Summary

• Windows needs to improve power management and battery life for gaming handhelds.
• Streamlining drivers and simplifying update processes is essential for a better experience.
• A more touch-friendly and controller-compatible UI is crucial for Windows gaming handhelds' success.

PC gaming handhelds have experienced a massive surge in popularity since the of the Steam Deck in early 2022, but if there's one thing that's become painfully obvious, it's that Windows is not really cut out for this kind of form factor. The OS simply isn't optimized for small screen devices the way SteamOS is, and that's true in more ways than one.

Recently, I even tried installing a SteamOS clone on a Windows gaming handheld I had lying around, and it became that much clearer that Windows needs to improve. So here are just a few things that WIndows needs to change if it wants to offer a better handheld experience that can actually compete with the Steam Deck.

6 Improved power management

Battery life on Windows isn't great

One of the many problems with Windows is that it's a very complex and heavy operating system, and that can impact not only performance, but also the battery life of a gaming handheld. Windows does have Game Mode, which reduces background tasks while playing a game, but things would be better if Windows itself was just a bit lighter on resources overall. Even when you're in the menus, it shouldn't have as many things running as it does.

Windows on gaming handhelds should be more akin to the Xbox interface. Not only in terms of UI, but in terms of the features that are actually present that aren't really necessary. The Xbox consoles have a much more focused and streamlined operating system, even though it's still based on Windows at its core. And Windows 11 is known for some annoying issues, like the inability to properly go to sleep when it should, or to stay in sleep or hibernation mode consistently. A dedicated experience tailor made for portable devices could really go a long way in ensuring these portable gaming PCs are more portable.

5 Streamlined drivers

Driver issues always cause problems

A big problem with Windows-based devices is how troublesome driver updates can be. Every PC manufacturer likes to have their own approved drivers for their specific hardware, but usually there are also generic drivers provided by AMD (or other companies), which make the process of updating drivers a bit more complicated. And that's to say nothing of the fact that some drivers come through Windows Update, while others are only available through dedicated driver software.

Streamlining and simplifying the driver experience would help Windows-based gaming handhelds offer a more consistent experience with fewer compatibility issues across different devices. It's probably preferrable to have fewer driver updates than to release a new driver with every game release that potentially doesn't get as much testing.

4 A more touch-friendly desktop UI

Windows just isn't there yet

With a gaming handheld, I believe users should spend as little time as possible on the desktop (more on that later), but when you do have to use it, that experience should still feel smooth and fast. When I installed Bazzite on a Windows gaming handheld, one of the nice things I noticed was just how much smoother the desktop experience felt when I did need to use it. Everything was super snappy and responsive, and it felt like it was meant to be used with a touch screen all along.

Windows has a smoothness issue that I think really takes away from the experience. Whenever you use touch on Windows, it feels like you're kind of making do. The UI feels somewhat slow compared to how quickly you can move your fingers, and it almost doesn't feel designed for it. Using Bazzite, it really felt much better, closer to how using a phone feels. Experiences need to be properly optimized for touch support if we want that experience to feel natural.

3 A dedicated setup experience

Setting up a Windows PC is not fun

One of the cool little things about Bazzite is that the first time launch into the desktop, it proactively tried to help me set up the things I might need. It offered to install emulators and all kinds of tools that can help make the most out of the gaming experience. Windows should absolutely do something similar.

In addition to the basic setup experience that's already used for Windows 11 (frankly, this should be changed too, but that's neither here nor there), Windows should offer users options for platforms to install on your handheld. Simply have a menu with options like Steam, Epic Games Store, Ubisoft Connect, and so on, and let users choose what to get. Including emulators may lead to some legal issues, so I won't necessarily push for this, but at the very least have the legitimate game stores available out of the box. Then, you can include things like tools for performance monitoring (Game Bar already does this but a more advanced version would be good), common dependencies for games, or other things like that.

This would make the experience so much easier for users, and it would be a step in the right direction.

2 Better power and performance management

Stop relying on third-party solutions

Another big problem with Windows right now is that it just doesn't offer performance settings the way it should. All you get in Windows is different power modes in the Settings app, which are frustratingly limited in the degree of control you have, on top of being confusing, since there are also power plans available in Control Panel. However, none of these options provides proper options to limit the power used by your system. Instead, PC manufacturers have to come up with their own solutions for it, and the implementation is dependent on each company.

One of the cool things I saw in Bazzite was called HHD, which let me set the TDP for my processor, despite not being designed for this specific hardware. It worked well, too, I could see the power consumption and performance change while applying a game after changing the settings. And something I didn't get to dive into was the ability to create different power profiles for different games, so if you're playing an old NES game in an emulator, you can extend the battery life that much more, while maximizing performance for games that need it.

Windows should have this kind of setting built in and give users more direct control over the performance of their games. Features like limiting the framerate of a game, image sharpening, and so on should also be built into Windows for a more consistent experience.

1 A proper gaming UI

Windows is not meant for controllers at all

I already mentioned touch support, but if Windows wants to be better for gaming handhelds, then most of all, it needs a UI that's designed to work with a controller. That means everything working properly with a controller. Sure, right now, Microsoft has already improved the Xbox app and the Game Bar to be better with handhelds, but this needs to go further. Steam OS just boots into the gaming UI each and every time, and it's perfect for use with a controller.

Windows doesn't do that. Instead, it boots to the desktop every time, and this UI responds to almost nothing from the controllers on a handheld. At best, you can launch the Game Bar, but even then, most handhelds don't have a proper Xbox button, they just have their own custom buttons to access specific features. Windows should have a handheld gaming mode just like Steam's Big Picture mode that lets you see all your games across different platforms and launch them easily, as well as change settings for them. In fact, all the important settings should be available in this unified gaming UI, just like SteamOS does.

Since many handhelds don't have a proper Xbox button, Windows should also have a button combination that can open this gaming UI/overlay at any given moment. Maybe pressing the View and Menu buttons at the same time could do the same as the Xbox button? I'm not sure any game would conflict with that, but it seems like a solid idea. As it stands, using a Windows gaming handheld is often a chore.

Windows will still be the most popular choice

Ultimately, no matter how much we can criticize Windows, it will keep being the most popular choice for manufacturers, simply because it's easily accessible, they're used to supporting it, and it's something people will recognize. Plus, it has the widest software support of any PC operating system, so it's still the best platform for gaming.

But I think all these issues hold back Windows from being a truly popular choice. It's just not a streamlined experience like a proper console, but it can't even match the Steam Deck in that regard. You may see a few people tell you it's fine and anyone can launch games from different stores easily, but when it comes down to it, most of the market wants an experience that doesn't feel like a hassle, and that will be reflected in the sales numbers for these devices.