Xbox's full-screen gameplay revealed on Asus ROG Ally, sparking anticipation for its desktop PC application
In the ever-evolving world of gaming, two significant players are making waves - Valve's SteamOS and Microsoft's upcoming Xbox Full-Screen Experience.
Valve's work on SteamOS's user interface has positively impacted the gaming experience on devices like the Steam Deck and Lenovo Legion Go S. The smoothness and efficiency of SteamOS have been particularly noticeable on these devices, setting a high bar for competitors.
Microsoft's new Xbox Full-Screen Experience, set to launch in 2026, aims to challenge SteamOS's dominance. Starting with the Asus ROG Ally series in October 2025, the new experience will be available, with the Lenovo Legion Go Gen 2 handheld device following suit in spring 2026.
However, Microsoft has a ways to go to catch up to SteamOS. The Xbox Full-Screen Experience will initially be available on fewer devices, with other handhelds not seeing the update until 2026. In contrast, SteamOS currently has official support only for the Steam Deck and Lenovo Legion Go S.
One area where Microsoft's new offering seems to shine is resource consumption. The full-screen experience has decreased the number of background services, leading to much lower resource consumption. This results in performance boosts compared to Windows 11's desktop mode, as demonstrated in games like Shadow of the Tomb Raider, where the full-screen experience achieved a 38fps average compared to Windows 11's 29fps average.
Nvidia hardware users, who have reported issues with SteamOS in game mode, are looking forward to the full-screen experience as an alternative on the desktop side.
The Lenovo Legion Go S, running on an official SteamOS license, currently offers a superior user experience compared to Microsoft's full-screen experience, which is not yet officially available.
Meanwhile, the ROG Xbox Ally, with its potential to become one of the best handheld gaming PCs, is set to be a new contender in the market. However, Bazzite, a SteamOS clone, is available on a wider variety of handhelds and desktop gaming PCs, giving it a broader user base.
Plenty of work needs to be done for Microsoft's full-screen experience to catch up to SteamOS. But with consistent updates and support, as Microsoft has promised, it's a race worth watching.
