Handheld

The Nintendo Switch 2 price hike in Japan has produced a surge in console sales. Reminiscent of its launch, jam-packed retailers are again waging war against scalpers. The changes take effect much sooner than in other regions, with buyers suffering a higher percentage increase.

Even contending with higher memory prices, Nintendo may be designing new consoles. Its latest fiscal report revealed that its research and development budget expanded by 23.7%. Earlier leaks suggested that a cheaper Switch 2 Lite or upgraded OLED model is a possibility.

After avoiding a Switch 2 price increase, astronomical memory prices forced the manufacturer to act. With a $499.99 MSRP in September, buyers will look for reasons to upgrade. Former Nintendo marketers think that the company should announce a first-party Switch 2 game to compete with GTA 6.

Anbernic has refreshed its RG34XX SP handheld with a new model. Apparently more than just a visual refresh, the new Metallic Blue variant also brings a metallic finish to the RG34XX SP that was missing from its existing four colour options.

Nintendo marketing may have a new strategy to deal with high-profile leaks. An insider thinks a widely spread rumor led to the abrupt Star Fox Switch 2 announcement. Recently, the company has become more spontaneous with major game reveals, relying less on general Directs.

The latest price hike pushed the Lenovo Legion Go 2 with 16GB of RAM and 1TB of storage to $1,599.99. However, thanks to a new deal, you can currently save over $500 on it.

Individuals with large stakes in Nintendo stock are asking for a Switch 2 price increase. Investors believe that the memory shortage will hurt the console’s profitability. Other analysts warn that still early in its lifecycle, gamers would reject higher costs and avoid upgrading to the handheld.

The Lenovo G02 is a new handheld designed to emulate retro games. Featuring a 4.5-inch IPS display, the Lenovo G02 comes in multiple colours with more than a passing resemblance to the Anbernic RG40XX V.

OneXPlayer has revealed more details about the OneXPlayer X2 Mini across multiple videos. Shared before releasing the device globally, the new videos highlight that the gaming handheld will feature an innovative touchpad solution that can be used even in docked mode.

Windows 11's Auto Super Resolution is now available to try for Xbox Insiders on the Asus ROG Xbox Ally X. ETA Prime has tested the performance and image quality of Auto SR against native resolution. The results are quite impressive, considering that Auto SR runs entirely on the NPU.

Xbox mode is now live on Windows 11 via optional update KB5083631, bringing a controller-first full-screen gaming interface to desktops, laptops, and handhelds.

Reggie Fils-Aimé claims that Amazon made illegal requests to gain a competitive edge. The former Nintendo of America President says he refused the demands, which led to one of several disagreements. Later, Amazon didn’t list Switch 2 games or the console at launch due to rumored pricing disputes.

The Lenovo Legion Go with the Ryzen Z1 Extreme processor and 512GB of storage was launched with a $699.99 price tag. However, it has been hit with a price hike, which has taken its price to $1,000.

Gamers who neglect a stowed-away Nintendo console risk damaging the system. The Switch 2 battery could suffer from swelling or reduced capacity when not charged for 6 months. On social media, Nintendo Support has suggested ways to ensure the forgotten consoles survive.

Valve co-founder Gabe Newell’s decade-old claim that consoles have shifted from bespoke graphics designs to PC-derived hardware has largely been validated, with modern systems relying on x86 architectures and AMD-based GPUs alongside PC-like features such as upscaling. As Valve and Microsoft move toward PC–console hybrids—via a new Steam Machine iteration and the rumored “Project Helix”—the divide between console and PC ecosystems continues to narrow, emphasizing shared hardware foundations and cross-library play.

Blaze Entertainment has unveiled two retro-inspired handhelds based on the Commodore 64 and ZX Spectrum, each packed with 25 classic games. The devices blend nostalgic design with modern features — but come at a noticeably higher price than typical emulation handhelds.

