tech
The golden age of handheld gaming is already over
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TL;DR
- The Steam Deck's price has nearly doubled, from $399 to $789, marking a significant increase in portable PC gaming costs.
- The Nintendo Switch has also experienced a price hike, with its starting price soon to be $499.
- Rising costs of components like RAM, tariffs, and geopolitical factors are contributing to these price increases across the industry.
- Desktop PC gaming is also facing affordability challenges due to skyrocketing RAM and storage prices, with chipmakers prioritizing AI servers.
- Other handheld gaming PCs, such as the Xbox Ally X, Lenovo Legion Go, and MSI Claw, also carry high price tags, further reinforcing the trend.
- The increasing cost of these devices shifts them from being an affordable alternative to consoles and PCs into a choice that requires significant financial commitment.
- The author expresses sadness over the short duration of affordable handheld gaming, lamenting the lack of true competition emerging during its brief affordable period.