The gaming handheld market has seen a surge in competition recently, as several companies vie for a piece of the pie. The two major players in this space have been Nintendo and Sony, with their respective Switch and PlayStation Vita consoles. However, other companies have recently entered the fray, including the likes of Valve with their Steam Deck and the Analogue Pocket.
The Nintendo Switch has been the most successful gaming handheld in recent years, selling over 84 million units worldwide as of September 2021. Its unique hybrid design, which allows users to play both on-the-go and on a TV, has been a major selling point. Additionally, its library of first-party titles, such as The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild and Super Mario Odyssey, has helped to establish it as a must-have device for gamers.
Sony’s PlayStation Vita, on the other hand, did not fare as well. Despite being a powerful and capable device, it struggled to gain traction in the market and was eventually discontinued in 2019. However, rumors have been circulating that Sony may be working on a successor to the Vita, which could potentially shake up the market if released.
Valve’s Steam Deck, which was announced in July 2021 and is set to release in December of the same year, has generated a lot of buzz. It is essentially a handheld PC that runs on SteamOS, allowing users to play their entire Steam library on the go. Its design is similar to that of the Switch, with detachable controllers and a built-in screen, but it boasts more powerful hardware and more customization options.
The Analogue Pocket, which is set to release in May 2021 after several delays, is a retro gaming handheld that can play Game Boy, Game Boy Color, and Game Boy Advance games. It features a high-quality screen and can be used with original Game Boy cartridges, making it a dream device for retro gaming enthusiasts.
Overall, the competition in the gaming handheld market is heating up, with each company offering something unique to users. It remains to be seen which device will come out on top, but one thing is for sure: gamers have never had more options when it comes to portable gaming.