Handheld gaming devices have surged in popularity, with manufacturers racing to introduce Windows-powered alternatives to the Steam Deck. But while these devices are gaining traction, Windows 11 often feels less than ideal for low-power gaming handhelds, leading to performance frustrations for users. Fortunately, Microsoft is addressing these issues with new features tailored for gaming devices.
In its latest Windows Insider build (22631.4387), Microsoft has rolled out a “gamepad keyboard”, a feature designed to make typing on portable gaming devices easier and faster using Xbox-standard controllers. Devices like the ROG Ally X and Lenovo Legion Go benefit from this improvement, which remaps hardware buttons to functions like backspace (X) and spacebar (Y) and provides a grid-based keyboard layout optimized for thumbstick and D-pad navigation.
Along with this, Microsoft is introducing an option to remap the Copilot key on newer laptops and has added minor bug fixes and improvements to enhance user experience.
Despite the excitement surrounding these Windows-based gaming devices, Windows 11 still poses challenges for users and game developers, often resulting in performance drops. This is why Valve’s Steam Deck, running on Linux-based SteamOS, continues to be a standout in the handheld gaming space. Many users have begun experimenting with SteamOS derivatives to improve the performance of their Windows-based gaming devices, and there’s speculation that Valve may release an official version of SteamOS for devices like the ROG Ally, setting the stage for further competition in this rapidly growing market.