The Swap 2 is nearly right here — however PC handhelds are giving it huge competitors

The primary Nintendo Swap principally had the street to itself, and Nintendo immediately proved simply how superior a hybrid console and handheld may very well be, resulting in huge success. The following Swap is imminent, however it should 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 enjoying your video games nearly as simple as it’s on consoles. That’s why one of many largest CES bulletins is that Valve goes to let folks set up SteamOS on different handhelds as quickly as April, doubtlessly making the whole handheld PC gaming market much more interesting.

The primary official non-Valve gadget with SteamOS is ready to be Lenovo’s $499 Legion Go S, which launches in Might. Nevertheless it’s not exhausting to think about a near-term future the place many different {hardware} makers announce their very own SteamOS handhelds, which means the magic of SteamOS is likely to be out there 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 huge 10.95-inch display screen, removable controllers, and a kickstand. It’s enormous! Intel and Tencent additionally made a handheld with an 11-inch display screen, and theirs has stereo 3D. My colleague Sean Hollister lastly obtained 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 adjustments to the hand held Home windows expertise for later this 12 months, which might enhance issues for individuals who already personal Home windows-based {hardware}.

That’s a number of cool stuff! However Nintendo is the 800-pound gorilla within the room, and as fascinating as the entire PC gaming {hardware} is, the Swap’s imminent successor will virtually actually be a really compelling improve. The unique Swap was launched practically eight years in the past, so the successor will probably be rather 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 wager already-announced Swap video games like Metroid Prime 4: Past and Pokémon Legends: Z-A will get some type of increase on the following Swap, too.)

Proper out of the gate, Nintendo’s new console may also have an infinite library. The corporate already introduced its subsequent console shall be suitable with authentic Swap video games — a catalog that features most of the indie hits which are additionally among the finest video games on handheld PCs.

Again in 2017, when the unique Swap launched, there wasn’t something prefer it. The Swap’s successor will compete in a way more crowded discipline 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.