handheld gaming Archives

BetaBeacon

June 28, 2025

Why I keep coming back to this clamshell retro gaming handheld

Clamshell handheld gaming devices like the Anbernic RG34XXSP have become popular due to their unique form factor and affordable prices. These devices run on custom builds of Linux and offer a variety of games up to N64 and Dreamcast. The RG34XXSP features dual sticks for better control and is portable enough to be carried in a pocket without the need for a case or screen protector. These retro handhelds are easy to recommend due to their low cost and variety of form factors.

AppWizard

June 27, 2025

2025 Steam Summer Sale Begins

Valve has launched the 2025 Steam Summer Sale, which started at 10 AM PT (1 PM ET) and will run until July 10, 2025. Players can earn free stickers through their Discovery Queue while browsing discounted titles. The main storefront has been redesigned to highlight significant price reductions on various games, including several that were featured in last year's sale. Highlighted discounts include: - Blasphemous – .49 (90% off) - Catherine Classic – .99 (75% off) - Crash Bandicoot N. Sane Trilogy – .99 (90% off) - Crypt of the Necrodancer – .49 (90% off) - Final Fantasy VII – .79 (60% off) - Final Fantasy VIII – .79 (60% off) - Gris – .49 (90% off) - House Flipper – .49 (90% off) - Little Nightmares 2 – .99 (90% off) - Moonlighter – .99 (85% off) - Spiritfarer – .99 (90% off) - Steamworld Dig – [openai_gpt model="gpt-4o-mini" prompt="Summarize the content and extract only the fact described in the text bellow. The summary shall NOT include a title, introduction and conclusion. Text: Valve has officially launched the 2025 Steam Summer Sale, a highly anticipated event for PC gaming enthusiasts. This year’s sale commenced at 10 AM PT (1 PM ET) and will continue until July 10, 2025. As is customary, players can explore their Discovery Queue to earn free stickers while browsing through an array of discounted titles. The main storefront has also undergone a slight redesign, showcasing significant price reductions on various games. Notably, several of these titles were featured in last year's sale, offering a second chance for those who may have missed out. Highlighted Discounts This year, a selection of games has been particularly spotlighted for their remarkable discounts. Here are some of the standout offers: Blasphemous – .49 (90% off) Catherine Classic – .99 (75% off) Crash Bandicoot N. Sane Trilogy – .99 (90% off) Crypt of the Necrodancer – .49 (90% off) Final Fantasy VII – .79 (60% off) Final Fantasy VIII – .79 (60% off) Gris – .49 (90% off) House Flipper – .49 (90% off) Little Nightmares 2 – .99 (90% off) Moonlighter – .99 (85% off) Spiritfarer – .99 (90% off) Steamworld Dig – [cyberseo_openai model="gpt-4o-mini" prompt="Rewrite a news story for a business publication, in a calm style with creativity and flair based on text below, making sure it reads like human-written text in a natural way. The article shall NOT include a title, introduction and conclusion. The article shall NOT start from a title. Response language English. Generate HTML-formatted content using tag for a sub-heading. You can use only , , , , and HTML tags if necessary. Text: Image via Atlus Jenni Lada | Published: Jun 26, 2025 05:00 pm Valve announced that the 2025 Steam Summer Sale is now live and covers an array of PC games. It will run 10am PT/1pm ET on July 10, 2025. As usual, going through your Discovery Queue can earn you free stickers. The storefront’s main page also reorganized a bit to show deep discounts. However, given how these go, many are also titles that were reduced last year in case you missed them. Recommended Videos A number of titles were called out this year as being especially cheap. Here are some of the most notable discounts on some major PC games available during the sale. Blasphemous – $2.49 (90% off) Catherine Classic – $4.99 (75% off) Crash Bandicoot N. Sane Trilogy – $3.99 (90% off) Crypt of the Necrodancer – $1.49 (90% off) Final Fantasy VII – $4.79 (60% off) Final Fantasy VIII – $4.79 (60% off) Gris – $1.49 (90%) House Flipper – $2.49 (90% off) Little Nightmares 2 – $2.99 (90% off) Moonlighter – $2.99 (85% off) Spiritfarer – $2.99 (90% off) Steamworld Dig – $0.89 (91% off) Steins;Gate – $2.99 (90% off) Ultra Street Fighter IV – $3.89 (87% off) Undertale – $2.49 (75% off) As for Steam Deck, here are some of the most notable 2025 Summer Sale discounts that Valve noted are among the ones most-played on handheld gaming PCs. Balatro – $13.49 (10% off) Baldur’s Gate 3 – $47.99 (20% off) Blue Prince – $25.49 (15% off) Death Stranding Director’s Cut – $15.99 (60% off) Elden Ring – $35.99 (40% off) Fields of Mistria – $11.19 (20% off) Hades 2 – $26.99 (10% off) Hello Kitty Island Adventure – $29.99 (25% off) Hollow Knight – $7.49 (50% off) Lies of P – $29.99 (50% off) Monster Hunter: World – $9.89 (67% off) Palworld – $22.49 (25% off) Persona 5 Royal – $23.99 (60% off) Resident Evil 4 – $19.99 (50% off) Stardew Valley – $7.49 (50% off) The 2025 Steam Summer Sale on PC games is in effect until July 10, 2025. Siliconera is supported by our audience. When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn a small affiliate commission. Learn more about our Affiliate Policy" temperature="0.3" top_p="1.0" best_of="1" presence_penalty="0.1" ].89 (91% off) Steins;Gate – .99 (90% off) Ultra Street Fighter IV – .89 (87% off) Undertale – .49 (75% off) Steam Deck Discounts For those utilizing the Steam Deck, Valve has also highlighted several popular titles that are now available at attractive prices during the sale: Balatro – .49 (10% off) Baldur’s Gate 3 – .99 (20% off) Blue Prince – .49 (15% off) Death Stranding Director’s Cut – .99 (60% off) Elden Ring – .99 (40% off) Fields of Mistria – .19 (20% off) Hades 2 – .99 (10% off) Hello Kitty Island Adventure – .99 (25% off) Hollow Knight – .49 (50% off) Lies of P – .99 (50% off) Monster Hunter: World – .89 (67% off) Palworld – .49 (25% off) Persona 5 Royal – .99 (60% off) Resident Evil 4 – .99 (50% off) Stardew Valley – .49 (50% off) The 2025 Steam Summer Sale promises an exciting opportunity for gamers to expand their libraries at significantly reduced prices, ensuring that both seasoned players and newcomers can find something to enjoy. Siliconera is supported by our audience. When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn a small affiliate commission. Learn more about our Affiliate Policy." max_tokens="3500" temperature="0.3" top_p="1.0" best_of="1" presence_penalty="0.1" frequency_penalty="frequency_penalty"].89 (91% off) - Steins;Gate – .99 (90% off) - Ultra Street Fighter IV – .89 (87% off) - Undertale – .49 (75% off) For Steam Deck users, notable discounts include: - Balatro – .49 (10% off) - Baldur’s Gate 3 – .99 (20% off) - Blue Prince – .49 (15% off) - Death Stranding Director’s Cut – .99 (60% off) - Elden Ring – .99 (40% off) - Fields of Mistria – .19 (20% off) - Hades 2 – .99 (10% off) - Hello Kitty Island Adventure – .99 (25% off) - Hollow Knight – .49 (50% off) - Lies of P – .99 (50% off) - Monster Hunter: World – .89 (67% off) - Palworld – .49 (25% off) - Persona 5 Royal – .99 (60% off) - Resident Evil 4 – .99 (50% off) - Stardew Valley – .49 (50% off)

