Handheld Gaming
Ongoing coverage on Handheld Gaming.
Latest coverage
Despite the significant price increase, the Steam Deck is already sold out in certain regions
Despite a significant price increase, the Steam Deck OLED has sold out in regions like the USA and Canada, indicating continued strong demand. While other handhelds like the Legion Go S and ASUS ROG Ally X offer more powerful hardware at comparable prices, the Steam Deck remains a top seller, though Valve notes intermittent stock issues due to component shortages.
Intel Arc G-Series processors announced for next-gen handheld gaming PCs
Intel has officially announced its new Intel Arc G-Series processors, designed for next-generation handheld gaming PCs. These processors, including the G3 and G3 Extreme, build upon the Intel Core Ultra Series 3 and feature Intel Arc B390 graphics. Hardware launches featuring these chips are expected in the coming months from manufacturers like Acer, MSI, and OneXPlayer.
Steam Deck prices just jumped up $300 and stock still sold out
Valve has significantly increased the prices of its Steam Deck OLED models, with the 1TB version now costing $949, a 46% jump. Despite these substantial price hikes, stock for the handheld has already sold out in some regions, indicating that price may not be a primary factor for consumers. The price increases are attributed to a surge in memory and semiconductor chip prices, largely driven by demand from AI data centers.
Valve Follows Switch 2, PS5 & Xbox With Major Steam Deck Price Hike
Valve has significantly increased the prices of its Steam Deck OLED models, with the 512GB version now costing $789 and the 1TB model at $949. This follows similar price adjustments by Nintendo for its Switch 2. The existing LCD Steam Deck models and refurbished units remain at their original prices.
Valve just hiked the 1TB Steam Deck OLED price to just under $1,000
Valve has quietly increased the price of the 1TB Steam Deck OLED model to $949/£779, a significant jump from its original MSRP. This price hike places it closer to premium handhelds like the ASUS ROG Ally X and raises concerns about future Valve hardware costs, potentially impacting the upcoming Steam Machine.
A rumoured Intel Nova Lake mobile chip that's 100% E-cores with a beefy iGPU would be great news for handhelds, if…
Rumors suggest Intel's upcoming Nova Lake mobile chips may feature an all-E-core design with a powerful integrated GPU, potentially benefiting handheld gaming PCs. However, the chip is reportedly intended for edge computing applications, and high DRAM prices could make such a handheld unfeasibly expensive.
Sony's PSP is back... as a crossbody bag at Zara
Retailer Zara has released a new crossbody bag designed to resemble Sony's original PlayStation Portable handheld console. This follows previous PlayStation-themed bags released by Zara, including ones modeled after the PlayStation 5 DualSense and PlayStation 2 DualShock controllers.
Ah, yes, a custom PS2 handheld that could slice a limb off, but beats the Steam Deck on battery life
A custom PlayStation 2 handheld has been created by modder James Channel, featuring a modified PS2 Slim console with an exposed disc drive and a new LCD screen. Despite its crude appearance, the handheld boasts impressive battery life, potentially lasting around 5 hours, surpassing modern devices like the Steam Deck OLED and Nintendo Switch.
Ayaneo reveals yet another Game Boy remake but this one has AI
Ayaneo has revealed the Konkr Pocket Block, a new handheld device that features a Game Boy-inspired design and incorporates AI capabilities. The Konkr Pocket Block is noted to be smaller than the company's previous vertical handheld offerings.
Best Games for Your Commute: 15 Titles Perfect for Handheld Play | TAG
This article provides a curated list of 15 games optimized for commute play, focusing on titles that launch quickly, save instantly, and can be played without audio. The recommendations are filtered through a 'Commute Test' to ensure they fit natural stopping points within a typical 20-40 minute commute.
20 Must-Play Games on Steam Deck in 2026 (Verified and Optimized) | TAG
This guide highlights 20 games that perform exceptionally well on the Steam Deck, focusing on session-friendliness and battery life. It categorizes games into quick sessions, hour-long sessions, and deep dives, while also noting AAA titles that are playable with adjustments. The article also details Valve's 'Steam Deck Verified' system and lists games that did not make the cut due to performance issues.
