Switch 2 Faces New Challenge: Handheld Gaming PCs

The Nintendo Switch 2 is on the horizon, and with its hefty $449.99 price tag and $79.99 games, I find myself less inclined to invest than I initially thought. My original Nintendo Switch has been gathering dust ever since I got my hands on the Asus ROG Ally, and the issues I faced with the first console seem even more pronounced in its sequel, particularly in today's landscape dominated by handheld gaming PCs.

Asus ROG Ally Is All I Need

As someone who's been hooked on handheld gaming since childhood, moving from the Game Boy to the Nintendo DS, and even the PlayStation Portable, there's nothing quite like the comfort of playing games from my bed, wrapped in blankets. I was one of the few who championed the PlayStation Vita, playing it daily during my college train commutes.

When the Nintendo Switch launched in 2017, it blew me away. I got mine early, but I only used it for exclusives. For games that felt perfect for handheld play, I reserved them in my mind for the Switch. However, if those games were available for free on platforms like the Epic Games Store, Game Pass, PlayStation Plus, or Humble Choice, I felt guilty about buying them again on the Switch. The fact that Switch games seldom go on sale, and if they do, the discounts are minimal, trapped me in a cycle of indecision. This often resulted in me not playing the games at all.

The arrival of the Asus ROG Ally in 2023 changed everything for me. It's a handheld gaming PC powered by Windows 11, giving me access to Steam, Game Pass, Epic Games, and more. Now, I can enjoy those games I previously avoided on PC from the comfort of my bed.

Thanks to the Ally, I've delved into a wealth of indie games and am steadily working through my backlog. Without it, I would never have experienced gems like Celeste, Little Nightmares II, or the Resident Evil Remake, which have since become some of my all-time favorites. The Ally has not only become my go-to handheld but has also saved me a considerable amount of money.

Despite my excitement for the Nintendo Switch 2 announcement, my affection for Nintendo's exclusive titles notwithstanding, the Switch 2 Direct left me questioning its place in my gaming setup.

The Switch 2 Isn’t Alone Anymore

With a starting price of $449, the Nintendo Switch 2 enters a crowded market. It's priced closely to the $499 PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X, and even the PS5's $399 digital edition was more affordable at launch. Over the past eight years, the Switch's design has inspired a wave of competitors. The Steam Deck kicked things off in 2022, followed by other handheld gaming PCs like the Asus ROG Ally, Lenovo Legion Go, and MSI Claw. Rumors suggest Xbox might be developing its own handheld as well. The Switch 2 no longer stands alone, making it a less compelling investment for those who already own a handheld gaming PC like myself.

These handheld gaming PCs boast powerful hardware capable of running indie and third-party games with ease. With a vast library and access to all the games you already own, they offer a superior gaming experience. The AMD Ryzen Z2 Extreme chipset is poised to enhance these devices further, potentially outpacing the Switch 2 in the near future.

For owners of handheld gaming PCs looking to play new Nintendo exclusives, the Switch 2 presents a high barrier to entry with limited utility. If a device like the Asus ROG Ally can handle everything from third-party to indie games, then purchasing a Switch 2 just for first-party titles becomes less appealing.

The high cost of exclusives, like Mario Kart World at $79.99 and Donkey Kong Bananza at $69.99, further diminishes the allure of the Switch 2. Given that Nintendo's first-party games rarely see significant discounts, the prospect of buying them at full price is daunting.

While there's undeniable value in Nintendo's exclusives, and many gamers will find the Switch 2's lineup over the coming years justifies its price, for those of us with handheld gaming PCs, something more is needed.

In conclusion, the Nintendo Switch 2 may not be the best investment for everyone, especially those who already own a handheld gaming PC. Devices like the Lenovo Legion Go offer robust performance and access to a vast library of indie and third-party games. My Asus ROG Ally fulfills all my previous needs for a Switch and more, making it the better choice for gaming on the go.