The Xbox Ally, a competitive handheld gaming device for Xbox and PC games, is now available at a discounted price of $489, down from $599.99, offering reliable performance, a 7-inch display, and support for cloud gaming services, making it a strong alternative to the Steam Deck, especially for cloud gaming enthusiasts.
The Xbox Series X, originally priced at $650, is currently available at an 8% discount for $600 on Amazon, returning it to its spring/summer MSRP after previous price hikes. The console offers 4K gaming, a disc drive, fast load times, and access to streaming apps and Game Pass, making it a top choice for gamers, especially with the critically acclaimed game Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 available on the platform.
Valve is launching a new, more powerful Steam Machine in early 2026, aiming to compete with Xbox and PlayStation. It is a 6-inch cube that runs SteamOS and uses Proton for Windows game compatibility, offering a stationary gaming experience with the power and convenience that surpasses the Steam Deck, including faster updates and better performance.
The upcoming Xbox 'Magnus' is expected to be a high-end, powerful console with a bill of materials exceeding $650, potentially pushing its retail price above $1000 due to high costs and support for third-party stores, which may influence Sony's PlayStation 6 strategy.
Microsoft's upcoming Xbox console is expected to be a premium, high-end device focused on a curated gaming experience, with hints of integrating PC-like features and a dedicated, optimized interface, aiming to differentiate from competitors despite current sales challenges.
The new PlayStation 5 Pro CFI-7121 model offers improved power efficiency (2-3%), runs cooler, and is quieter than the original, with minor hardware changes like a lighter heatsink and different fan. The DualSense controller saw minimal updates, mainly removing the back microphone to reduce costs. Overall, these small upgrades enhance performance without significant changes or cost increases.
The rumored Xbox handheld was canceled reportedly due to AMD's high minimum order requirements of over 10 million units, which Microsoft was unwilling to commit to, especially given the sales figures of comparable devices like Steam Deck and ASUS ROG. The system was never officially announced, and the cancellation may also reflect Microsoft's strategic shift towards third-party publishing. Despite this, a different portable Xbox device, the ROG Xbox Ally, is launching soon and has already sold out.
Three years after its launch, Playdate remains a unique and charming micro-console that appeals to indie game developers and enthusiasts with its inventive use of controls, curated game releases, and dedicated community, despite some hardware limitations like lack of backlight and Bluetooth.
Leaked information suggests Sony is developing a powerful $400 PlayStation handheld with RDNA 5 GPU and up to 48GB RAM, potentially more powerful than the Xbox Ally X, expected around late 2027, and part of a broader PlayStation 6 lineup.
Ayaneo has announced the Pocket DS, a dual-screen Android handheld inspired by the Nintendo DS, available for preorder on Indiegogo starting at $399 with shipping expected in October 2025. It features a 7-inch OLED top screen, a 5-inch LCD bottom screen, a Snapdragon G3x Gen 2 processor, and customizable specs, aiming to recreate the Nintendo DS experience with modern hardware.
AYANEO announced the Pocket DS, the world's first dual-screen Android gaming handheld resembling a Nintendo 3DS XL, with more details to be revealed in a future livestream. The device is already in production and was showcased at ChinaJoy, hinting at a powerful Snapdragon G3 Gen 3 processor. The company also released the Pocket S2, a high-performance Android gaming device with up to 16GB RAM and a large battery, available for pre-order via Indiegogo.
Atari has re-released its classic 2600 console as the Atari 2600+ Pac-Man Edition, celebrating Pac-Man's 45th birthday with a bright yellow design and themed accessories, including a wireless joystick and a special cartridge, available for pre-order at £129.99.
The Nintendo Switch 2 is now available online at Best Buy, with limited stock of the standalone console and a Mario Kart bundle, making it the fastest-selling console with over 3.5 million units sold in four days, and offers improved performance and backward compatibility with the original Switch games.