Discord's latest 'year of the Linux desktop' update is a game-changer for Steam Deck, but fans are concerned about its age verification plans
Discord has released a significant update for its Linux client, improving game and screen sharing with hardware-accelerated video encoding support across Nvidia, AMD, and Intel GPUs. This update is particularly beneficial for handheld devices like the Steam Deck. However, users are expressing concern and frustration over Discord's upcoming global age verification plans, overshadowing the technical improvements.
Forza Horizon 6 makes a viable Steam Deck game, assuming you can find room to park it
Forza Horizon 6 is Steam Deck Verified, but achieving smooth performance requires significant graphical adjustments. The game's large installation size of over 155GB necessitates using a microSD card or larger internal storage. While it runs off default settings, lowering them to Very Low is needed to escape sluggishness, though this impacts visual fidelity.
6 Story Games for Players Who Don't Want to Talk | TAG
This article highlights six story-driven games that do not require dialogue choices or role-playing, catering to players seeking a narrative experience without conversational effort. Titles like Journey, Cocoon, Inside, Brothers: A Tale of Two Sons, Return of the Obra Dinn, and Outer Wilds are discussed for their unique methods of storytelling through environment, music, and observation, with many also being compatible with handheld devices like the Steam Deck.
The Best Retro Handhelds Under $100: Anbernic vs. Miyoo vs. Powkiddy (2026) | TAG
This guide compares the best retro handheld gaming devices available for under $100, focusing on brands like Anbernic, Miyoo, and Powkiddy. It highlights the Miyoo Mini Plus as the overall best for its pocketability and OnionOS software, the Anbernic RG35XX H for analog stick users, the TrimUI Smart Pro S for PSP emulation, and the Anbernic RG CubeXX for its unique square screen ideal for Game Boy games. The article also explains emulation basics, the importance of custom firmware, and the legalities surrounding ROMs.
Subnautica 2 is Steam Deck Verified, as is Forza Horizon 6, Mina the Hollower, and Lego Batman: Legacy of the Dark Knight
Valve has granted Steam Deck Verified status to several new and upcoming games, including Subnautica 2, Forza Horizon 6, Mina the Hollower, and Lego Batman: Legacy of the Dark Knight. This certification indicates full compatibility and optimal performance on the handheld PC. Other titles like Outbound, Dead as Disco, and Coffee Talk Tokyo also received the verification, while Directive 8020 was marked as Playable.
Which Handheld Gaming Console Should You Buy in 2026? | TAG
This guide helps consumers choose the right handheld gaming console in 2026 based on their gaming habits rather than specs. It compares the Nintendo Switch 2, Steam Deck OLED, ASUS ROG Ally X, Lenovo Legion Go S, and budget retro handhelds, outlining the ideal user for each device. The article emphasizes simplicity for the Switch 2, Steam library access for the Steam Deck OLED, and performance for Windows handhelds, while recommending retro devices for nostalgia.
Path of Exile 2 should hopefully be Steam Deck Verified with the next major update
Path of Exile 2's upcoming 'Return of the Ancients' update on May 29th aims to achieve Steam Deck Verified status with significant UI scaling options and performance improvements. Grinding Gear Games director Jonathan Rogers confirmed internal testing and a serious commitment to the handheld platform, though some endgame performance issues still need addressing.
SteamOS 3.8.4 Beta brings further Steam Machine support and fixes for experimental nested desktop mode
SteamOS 3.8.4 Beta has been released, introducing further support for upcoming Steam Machine hardware and fixing issues with nested desktop mode and VRR-capable TVs. A stable update, SteamOS 3.7.23, also rolled out with essential security and stability patches. The beta version includes numerous general improvements, enhanced controller support for various handheld devices like the Lenovo Legion Go and ASUS ROG Ally, and updates to the KDE Plasma desktop environment.
Random: Liverpool Footballer Virgil van Dijk Prefers PS Vita to Steam Deck, Switch 2
Liverpool footballer Virgil van Dijk has been seen playing Grand Theft Auto: Vice City Stories on a PlayStation Vita, preferring it over modern consoles like the Steam Deck or Nintendo Switch. This preference for older handheld hardware has drawn attention, contrasting with the typical choices of high-profile athletes.
