Logitech is partnering up with the Chinese gaming giant Tencent to create a new dedicated gaming device that will be streaming-based. This is “so gamers can play AAA games when they are away from their console or PC.”
Historically speaking, the handheld gaming market has quite a colorful history. With companies like Sony failed at it after multiple attempts (maybe because it was ahead of its time), or Xbox did not even dare to enter the competitive market.
The current reigning champ in the gaming handheld industry is, without a doubt, Nintendo’s Switch. Valve’s Steam Deck is trying to put up some tough competition and, so far, is doing exceptionally well.
How Logitech and Tencent Plan to Succeed
Logitech’s partnership with Tencent allows for more than enough talent and resources to offer some good competition. But Logitech isn’t exactly competing directly with either Nintendo or Valve, as the company plans on making it a cloud-based handheld console.
Ujesh Desai, general manager of Logitech G, had this to say:
This means that the handheld will probably run on simpler hardware than we often see in smartphones, with a custom Linux-based operating system. And ideally, it will be easier on the wallet, too, especially when compared to the OLED Switch and highest-end Steam Deck.
Logitech’s console is expected to stream two different sources. Logitech announced that the company is partnering with Microsoft and Nvidia regarding streaming backends.
Xbox Cloud Gaming and Nvidia GeForce Now are both very robust streaming services, and both on the same handheld could make for an enticing device. But in terms of competition, it seems more likely that the device will compete with smartphones instead.
Smartphones are not only common but very easily converted into a streaming device; the only addition required is a controller. Sony recently announced a Backbone controller for smartphones for its streaming service PlayStation Now.
