Kickstarter campaign launching in Summer 2021. [UPDATE 30/06/2021 10:30: The Kickstarter for the xScreen for Xbox Series S will begin on 7 July, 2021.]
For now, the short and simple trailer doesn't offer many specifics or much to look forward to ahead of the upcoming Kickstarter campaign. Without much information about the onboard audio or build quality of the xScreen, UPspec Gaming may find it difficult to build much enthusiasm for the new device in the weeks to come. As a new arrival in the gaming hardware landscape with no readily available products under its name, UPspec Gaming might also have trouble inspiring confidence from consumers, but perhaps the xScreen's Kickstarter launch will change that.
The popularity of proven handhelds on the market like the Nintendo Switch and the ongoing semiconductor shortage affecting Xbox Series X/S availability are other factors that work against the success of the xScreen. The decision to ostensibly make the attachment available exclusively for the Xbox Series S and not the Series X could also confuse customers, while also reducing the pool of potential investors and buyers. The xScreen could very well prove to be a fun and practical addition to some Xbox fans' tech collections, but with the possible roadblocks and the nascent rise of cloud gaming, there is a very good chance that the ambitious accessory could end up a short-lived novelty.
Source: UPspec Gaming