Asus has released a new update for the ROG Xbox Ally and ROG Xbox Ally X, which focuses on improving docking, adding Auto SR preview, and more.

The latest gaming handheld from Anbernic goes on sale in a few days. The innovative handheld with a rotating display will be available at prices starting at $88 and is designed to handle retro games that were developed for systems like the Game Boy Advance, the PlayStation 2 or the Nintendo Wii.

A leaked benchmark result has provided early insights into the state of Intel's Arc G3 Extreme processor. Equipped with 14 cores, the Arc G3 Extreme will bring Intel's powerful Arc B390 graphics to gaming handhelds like the next MSI Claw, too.

A retailer has revealed pricing for MSI's long-awaited Claw 8 AI+ refresh. Unfortunately, the new Glacier Blue Edition release will be more expensive than existing Claw 8 AI+ handhelds.

The next MSI Claw has been detailed before its official debut. Featuring the Intel Arc G3 Extreme and an 80 Wh battery, the Claw 8 EX AI+ has been priced at €1,599 with 32 GB of RAM and a 120 Hz display, too.

It is looking likely that we are finally going to see Intel Panther Lake Arc G3 and Arc G3 Extreme processors for handheld gaming consoles in the coming months. But, you don't need to wait for Intel to officially release the Arc G3 processors to know how they perform, as ETA Prime has simulated the performance of the SoCs.

Anbernic has officially confirmed full specifications for its next retro gaming handheld. At the same time, the company has showcased the Anbernic RG Rotate as part of the same lengthy unboxing video, too.

The Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth demo previews how the game will perform on the Switch 2. While most players praise the port's graphics, frame rates occasionally fall into the 20s. Showing limitations of the handheld’s specs, frequent pop-in as well as sporadic crashes are also reported.

The Steam Controller is in the spotlight, but Valve hasn’t forgotten about the Steam Deck 2. A programmer for the company reassured followers that the gaming handheld exists. A release date before 2028 is unlikely, but its specs may borrow the more comfortable layout of the new controller.

Square Enix announced at Final Fantasy XIV Fan Fest 2026 that the MMORPG will launch on Nintendo Switch 2 in August 2026 with Early Access, offering a new portable option alongside its existing PC, PlayStation, and Xbox versions. The move comes with a notable drawback: Switch 2 players must pay for the game and then maintain a separate monthly subscription on top of any existing FFXIV sub, though no Nintendo Switch Online membership is required and current owners elsewhere will get 50% off Switch 2 Entry/Standard subscription tiers.

Anbernic has finally confirmed the gaming capabilities of its new RG Rotate handheld. Supposedly capable of emulating up to PlayStation 2 and Nintendo Wii titles, the Anbernic RG Rotate should be particularly compact thanks to a tiny 3.5-inch and 1:1 display.

The source claiming that a Star Fox Switch 2 game would appear in April isn’t backing down. NateTheHate believes Nintendo will soon pinpoint a June release date for a Fox McCloud comeback. However, multiplayer rather than solo rail shooting could be a priority for the spinoff.

One store isn’t risking losing sales to the eShop on new Switch 2 games. Nintendo revealed that digital first-party titles would cost less than the MSRP of physical versions. Walmart is matching the prices on Yoshi and Mysterious Book and Splatoon Raiders, despite declining profit margins.

Invincible VS' Story Mode is noted as "an original experience from the team behind the show," and tackles a parallel timeline with Omni-Man remaining loyal to Viltrum and attempting a takeover of Earth with four other Viltrumites, including Conquest, Thula, Lucan, and Anissa.

Valve has introduced new useful tools to give developers better insight into how their games actually run on the Steam Deck.

Once again, Lenovo has granted its Legion Go family a massive price bump, with the latest victim being the Ryzen Z1 Extreme-powered Legion Go S. Clearly, the ongoing DRAM crisis is far from over for gamers on the prowl for new hardware.

Anbernic has shared a new teaser video for its long-awaited compact handheld. Launching globally, it is still a mystery as to the hardware that powers the Anbernic RG Rotate.

