handhelds Archives

Winsage

September 19, 2025

Firm predicts wildly optimistic view of 2025 PC gaming, then an exodus

A firm has forecasted a 3.9 percent decline in consumer PC sales in the U.S. for 2025, resulting in approximately 25.284 million units sold, with a rebound of 5.4 percent expected in 2026, bringing sales to around 26.651 million units. IDC predicts flat sales in the U.S. but a 6.5 percent increase in the global PC market. Retail sales in August increased by 0.6 percent. The transition from Windows 10 to Windows 11 requires CPU upgrades for over 100 million gamers, leading to unique challenges. Intel's market share in PC graphics has reportedly dropped to nearly zero. JPR projects a 13 percent decrease in entry-level PC gaming over the next five years, with over 10 million people leaving the PC platform entirely, while some gamers are migrating to consoles and mobile devices for better value.

AppWizard

September 19, 2025

Can you play EA Sports FC 26 on the Steam Deck?

EA Sports FC 26 is unsupported on the Steam Deck due to EA's anti-cheat technology, which does not work on Linux-based systems. The game is unplayable on the Steam Deck, similar to all of EA's online titles. While the system requirements for FC 26 are nearly aligned with the Steam Deck's specifications, achieving optimal performance is challenging without an upscaler like AMD FSR. Users can consider dual-booting the Steam Deck with Windows to play the game, or opt for Windows-based handhelds like the ROG Ally X or Ayaneo 3 for a better experience.

Winsage

September 19, 2025

PC gaming hardware market skyrockets

The global market for PC-based gaming hardware is projected to reach .5 billion by 2025, marking a 35% increase. This market includes desktops, notebooks, DIY setups, and various peripherals. A significant challenge for gamers is the need for a forced hardware migration, requiring CPU upgrades for over 100 million gamers, which may also necessitate motherboard and RAM upgrades. Dr. Jon Peddie forecasts a 13% decline in entry-level PC gaming over the next five years, potentially resulting in over 10 million individuals leaving the PC platform, although many are upgrading to midrange and high-end hardware. Jon Peddie Research offers a comprehensive PC Gaming Hardware Market Models and Consulting Package, which is valuable for industry stakeholders, providing insights for product launches and market analysis. The latest edition of JPR’s PC Gaming Hardware Market Study includes market size data, segment breakdowns, and forecasts, covering 31 countries.

Winsage

September 19, 2025

End of Windows 10 support might mean a sizeable shrink in the entry-level PC gaming market according to new research

The global PC gaming hardware market is expected to grow by 35% in 2025, reaching .5 billion, according to Jon Peddie Research (JPR). However, a projected reduction of about 13% in the entry-level PC gamer population is anticipated, equating to over 10 million individuals potentially leaving the PC platform. The end of support for Windows 10 will require over 100 million gamers to upgrade their CPUs, motherboards, and likely RAM to transition to Windows 11. Many gamers are choosing to purchase new prebuilt systems instead of upgrading existing setups. Upgrading to Windows 11 is not strictly necessary, as some modifications can bypass the TPM requirement. JPR forecasts a significant decline in gaming on entry-level systems as users are compelled to invest in midrange and high-end hardware.

BetaBeacon

September 19, 2025

GameNative: How to Play Steam Games on Android

The text provides a step-by-step guide on how to play Steam games on Android using GameNative. Additionally, it explains how to play Steam games offline with GameNative.

Winsage

September 19, 2025

You can install the new Xbox Full screen experience mode for Windows on handhelds but whether it will work is another question entirely

Microsoft's "Full screen experience" mode for handheld gaming PCs is not officially available but can be accessed through a Preview version of Windows and a third-party tool called ViVeTool. Users must become a Windows Insider and update to version 25H2 to enable the feature. Asus showcased this mode at Gamescom, indicating it will be available with the ROG Xbox Ally launch on October 16, with other devices expected to follow. For Lenovo Legion Go S users, installing Windows 11 25H2 via USB and using ViVeTool is necessary to activate the feature. Initial impressions of the mode are positive, but issues with unresponsive controls and switching between modes were encountered on the Legion Go S.

BetaBeacon

September 18, 2025

Anbernic’s next gaming handheld strikes a nice balance between budget and flagship

Anbernic has revealed the final details about its upcoming handheld, the RG476H. It features a 4.7-inch 120Hz display, Unisoc T820 processor, 5,000mAh battery, and will retail for 9.99, but pre-orders will be available for 9.99 for a limited time.

BetaBeacon

September 18, 2025

AYANEO’s most affordable Android handheld ever costs less than a Switch 2 game

AYANEO has unveiled the Pocket AIR Mini, their cheapest handheld device, with pricing starting at .99 for the 2+32GB model. The device is fully compatible with PS1, N64, Dreamcast, and Sega Saturn games, with limited compatibility for PS2 and GameCube titles. The selling point of the device is the new 4:3, 4.2-inch LCD screen that offers perfect upscaling for various games. The budget handheld runs on Android 11, which may limit compatibility with certain games and emulators. Pre-orders will begin in mid-October for international customers.

AppWizard

September 18, 2025

Save $30 on this speedy 2TB Kingston gaming SSD upgrade for your Steam Deck

A 2TB Kingston NV3 2230 SSD is currently available on Amazon for .95, discounted from its manufacturer's suggested retail price. This SSD is particularly beneficial for Steam Deck and Asus ROG Ally users, as it effectively doubles the available storage for games. The Kingston NV3 operates on a PCIe 4.0 interface with sequential read and write speeds of 6,000MB/s and 5,000MB/s, respectively. While the Steam Deck's PCIe 3.0 architecture limits read speeds to 3,500MB/s, the Kingston drive will not bottleneck performance. Compared to traditional microSD cards, which max out at 100-300MB/s, the Kingston NV3 offers superior speed, especially for newer handhelds like the Asus ROG Ally. The drive is also available for £109.99 in the UK.

Winsage

September 18, 2025

Windows 11 handheld mode leaks ahead of ROG Xbox Ally launch and you can try it yourself right now

The ROG Xbox Ally X will be the first handheld device to feature Microsoft's Windows 11 handheld mode, which has already been leaked for existing devices through the Windows 11 25H2 update. A Reddit user shared that this update can be accessed by installing an ISO file, despite being exclusive to the Insider Program. Testing of the new handheld mode shows improved usability and performance, with a reduction in RAM usage by approximately 40% and a significant increase in frame rates for games, such as Shadow of the Tomb Raider, which saw an improvement from 29fps to 38fps. The ROG Xbox Ally X is scheduled for retail release on October 16, 2025, and will be the first device to officially support this feature.