AppWizard

June 26, 2025

How to add non-Steam games to your Steam Deck with Heroic Games Launcher

Valve's Steam Deck allows access to games from platforms like GoG, Amazon, and Epic Games through the Heroic Games Launcher, which can be integrated into the Steam Library. To install the Heroic Games Launcher, users need to switch to Desktop mode, search for and install the launcher via the Discover app, and set up their gaming accounts. After installation, users can add the Heroic Games Launcher to their Steam library and customize its appearance using artwork from the steamgriddb website. This integration enhances the gaming experience on the Steam Deck by providing access to a wider range of games.

AppWizard

June 26, 2025

Steam’s Summer Sale is on the way – and here are the games I’m expecting major discounts for

The Steam Summer Sale is scheduled to start on June 26 at 6 PM BST / 1 PM EST / 10 AM PST, featuring discounts on popular PC games. Capcom's Spotlight will coincide with the sale, highlighting games like Monster Hunter Wilds, Street Fighter 6, Resident Evil Requiem, and Pragmata. The Resident Evil 4 remake is expected to have significant discounts, following a previous Capcom Publisher Sale. Monster Hunter Wilds has not seen discounts on Steam since its launch in February. Cyberpunk 2077 is anticipated to be featured prominently due to an upcoming update. Death Stranding Director's Cut is currently discounted by 60% and may see further reductions. Indiana Jones and the Great Circle is likely to have a significant discount ahead of its DLC launch in September 2025. The Last of Us Part 2 Remastered, launched on PC in April, may attract players due to its recent HBO series finale. Baldur's Gate 3 is expected to offer a more substantial discount compared to its previous sale. Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2 is anticipated to receive a significant discount. Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 is preparing for its first Steam Summer Sale after an earlier 20% reduction. Assassin's Creed Shadows has not yet seen discounts on Steam, and Marvel's Spider-Man 2 is poised for a significant discount following its January release.

