The primary Nintendo Change principally had the street to itself, and Nintendo immediately proved simply how superior a hybrid console and handheld may very well be, resulting in large success. The subsequent Change is imminent, however it would launch right into a world that’s filled with very succesful handheld gaming PCs that would current an fascinating problem to Nintendo, particularly following information from CES 2025.
Valve’s Steam Deck kicked off the hand-held gaming PC push largely as a result of its Linux-based SteamOS makes taking part in your video games nearly as simple as it’s on consoles. That’s why one of many greatest CES bulletins is that Valve goes to let individuals set up SteamOS on different handhelds as quickly as April, probably making your entire handheld PC gaming market much more interesting.
The primary official non-Valve system with SteamOS is about to be Lenovo’s $499 Legion Go S, which launches in Might. But it surely’s not onerous to think about a near-term future the place many different {hardware} makers announce their very own SteamOS handhelds, that means the magic of SteamOS is likely to be accessible in all types of fascinating gadgets very quickly. (And, hopefully, the elevated competitors means Valve will make the eventual subsequent Steam Deck actually good.)
CES 2025 featured a bunch of different handheld gaming {hardware}, too, just like the chonk that’s Acer’s Nitro Blaze 11. It has a big 10.95-inch display screen, removable controllers, and a kickstand. It’s big! Intel and Tencent additionally made a handheld with an 11-inch display screen, and theirs has stereo 3D. My colleague Sean Hollister lastly bought to see the MSI Claw 8 AI Plus. Razer made a docking station that works with handheld gaming PCs. And in a CES panel, Microsoft promised information about modifications to the hand-held Home windows expertise for later this yr, which may enhance issues for individuals who already personal Home windows-based {hardware}.
That’s a variety of cool stuff! However Nintendo is the 800-pound gorilla within the room, and as fascinating as the entire PC gaming {hardware} is, the Change’s imminent successor will nearly definitely be a really compelling improve. The unique Change was launched almost eight years in the past, so the successor will doubtless be way more highly effective and can most likely have splashy new video games in marquee franchises like Tremendous Mario and The Legend of Zelda. (I’d guess already-announced Change video games like Metroid Prime 4: Past and Pokémon Legends: Z-A will get some type of enhance on the subsequent Change, too.)
Proper out of the gate, Nintendo’s new console can even have an infinite library. The corporate already introduced its subsequent console shall be suitable with unique Change video games — a catalog that features lots of the indie hits which can be additionally a number of the greatest video games on handheld PCs.
Again in 2017, when the unique Change launched, there wasn’t something prefer it. The Change’s successor will compete in a way more crowded subject and one which’s getting much more crowded after CES 2025. Hopefully, the competitors means everybody makes higher {hardware} and higher video games. It’s a good time for handhelds.
