Top 3 Reasons the Future of Consoles is Handheld

Gaming consoles have, traditionally, been dominated by three well-known brands: Sony’s PlayStation, Microsoft’s XBOX, and Nintendo’s… ever-changing home console brand. From the Nintendo 64 to the GameCube, Wii, and Wii U—Nintendo’s home consoles never really stuck to one formula. It’s that distinction, and Nintendo’s dominance over portable gaming with the Game Boy and DS, that most gamers only really pit the PlayStation and the XBOX against each other in the so-called ‘Console Wars’. However, all of that changed with the Nintendo Switch. 

From All Key Shop

A blend of home console and portable gaming, the Nintendo Switch has blown both Sony and Microsoft out of the water with the number of units it has sold worldwide. The gap was quite clear to another gaming giant, Valve, motivating them to create their own handheld console: the Steam Deck. Now, Microsoft and Sony are planning to offer their own handheld consoles in the future, and we can’t blame them, because we believe the future of gaming consoles is handheld, too. Here’s why we think the future of gaming consoles is handheld.

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Gaming Without Limits

Handheld consoles break down the walls that traditional consoles built. No longer are we tethered to a power outlet or a massive TV just to play our favorite games. The Nintendo Switch’s success stems from its ability to function as both a home console and a handheld, proving that gamers love the freedom of choice. Meanwhile, devices like the Steam Deck allow players to take their entire PC library wherever they go. 

But convenience alone isn’t the reason why we believe handheld consoles will eventually take over. Handheld gaming has always been a thing, but we think our next reason is why handhelds will eventually leap over traditional consoles.

The Technology Has Finally Caught Up

Back in the day, handheld consoles often felt like the underdog compared to their home counterparts. While the Game Boy and PSP were iconic, they couldn’t match the raw power of home systems. Fast forward to now, and the game has changed. Advances in hardware allow devices like the Steam Deck to handle AAA titles with ease. The Nintendo Switch’s hybrid model shows how powerful yet compact designs are possible.

From Valve

When it comes down to it, the gap in hardware requirements to play the latest and greatest games have become smaller and smaller. And when you can pack a home console’s worth of tech into a portable package, why would we choose the version that only limits where we game?

The Future is Hybrid

From Nintendo

We’re not saying that home consoles are completely going extinct. The strength of the Switch is that it allows us to continue playing at home on the big screen like we’ve been accustomed to, but with the added bonus of portability. We think the future of console gaming lies in hybrid systems that combine the best of both worlds. The Switch’s docked and handheld modes are just the beginning, and the other manufacturers are taking note. Handhelds are no longer seen as secondary or niche—they’re a main player in the gaming industry.

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