AppWizard

June 24, 2025

“Deus Ex” just turned 25 years old and it’s still the best PC game of all time — you only need $2 to play it on practically anything

Deus Ex, released in 2000 by Ion Storm, is widely regarded as one of the most influential PC games and a pinnacle of immersive simulations. The franchise has evolved with entries like Human Revolution and Mankind Divided, developed by Eidos-Montreal. The original game, directed by Warren Spector, combined first-person action with RPG elements, allowing players to choose various playstyles. Modern players can access Deus Ex on contemporary Windows systems, using keyboard and mouse or controllers, including handheld devices like the ASUS ROG Ally and Steam Deck, which runs the game through Proton emulation. Despite its outdated graphics and AI, Deus Ex offers a richly layered adventure in a cyberpunk dystopia, appealing to both newcomers and veterans.

AppWizard

June 24, 2025

Steam games come to the Xbox app in latest beta

Microsoft is integrating PC games into the Xbox PC app, starting with access to the Steam library. The updated Xbox app, available through the “Insider Hub” program, allows users to see games from supported PC storefronts in their library. However, some users have reported issues with the app not recognizing their Steam games. Microsoft plans to integrate additional PC storefronts in the future. This development coincides with the upcoming launch of the ROG Xbox Ally, a handheld gaming device running Windows 11, which aims to compete with the Steam Deck. This move reflects Microsoft's strategy to focus on software and services over hardware sales.

AppWizard

June 24, 2025

Microsoft tests Xbox app with Battle.net integration — updated app brings third-party game library aggregation

Microsoft is testing a new Xbox app for PC among Xbox Insiders, which will aggregate installed games from various third-party storefronts into a single interface. This feature will debut with the ROG Xbox Ally and Ally X handhelds later this year. The initiative is part of Microsoft's strategy to transition Xbox from a console-centric brand to a service-oriented platform, aligning with the Game Pass initiative for both Xbox and PC users. Microsoft is optimizing Windows 11 for third-party handheld devices instead of developing its own Xbox handheld. While a widespread launch of the aggregated library feature has not been announced, initial rollout with the ROG Ally handhelds is expected during the holiday season, with broader support potentially arriving by the end of this year or in 2026.

AppWizard

June 21, 2025

Stellar Blade is a prime example of how PC ports should be done – ultrawide compatibility and stable performance are a must

The gaming community has expressed frustration over poorly optimized PC ports, with recent titles like Rise of the Ronin, Star Wars Jedi: Survivor, and Monster Hunter Wilds suffering from stuttering issues and heavy reliance on upscaling technologies. Many contemporary games lack ultrawide compatibility, which is increasingly expected as ultrawide displays become more popular. Stellar Blade is noted for its exceptional performance and optimization, including support for ultrawide screens up to a 32:9 aspect ratio. It achieves over 60 frames per second (fps) at 1080p on medium settings on an Asus ROG Ally, with frame rates reaching 112fps using AMD Frame Generation. The Steam Deck also performs well, reaching 60fps on lower settings. On desktop systems with high-end hardware like the RTX 4080 Super and AMD Ryzen 7 5700X3D, Stellar Blade consistently exceeds 100fps at maximum settings without needing Nvidia's Frame Generation. Despite some titles showing good optimization, many triple-A releases still suffer from poor PC adaptations, disappointing gamers with high-end hardware. Handheld gaming PCs are becoming more popular, and successful ports like Stellar Blade provide hope for future game releases.

Winsage

June 10, 2025

Xbox’s new handheld is a surprisingly comfortable way to play Gears

The Xbox Ally X is a new handheld gaming device developed in collaboration with Asus, positioned as an alternative to the Steam Deck and the upcoming Switch 2. It includes the ROG Xbox Ally and the Xbox Ally X. The device is noted for its comfort, with hand grips designed to resemble an Xbox controller, making it more enjoyable to hold compared to the Steam Deck. During a demonstration, gameplay with Gears of War: Reloaded was smooth, and the ergonomic design of the Ally X potentially improved performance. The device's weight is comparable to the Steam Deck, and it offers a significant difference in comfort during extended play sessions. The user interface and navigation between Xbox and Steam games remain unexplored, but the device's comfort and portability suggest it could be a favored option for on-the-go gaming.

Winsage

June 10, 2025

You can now try Microsoft’s new Start menu for Windows 11

Microsoft has released an updated Start menu for Windows 11, now available in the Dev Channel. The new menu features a larger, customizable interface with a scrollable design that displays all applications at the top level, simplifying app access. Users can disable the recommended section for a personalized view and choose between category view and grid view for app organization. The Start menu size adjusts based on screen dimensions, with larger monitors showing up to eight columns of pinned apps, while smaller devices display six columns. A mobile device button has been added for expanding or collapsing the Phone Link interface. Users can also customize their lock screen widgets and a Gamepad keyboard update allows signing into PCs with a PIN via a controller.