Handheld

In an interview with IGN, Nintendo confirmed the Switch 2 supports two iconic Nvidia features: DLSS and raytracing. But, it will be upon developers to implement them in their titles.

The MSI Claw 8 AI+ is one of the most powerful gaming handhelds around right now. The device is also comparatively expensive thanks to its $899 list price. Nonetheless, MSI has quietly refreshed the Claw 8 AI+ with a new $999 variant that makes two major changes from the original variant it has been selling since last year.

The games collections on Humble Bundle have been refreshed, and there's a new bundle called Dice & Destiny. It has six CRPG games with Steam Deck compatibility and a value of $175. They can all be scored for as low as $13.

In an interview with Nintendo Life, the company has confirmed the Switch 2's Joy Cons do not come with Hall Effect sticks. However, it claims they will feel better because they've been redesigned from the ground up.

The Nintendo Switch 2 price was higher than some buyers anticipated. Nevertheless, eBay sellers are listing pre-orders for the console at well above MSRP. There is a question of whether any of these listings meet eBay rules.

Sony is gathering research that could improve a new PlayStation handheld or the PS6. The Nintendo Switch 2 announcement has rocked the industry with pricey games and restrictive pre-order requirements. A leaked survey asked PlayStation gamers for their opinion on the console.

It would probably be safe to say that there are few things gamers could care less about than AI. However, companies continue to seem interested in products that carry the AI moniker, with the handheld-focused Ryzen Z2 series now rumored to soon welcome NPU-equipped variants.

The Nintendo Switch 2 is set to be released on June 5, 2025, but the company has yet to share proper performance details of the console. In an interview, Dennis Shirk, the executive producer of Civilization VII, shed some light on the matter.

The Nintendo Switch 2 has 4x the storage size of the original Switch, but the file sizes of first party games reveal users may not have to worry about storage expansion for a while. However, third-party AAA games are quite large.

A tour of a secret Microsoft facility may have unintentionally revealed a new Xbox console. During the interview, a curious device appeared in Phil Spencer's office. The controls on the Xbox handheld differ from those of the rumored Asus-made Project Kennan.

The upcoming Mecha Comet modular Linux handheld has received yet another spec boost ahead of launch. Users have upgraded internals and some newly added I/O to sweeten the deal before pre-orders go live.

KT Pocket has not released anything since the KT-R1, which finally started shipping in late 2023. While the company has teased that the KT-R2 is in the works, there are suggestions that a certain KT-R1S could arrive before the KT-R2. A recent alleged teaser poster has hoodwinked a few gaming handheld fans, though.

Some Xbox and PlayStation fans see plenty of drawbacks with the Switch 2. Mike Ybarra no longer works for Microsoft or Blizzard but feels underwhelmed by the Nintendo Switch 2 games and specs. His comments have raised questions about how a future Xbox handheld will compare.

The Duskbloods is an online multiplayer with over 12 characters, but that doesn’t mean FromSoftware will not make singleplayer games anymore. The team is still focused on making the more traditional style games that people know and love.

Gamers in the US will no longer be able to order a Nintendo Switch 2 on April 9. Nintendo has pushed it back to an unspecified date because of the recently announced tariffs.

Nintendo decided to go with an LCD display on the Switch 2 because of HDR support. The new console has a larger and faster LCD display that supports HDR10.

Aokzoe has confirmed that it will soon be releasing its first Ryzen AI 9 HX 370-powered gaming handheld. Launching with a 72.7 Wh battery and a 120 Hz display, the Aokzoe A1X also supports OCuLink and USB4 connectivity for a choice of eGPU options.

The Hori Nintendo Switch 2 Camera is a third-party camera accessory for the Nintendo Switch 2. It is cheaper than Nintendo's own camera and has a design inspired by a character from the Super Mario games.

Nintendo fans are still waiting to see if Switch 2 leaks about Hall effect Joy-Cons were correct. Despite hands-on time with the console, journalists remain uncertain. Meanwhile, Nintendo has only promised more durable and reliable controllers.

Enhanced Switch 2 performance is opening the door for more third-party titles. Cyberpunk 2077: The Ultimate Edition will cost $69.99 and debut with the console on June 5th. Hands-on impressions also reveal how the Switch 2 game runs on Nintendo's system.

The Nintendo Switch 2 price and the cost of games are causing criticism. While even digital titles are pricier than expected, some cartridges are more expensive. An industry analyst believes Nintendo wants more of its fans to welcome the digital age.

Despite the Nintendo Switch 2 boasting several upgrades over its predecessor, it isn't all-round better. For instance, despite packing a larger battery capacity, its battery life is shorter as a result of its higher performance processor and large system memory which consume more power.

The Nintendo Switch 2 price is already significantly higher than the launch cost of the Switch. Fresh Trump tariffs on Vietnam will impact where Nintendo manufactures many consoles.

Key Nintendo Switch 2 developers were interviewed for the 16th volume of Ask the Developer. Console design considerations and choices were revealed in this multi-part interview.

The Nintendo Switch 2 will get an exclusive title from none other than FromSoftware. The Duskbloods is a PvPvE game that launches sometime in 2026.

GKD is apparently planning to launch a new gaming handheld, which could have a rather unusual appearance that would make it less suitable for modern games. The device has yet to be officially unveiled.

