Handheld Gaming
Ongoing coverage on Handheld Gaming.
Latest coverage
The Game Boy Pocket is now 30 years young, and I'd thank it for today's retro handhelds
The Game Boy Pocket, celebrating its 30th anniversary, is credited with refining the handheld gaming experience and influencing modern retro handhelds. Despite lacking a backlight, its improvements over the original Game Boy, such as a better screen and slimmer design, set a precedent for quality-of-life enhancements that continue to inspire devices like the Steam Deck and Anbernic's emulators.
Acer's Predator Atlas 8 pricing puts the nail in the handheld coffin for me: it is now a luxury market
Acer's new Predator Atlas 8 handheld gaming PCs, featuring Intel's latest chips, are priced between £1,000 and £1,500 (approximately $1,300 to $2,000), indicating a shift towards a luxury market for such devices. This high pricing is consistent with other recent releases like the MSI Claw 8 EX AI+ and makes the previously accessible handheld gaming PC market increasingly niche.
The new MSI Claw nails almost everything I could want from a handheld gaming PC
The MSI Claw 8 EX AI+ CG3EM is praised for its stellar gaming performance, excellent battery life, and comfortable design, powered by Intel's Arc G3 Extreme silicon. However, its prohibitively high price of $1,800 makes it a difficult recommendation for most consumers, positioning it as a luxury item rather than a practical handheld gaming PC.
Jokes aside, buying the $4,299 Ayaneo Next 2 would mean selling my car
The Ayaneo Next 2 flagship gaming handheld is launching with extremely high prices, ranging from $1,799.99 to $4,299. The article questions the value proposition of these premium handhelds, especially considering the rapid pace of hardware upgrades and the high cost of components. It suggests that such pricing might push the market towards cloud gaming solutions.
Ever wanted to play The Elder Scrolls: Morrowind on a dual-screen handheld? Well, now you can - if you don't mind putting in some legwork
A modification called OpenMW-DS allows players to experience The Elder Scrolls: Morrowind on a dual-screen handheld device, specifically the Android-based AYN Thor. This mod leverages the open-source OpenMW engine and requires a PC copy of the game. Separately, progress is being made on an actual Nintendo DS port, showcasing ambitious efforts to bring the classic RPG to older hardware.
LCD emulation could preserve a bunch of iconic Nintendo handhelds and their cursed rivals
The BrickEmuPy project aims to preserve classic handheld LCD games through emulation, having already archived over 60 titles including Nintendo's Mini Classics keychain games. This initiative seeks to maintain access to these older, often obscure, gaming devices as physical hardware degrades and the industry moves towards digital distribution.
That Lenovo cloud handheld lands this August, and an 120Hz display and TMR thumb sticks won't get me into streaming
Lenovo's cloud streaming handheld, the C700, is set to launch in August with a 7.82-inch 120Hz display and TMR thumbsticks. The device is primarily designed for Tencent's START cloud gaming service, raising concerns about game ownership and reliance on internet connectivity and subscriptions.
Retroid finally provides a closer look at its Pocket Nova handheld in action
Retroid has released new gameplay footage of its upcoming Pocket Nova retro handheld, showcasing its ability to run various classic games like F-Zero GX and God of War 2. The portable device features a 4:3 screen and is priced starting at $229, positioning it against competitors like the Anbernic RG Cube and Retroid's own Pocket 5.
Why I Bought the Lenovo Legion Go 2 (and Why It Was Worth Every Penny) – Geeky Sweetie
The author explains their decision to purchase the Lenovo Legion Go 2, a handheld gaming PC, despite its high price and the availability of cheaper alternatives. They emphasize that the device's detachable controllers and ergonomic design, which allow for more comfortable and flexible play sessions, make it the ideal device for their personal use, outweighing specifications and benchmarks.
Steam Deck OLED at $789: Should You Still Buy One in 2026?
Valve has significantly increased the prices of the Steam Deck OLED models, with the 512GB version now costing $789 and the 1TB version $949, reflecting global component cost challenges. This article explores whether the three-year-old handheld is still worth purchasing at these new flagship prices, considering alternatives like refurbished units, the used market, and competing devices, while also discussing the broader trend of rising prices in the handheld gaming market.
