Microsoft Is Reportedly Working on Steam Integration for Xbox

The latest rumors suggest the Xbox ecosystem could receive Steam integration to allow users to download all their games using one platform.

Rumors of a possible Steam integration in the Xbox app have been swirling for a while, but there wasn’t any concrete information about it. However, a gaming industry leaker, eXtas1s, has revealed via his YouTube podcast that Xbox + Steam is a real thing and that Microsoft is moving ahead with this idea of integration. This rumor aligns with previous industry reports suggesting that the next-gen Xbox will be more like a PC than a console, so the idea of Steam working inside an Xbox certainly makes sense.

Also, given eXtas1s’ excellent track record of providing accurate leaks, this rumor does hold some weight. In this article, we will analyze what an Xbox + Steam integration could mean for the gaming industry and discuss the kind of impact it could have on the handheld market, which has grown rapidly in the last few years.

Note: Some aspects of this article are subjective and reflect the writer’s opinion.

Microsoft Is Reportedly Testing Steam Integration for Xbox and Xbox App on PC

Steam has a large library of games (Image via Steam)

Microsoft is reportedly working on and testing a possible Steam integration for the Xbox ecosystem. According to eXtas1s, a version of Steam integration in Xbox has been developed, which appears as “Steam Developers Beta” on an Xbox console, but only for certain employees working on this project.

Microsoft has always wanted to develop a seamless ecosystem between all of its Xbox devices and PC, and with Steam integration, it is certainly possible. Therefore, this Steam integration could also be on the Xbox app on PC or directly via the Microsoft Store, but it’s too early to confirm. Also, with Steam integration, it is possible that Xbox console users will gain access to some titles that never launched on the console. There’s certainly a huge potential.

However, it is also possible that only the next-gen Xbox console could actually do this due to the potential limitations of the current-gen hardware.

Xbox App and Steam Integration’s Impact on Handhelds

It’s no secret that Microsoft is probably working on some sort of handheld device. The success of Steam Deck and ROG Ally has gotten Microsoft really interested in the handheld market. In fact, Phil Spencer, CEO of Microsoft Gaming, has openly shown his interest and enthusiasm for a handheld gaming device when speaking to some media outlets in 2024.

However, he signaled that such a device is “years away.” Therefore, Xbox is probably working on such a device, and integration of Steam on Windows via the Xbox app would certainly make it a worthy competitor to a Steam Deck or ROG Ally. Nonetheless, as Phil mentioned, a handheld is years away, but that won’t stop leakers from revealing more details about it, so stay tuned to learn more.

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