The Pocket Ace is Ayaneo's latest retro gaming handheld. Sporting a design resembling a high-end Retroid Pocket 2s or Anbernic RG405M, the Ayaneo Pocket Ace will launch later this year with performance that will belie its compact credentials.

The recent Nintendo Direct confirmed leaks about paid Switch 2 Upgrade Packs. The benefits of these upgrades range from higher frame rates to additional content. Unfortunately, an official list of known issues complicates backward compatibility with previous-generation titles.

Nintendo finally reveals hardware specifications and more details of the new Nintendo Switch 2 from today's broadcast, including 4K gaming on the TV and 1080p during handheld, featuring almost full backwards compatibility. It will be priced at $449.99 and is coming out June 5th 2025.

CheckMag Nintendo has a history of selling full price games that have been available on sale for every other platform for years. Unfortunately, the Switch 2 seems unlikely to break from that tradition with a range of old, but admittedly great looking titles.

Nintendo has shown off Game-Key Cards alongside the Switch 2. While they may look like a regular cartridge, none of the game data is stored locally, meaning you have to download the game off the internet.

Microsoft's plans for a new Xbox console involve streamlining Windows for gamers. A Windows 11 preview build holds clues for how the OS can better accommodate controllers. The Asus Project Kennan gaming handheld may soon show these changes in action.

The Super Pocket NeoGeo is a new gaming handheld that won't break the bank and comes with 14 pre-installed games. While this may not sound like much, the Super Pocket NeoGeo takes a slightly different approach compared to other gaming handhelds.

The Switch 2 dock may enable the 4K capabilities shared by competing consoles. A popular Famiboards user described a dock using a Realtek DisplayPort to HDMI 2.1 converter. Following surprising reports about dev kits, gamers have more hope that the Switch 2 specs will include a 4K output.

Even with magnetic connectivity, new Joy-Cons aren't the only anticipated Switch 2 accessory. Nintendo has submitted FCC documents featuring a device that resembles the Switch Pro Controller. Among other changes, the Switch 2 Pro Controller will offer a headphone port.

MagicX has teased that it will be releasing at least four new gaming handhelds this year. While the Nintendo DS-inspired Zero 40 was already known, the company has now outlined that two clamshell options and even a dual-screen device are in development.

Asus has released the first teaser for what is believed to be the new handheld gaming PC it is developing in partnership with Xbox. The teaser reveals the device will have multiple upgrades in key areas compared to the current ROG Ally handhelds.

Without dev kits, some developers remain unaware of key Switch 2 specs. Small and medium-sized studios may not receive these tools until June. Even with the next Nintendo Direct approaching, Nintendo still plans to contain inevitable Switch 2 leaks.

The 8BitDo Ultimate 3-Mode Controller for Xbox now comes in a new color reminiscent of the original translucent Xbox console. It is already available for pre-order but won't begin shipping until May 2025.

The Gamesir G8 Galileo typically costs less than the Backbone One mobile phone controller despite the former having better features. Now Amazon is offering a discount on the Gamesir controller that even widens the price gap, making it worth grabbing.

Many Nintendo first-party releases revisit favorite games of the past. Yet, the company seems more focused on the future than on remasters of Metroid Prime and The Legend of Zelda titles. A reliable insider thinks Nintendo Switch Online is a more probable destination for these classics.

CheckMag With official Steam OS just around the corner, Bazzite might seem irrelevant. However, Steam OS is currently still in beta, some functions don't work, and it has a far shorter supported device list. Bazzite on the other hand supports almost every x86 based handheld out there, is mature in its development process, and is very easy to set up alongside Windows. Here's how.

Documents from a U.S. retailer point to a late spring or early summer Switch 2 release date. Pre-orders may not begin until a week after the April 2nd Nintendo Direct. Unfortunately, the Insider Gaming source doesn't expect generous stock levels.

Ayaneo has now fully revealed the Pocket Ace gaming handheld. Launching later this year, the Ayaneo Pocket Ace is like a supercharged Retroid Pocket 2S thanks to a powerful Qualcomm Snapdragon chipset, a high-resolution display and other advanced features.

Switch 2 backwards compatibility may become more complicated than expected. While original Switch games should boot on the new console, Nintendo referenced Switch 2 Edition titles. These games might take full advantage of upgraded Switch 2 specs but could incur added costs.

Nintendo may be looking to add more functionality to the Switch 2 joy-cons. A new Nintendo Today! promo image depicts a visible C button. The January reveal video hid the label, while Switch 2 leaks speculated over its purpose.

Major EA titles are coming to Amazon's Luna cloud gaming service with two Star Wars Jedi games and Dead Space already available. Luna is included with a Prime membership, but there is a paid Luna+ subscription with additional benefits as well.

The new Virtual Game Cards will allow digital games to be easily managed and shared between devices akin to physical game cards. The feature will arrive as an update in April and will also be available on the unreleased Switch 2.

Abxylute has launched the 7-inch One Pro Android 13 gaming handheld on Kickstarter, featuring enhanced capabilities to handle local and streaming games at 60 fps, drift-free capacitive analog joysticks, richer-sounding box speakers, and 4K output to TVs.

Regular leaks have taken some of the mystery out of the April 2nd Switch 2 Nintendo Direct. Now, Best Buy Canada has announced that pre-orders will begin the same day. On a now removed blog post, the retail giant discusses Switch 2 specs and an anticipated launch title.