In the world of console gaming, the battle between Microsoft’s Xbox and Sony’s PlayStation has been raging for decades. With each new generation of consoles, the stakes get higher, and the competition fiercer. But what if the key to Xbox’s future success lies not in the hands of Microsoft’s own engineers, but in the talented tinkering of a lone wolf modder?
Enter Redherring32, an X user who has managed to do what many thought impossible: create a fully functional portable original Xbox. And while this DIY marvel isn’t quite the next-gen handheld Xbox fans are clamoring for, it just might be the spark that ignites Microsoft’s entry into the portable gaming market.
A Portable Xbox Like No Other
When Redherring32 dropped the bombshell announcement on X, loyalists of the green team must’ve collectively lost their minds. And for good reason:
I built a portable Xbox.
This isn’t a PC handheld, it isn’t emulation, this is a real motherboard from a real Xbox. It has a 9” 480p display, pure digital video/audio, 100W USB C charge and play, and I’m currently adding WiFi 6 for wireless Xbox Live functionality.Yes, really. pic.twitter.com/yK7p0vPqUn
— Redherring32 (@redherring32) October 18, 2024
Let that sink in for a moment. While we’ve seen plenty of DIY portable consoles over the years, this is something entirely different. This mad genius has managed to cram an entire original Xbox into a handheld form factor, complete with modern amenities like USB-C charging and WiFi 6.
But what makes this project truly remarkable is the sheer amount of work and ingenuity that went into it. As Redherring32 explains:
I had to research Xbox motherboard trimming completely from scratch, a task that took me a bit over 4 months. Nobody had ever tried it before.
I wrote an Xbox trimming guide (That is publicly available!), and along the way I had to do reverse engineer nearly the entire board. pic.twitter.com/6TSf3EO1n6
— Redherring32 (@redherring32) October 18, 2024
That’s right – this wasn’t just a matter of shoving existing components into a smaller case. Redherring32 had to literally reinvent the wheel, trimming down the Xbox motherboard and designing custom PCBs to make everything fit. It’s the kind of project that would make even the most seasoned engineers at Microsoft break out in a cold sweat.
A Call to Arms for Microsoft
While the handheld market is currently dominated by the Nintendo Switch, with PC options like the Steam Deck and Asus ROG Ally gaining traction, Microsoft has yet to throw its hat into the ring. But with Redherring32’s project, the Redmond giant might just have stumbled upon its secret weapon.
Imagine if Microsoft were to bring this talented engineer on board and give them the resources to apply this ingenuity to a next-gen handheld version of the Xbox Series S. It could potentially leapfrog the competition and give Microsoft a foothold in a market they’ve long ignored.
Of course, there are still plenty of hurdles to overcome. As Redherring32 notes about their current project:
This build is a first of its kind.
At its heart is a trimmed original Xbox motherboard, enabling it to be fully compatible with the entire Xbox library with no exceptions. (Yes, even Steel Battalion if you have a controller)With this build what you see is what you get. pic.twitter.com/qdQlenvwza
— Redherring32 (@redherring32) October 18, 2024
While full compatibility with the original Xbox library is impressive, Microsoft would need to figure out how to make this concept work with modern Xbox games and services like Game Pass. But given the talent on display here, that doesn’t seem like an insurmountable challenge.
The best part? Redherring32 isn’t keeping this breakthrough to themselves:
Finally, everything will be fully open source in the coming weeks, you can find full source for all of the PCBs as they become available here: https://t.co/IgNe3uLlIM
And the Xbox trimming guide here:https://t.co/kEFxnmD5oF
And I am working on a short showcase video now. 🙂
— Redherring32 (@redherring32) October 18, 2024
This open-source approach could lead to a flood of innovation in the Xbox modding community. And who knows? Maybe it’ll even inspire Microsoft to finally take the plunge into handheld gaming, especially with rumors swirling about a potential Nintendo Switch 2 launch in 2025.
So, Microsoft, if you’re reading this – don’t let this opportunity slip through your fingers. Hire Redherring32 before Sony or Nintendo does, and give us the portable Xbox we never knew we needed. The ball’s in your court.
What do you think? Should Microsoft pursue this technology and develop a next-gen handheld Xbox? Let us know in the comments below!