Discontinuing physical discs is one thing, but the PlayStation Portal already hints at Sony's worrying ambitions…
The article analyzes Sony's potential shift towards an all-digital and cloud-based future, using the PlayStation Portal as a key indicator of these ambitions. It discusses past attempts like the PSP Go and PlayStation TV, and contrasts Sony's physical-first approach with Valve's digital model, expressing concern over the potential loss of game ownership.
'Yes, that's Counter-Strike on a PSP!': Modder gets favorite PC FPS working on Sony's 22-year-old…
A modder named Yifeng Wang has successfully created a Counter-Strike clone, dubbed OpenStrike, that runs on the 22-year-old PlayStation Portable handheld. This proof-of-concept utilizes a custom Rust-based 3D engine and a JavaScript engine, achieving 60 FPS with a small RAM footprint. The mod also works on the PlayStation Vita and features all eight original Counter-Strike maps.
A Nintendo Switch 2 OLED model might be on the cards, but don't expect one any time soon
Rumors suggest Nintendo is considering a Nintendo Switch 2 model with an OLED display, potentially featuring a 1280x720 resolution screen supplied by Samsung. Mass production could begin as early as late 2027 or early 2028, though Nintendo has not made any official announcements. The article also mentions a confirmed Nintendo Switch 2 with a replaceable battery releasing in Europe next year.
Lenovo's Legion C700 cloud handheld feels like the wrong response to a worsening handheld price situation
Lenovo's new Legion C700 cloud handheld, designed for Tencent's START streaming service, is criticized as the wrong response to current handheld market conditions. The article argues that cloud streaming devices, like the Logitech G Cloud and PlayStation Portal, are not the solution to rising handheld prices, especially when compared to more versatile devices like the Ayn Odin 2 or Steam Deck. The author expresses concern that this trend could normalize streaming-only devices, which is undesirable for handheld enthusiasts.
Saturday Mobilization
The article suggests that handheld gaming PCs may be facing obsolescence, referencing a PC Gamer report. It also briefly mentions Samsung Display's launch of OBLYX technology.
Handheld gaming PCs are cooked
The market for handheld gaming PCs is facing significant challenges due to rising component prices, particularly memory. Devices like the ASUS ROG Ally and Steam Deck are becoming less affordable, with even budget options like the Steam Deck OLED seeing substantial price increases. This trend, coupled with the strong performance of consoles like the Nintendo Switch 2, suggests a potentially shrinking market for high-performance handheld gaming PCs, possibly relegating them to a niche for enthusiasts with deep pockets.
"This time, we pay tribute to a true icon" - Ayaneo teases the OG Game Boy Advance remake I've been…
Ayaneo has teased a new handheld device called the Konkr Pocket Advance, which appears to be a remake of the original Game Boy Advance. The company aims to pay tribute to the iconic 2001 handheld, focusing on its classic design and portable gaming experience. Details regarding price, availability, and exact specifications are still scarce, but fans are hoping for an affordable device that captures the essence of the original Game Boy Advance with modern enhancements.
Retroid Pocket 5 and Flip 2 are getting a spec bump, but will cost $10 more after July 14
The Retroid Pocket 5 and Retroid Pocket Flip 2 handheld devices are receiving a specification upgrade, which will result in a $10 price increase for both models after July 14. This update affects even older emulation-focused handhelds, indicating a trend of increased component costs.
BitmoLab's GameBaby Transparent Edition Turns iPhone 17 Pro Max into a Retro-Style Handheld
BitmoLab has launched the GameBaby Transparent Edition, a limited-edition case for the iPhone 17 Pro Max that transforms it into a retro-style handheld gaming device. This new version features a transparent shell, metal keycaps, and an ABXY button layout, enhancing compatibility with classic games and offering a tactile gaming experience without Bluetooth or charging. The case is available globally for $24.99, with only 500 units produced.
I went hands-on with the MSI Claw 8 EX AI+, and while it runs like a dream it may be too big even for the largest-handed…
The MSI Claw 8 EX AI+ offers impressive performance for games like F1 2025, but its large size may be a significant drawback even for users with large hands. While it boasts ergonomic improvements over previous models, the overall dimensions might make it uncomfortable for extended play sessions, potentially making alternatives like the Acer Predator Atlas 8 a better choice despite similar specs.