A new leak has revealed two unreleased Intel Panther Lake chips. The Arc G3 Extreme and Arc G3 are tailor-made for handheld consoles, and they are expected to surface sometime in Q2 2026.

Valve has quietly published the first official Proton 11 beta with ARM64 and FEX emulation baked in, and the enthusiast community has wasted no time. Thanks to the Rocknix Linux distro, YouTuber ETA Prime has demoed native Steam running on three ARM-based Android handhelds, with Hollow Knight: Silksong cruising past 100 FPS on a Snapdragon 8 Gen 2.

Costco has reduced the sale prices of Nintendo Switch 2 games well below any prior Amazon discount. Pokémon Legends: Z-A, Metroid Prime 4: Beyond, and Kirby Air Riders are at least 50% off. Costco members can use the store’s app to see what locations have the titles in stock.

Rocknix now has support for Steam, allowing select Android handhelds to natively run Steam games. The feature is still in beta and has some kinks, but should get better as time goes on.

Valve has released Proton 11.0-Beta 1, and one of the most important additions is ARM64 support. This opens another gate to run Windows games on ARM devices running Linux, and the first-gen Nintendo Switch has just been showcased running Steam.

AYN has once again raised the price of the Thor dual-screen handheld just a little over a month after the last increment. It has also announced a new configuration, bringing the available options to five.

Denuvo aims to curb piracy, but it can also frustrate legitimate buyers. Pragmata Steam Deck and Linux players who update their PCs may not be able to run the game. The DRM has a 5-machine activation limit per 24 hours, and these changes count toward that restriction.

The next OneXPlayer has now been confirmed to receive a global release. Featuring powerful AMD Strix Halo processors and an OLED display, the OneXPlayer X2 Mini will serve as One-Netbook's alternative to the existing Lenovo Legion Go 2.

AYN has stated that it has had to make a significant change to a major component of its two top handhelds, the Thor and Odin 3. Both handhelds will now ship with UFS 3.1 storage instead of UFS 4.0 due to the high cost of the latter.

Nintendo fans sensitive to choppy graphics may find the Pragmata Switch 2 port disappointing. A performance review reveals how frame rates plummet into the 30s and 40s. The PS5 has less of an advantage with image clarity, but the PlayStation console produces smoother visuals.

Asus has announced a special giveaway to celebrate the launch of Mongil: Star Dive, and the prize is a ROG Xbox Ally powered by the Ryzen Z2 A processor.

Despite unveiling two new handhelds in early February, MagicX is yet to release them. Now, the manufacturer has explained why the Two Dream Light and Two Dream Pro handhelds are yet to launch.

The handheld version of the Sony PlayStation 6, the PlayStation 6 Portable, is expected to launch alongside the main console. With an RDNA 5 GPU and a 6-core Zen 6 CPU, the PS6 Portable is shaping up to be a beastly handheld that will reportedly be able to play games that launched for previous consoles.

The free-to-play Overwatch Switch 2 upgrade has arrived, but many players report horrific performance. Frame rates top out at 30 fps, well below the 60 fps that Blizzard promised. With blurriness and input lag also issues, the publisher plans to release a patch to address the shortcomings.

OneXPlayer has shared initial details about its next gaming handheld. A rival to the Legion Go 2, the OneXPlayer X2 Mini will be far more powerful than Lenovo's latest handheld thanks to AMD's Ryzen AI Max+ 395 chipset.

Anbernic has officially confirmed the existence of its next retro gaming handheld. Another pocketable device, the Anbernic RG Rotate should be powerful enough to emulate classic consoles while also serving as an MP3 player alternative.

The Lenovo Legion Go S with SteamOS hasn't escaped the price increase that is sweeping across handhelds and consoles. Lenovo now sells it for almost double its launch price, but Best Buy still has the more powerful version with more RAM and storage at a lower price tag.