Podcast Summary: Hands-On Windows 168 – Windows 11 Meets Xbox

Podcast: All TWiT.tv Shows (Audio)
Episode: Hands-On Windows 168: Windows 11 Meets Xbox
Host: Paul Thurott
Date: December 4, 2025

Episode Overview

This special episode dives deep into Microsoft’s new vision for the Xbox platform—bringing the console experience directly onto PC-based handheld gaming devices powered by Windows 11. Paul Thurott offers a walk-through of this “full screen Xbox experience” using a Lenovo Legion Go 2, details its features, and discusses what it means for the future of gaming hardware and the Xbox ecosystem.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Evolution of Xbox as a PC-Based Platform

• Microsoft is pivoting future Xbox consoles towards PC-based hardware running a optimized version of Windows 11.
• Quote:

  “It seems like the next generation of the consoles is going to be PC based, right? And actual PCs, meaning...”
  —Paul Thurott [01:56]

2. Hands-On with the Lenovo Legion Go 2

• The host demonstrates the new Xbox experience on the Legion Go 2, a handheld gaming PC similar to the Asus ROG Ally but larger.
• Hardware specs: AMD Zen 5, 16 or 32GB RAM, 1920x1200 display, USB ports, integrated controller halves, and a trackpad for PC tasks.
• Note on Battery Life:

  “Battery life, I would say is not great. We're probably looking at about somewhere between two and three hours on average.”
  —Paul Thurott [04:36]

3. Full Screen Xbox App Experience on Windows 11

• The device boots directly into a revamped Xbox app (instead of the usual Windows desktop), tailored for handhelds.

• Users can choose between the full screen Xbox experience or reverting to the standard Windows mode.

• Features Highlighted:

  • Full controller navigation (almost no need for a keyboard/mouse)
  • “Task View” works via controller button combos, similar to Windows 11’s multitasking
  • Quick access to user’s entire Xbox Game Pass library, recently played games, and other PC game launchers (Steam, Epic, Battle.net etc.).

• Quote:

  “So it's not limited just to the games you get through Microsoft. So that's, that's pretty cool.”
  —Paul Thurott [07:17]

4. Game Bar & Widgets

• Game Bar overlay is integrated, providing access to volume, capture (screenshots/video), performance metrics, and power/network/Bluetooth controls without leaving the Xbox environment.
• Widgets include Game Assist (Edge browser for game help), social features, and the new “Gaming Copilot”—an AI helper that proactively offers tips during gameplay.
• Quote:

  “Gaming copilot. This is brand new. ... If it recognizes the game that you're playing...it would say, hey, I see that you're playing Call of Duty. I see you're, you know, having a hard time at this part of the level. Do you need some help getting through here?”
  —Paul Thurott [08:36]

5. Performance Observations

• Example: Call of Duty typically achieves 50–75 fps at 1920x1200.
• Non-native resolutions or running screen recording may affect performance.
• Quote:

  “So I'm looking, I can sort of see one of the things I did use that interface for was to get it to display the frames per second and then the latency ... actually I can see now it seems like it's recovered a little bit.”
  —Paul Thurott [14:13]

6. Lenovo-Specific Features

• Removable controllers—can use as separate devices, including a “first person shooter mouse” mode.
• Customizable extra buttons, including mapping the Xbox home button.
• Quote:

  “Those controllers are removable. And so you could play them, you know, play with them detached like you might with a Nintendo Switch, which I would never do because I'm an adult.”
  —Paul Thurott [15:34]

7. Windows and Dialog Handling

• The full-screen mode aims for 100% controller-driven Windows usage; file dialogs and system prompts now appear in a way that can be controlled (mostly) via controller.
• Quote:

  “One of the things that Microsoft's trying to solve here is that windows should be 100% controllable or as close to 100% as possible with a controller. In my experience, I have to say—they’ve pretty much achieved that.”
  —Paul Thurott [18:09]

8. Battery Life & Platform Viability

• Intense AAA games like Call of Duty drain the battery in 2–2.5h; less demanding games may reach 3h.
• In comparison to Steam OS/Linux-based handhelds, Windows 11 offers near-universal game compatibility, especially for games requiring anti-cheat.
• Quote:

  “You're not going to go on a cross country flight and play Call of Duty for five hours. Sorry, it's not going to work that way.”
  —Paul Thurott [20:45]

9. The Future of Xbox Hardware

• The host predicts this hybrid Windows/Xbox model is the template for future Xbox consoles.
• Allows a “best of both worlds” scenario: PC flexibility and Xbox’s curated experience.
• Quote:

  “I think this points the way to the future and I think this is what future Xbox consoles are going to look like too.”
  —Paul Thurott [21:53]

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “This is the new home experience. You can run Windows apps in this full screen experience.”
  —Paul Thurott [05:04]

• “If anyone who's been in the Microsoft ecosystem for a long time, if you go back 20 years plus, you might have used Media center or Tablet PC Edition…”
  —Paul Thurott [17:14]
  (Nostalgic comparison to past Windows overlays)

• On the new controller-driven Windows UI:

  “Everything is full screen. And so even if there's a dialog box, you're still going to be able to access it with the controller.”
  —Paul Thurott [18:21]

• Humorous moment on removable controllers:

  “Which I would never do because I'm an adult.”
  —Paul Thurott [15:43]

Important Timestamps

• 01:56 — Introduction to Xbox’s PC-based future and today’s demo device
• 03:00 — Overview of Legion Go 2 hardware and differences from Asus ROG Ally
• 04:36 — Honest assessment of battery life
• 05:04 — Boot and navigation through full screen Xbox experience
• 06:30 — Running third-party game stores (Steam, Epic, Battle.net) within the Xbox app
• 07:30 — Explanation of Game Bar, widgets, and new “Gaming Copilot”
• 09:30 — System performance monitoring (RAM, CPU, FPS)
• 13:23 — Real-life gameplay: Call of Duty performance test (50-75fps)
• 15:34 — Description and function of removable controllers
• 17:14 — Comparison to historic Windows “Media Center” overlay
• 18:09 — Commentary on controller-driven navigation and dialog boxes
• 20:45 — Battery life realities for modern AAA games
• 21:53 — Host’s outlook for the future of Xbox consoles

Conclusion

Paul Thurott’s hands-on walk-through demonstrates that the line between Xbox and PC gaming is blurring, with the new Xbox full-screen experience atop Windows 11 creating a versatile gaming environment. While battery life remains a challenge, the seamless controller integration, cross-platform compatibility, and robust performance suggest a promising future—perhaps foreshadowing how the next generation of Xbox consoles will work. The episode offers a detailed, real-world perspective for tech and gaming enthusiasts interested in the direction of gaming hardware.