Latest news with #handheld
Gizmodo
11 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Gizmodo
This Case Forced Me to Completely Rethink How I Handle the Switch 2
The Nintendo Switch 2 is currently the featherweight champion of gaming handhelds—though largely because nobody can enter its weight class. No other device of its size—whether it's a handheld PC or another retro device—can slip so easily into a backpack without weighing you down, like you're lugging a sack of bricks around through every train station and airport terminal. That slim design comes with its own heap of drawbacks. The Switch 2 is a thin device with narrow edges that tends to dig into your palms. I've tried a smorgasbord of various cases with the Switch 2, but only Dbrand's Killswitch case has reinvented the console's ergonomics and kept it usable. The case tacks on extra bulk to Nintendo's design, making it extra comfortable and extra heavy. Until better alternatives come along, the Killswitch is how I plan to game with my Switch 2 going forward, even if my arms and back will complain later. Dbrand Killswitch Case for Switch 2 The Killswitch case is the best we've used to change the Switch 2 ergonomics, but at the expense of easy docking to a TV. Pros Cons Dbrand's Killswitch was one of the more popular covers for devices like Steam Deck. Valve's handheld is a more ergonomic device than Nintendo's, and the Killswitch merely extends the grips for larger hands while protecting the device's back and side plates. The version made for Switch 2 upends the look, weight, and feel of Nintendo's new handheld. Once you wrap the case around the Switch 2's screen and each individual Joy-Con 2, the handheld suddenly feels like something you'll actually want to hold. The case lets your ring fingers sit on a shelf while your pointer digits handle the trigger and bumper buttons. The texture for each rubberized Joy-Con 2 cover keeps your hands from slipping off. With the Joy-Con 2 controllers detached, I didn't need to wrap my finger lengthwise around the SR button or mouse sensor like I typically do without the case. The only downside is that the Joy-Con 2 covers don't sit completely flush with the controllers. Since the controllers are more side-heavy, you'll want the covers to make easy use of mouse controls. The Joy-Con 2's slim design doesn't allow for a comfortable, ergonomic feel in mouse mode. With the grips on the Killswitch, my fingers found a much more amenable position whether I was swiping on my couch's armrest or the end table in front of me. By itself, the $60 Killswitch case makes the Switch 2 much bulkier than it is normally. It's so big, it won't fit into the official dock. The kit comes with an extra dock adapter you slip over the dock's USB-C port. To hook the Switch 2 up to a TV, you need to hover the handheld's exposed USB port over the male USB-C end and eyeball your unit until you can line it up correctly. It's an awkward way to fix a problem created by the case itself. You can keep the main plate off the Switch 2 if you intend to dock as you would normally. If you do, make sure you don't adhere the kickstand protector to the handheld. Even that small piece of plastic makes the Switch 2 too thick to fit into the dock. That also means if you plan to be traveling with the dock to a friend's house, you need to take the dock adapter, too. If you are going to be running around with the Switch 2, you'll also want to opt for the $80 Travel version of the case that comes with a large plastic cover and magnetically attached game card holder. The cover uses a bungee cord to wrap around the Killswitch case to hold everything in place, though you'll need to unlatch it to access the Switch 2's bottom USB-C port. The game card bandolier held onto my cards no matter how much it tumbled around in my backpack, though the magnets may be almost too strong, as it takes finger-straining force to remove it from the cover. All together, the Killswitch case makes the Switch 2 feel more comfortable to hold for longer. It also makes the device feel heavier, more than if you had merely stuck your device into a slim, felt-lined case. I haven't had the opportunity to check out Nintendo's official $40 Carry Case & Screen Protector or the company's $85 All-In-One case. As of writing this page, in order to get one, you have to register your interest with Nintendo, then hope you get called up to be the first to go hands-on. Thankfully, you have so many options if you would prefer something lighter. I've received $20 cases from both Snakebyte and Power-A for testing. If you can find them in stock, either one will serve you well with sturdy covers. Each has enough space for 10 game cards apiece. If it weren't for the need for a dock adapter, the Killswitch would be an easy case to recommend. The dock has caused havoc with other accessory makers' case designs. Genki also sent me its $50 Attack Vector case and grips, which could have made Nintendo's new console more ergonomic without needing a case. In that time, both I and other early users quickly identified an issue where the Attack Vector fits too snug inside the dock. This could potentially damage the screen if you force it down too hard into the slot. In an email, Genki related this to 'production-related issues' and said it was working on a new version to address those problems. We'll have to revisit Genki's alternative another time. If you're truly keen to protect your device, you'll also need a screen cover. Nintendo's Switch 2 comes stock with a thin plastic film over the glass screen. While this is designed to prevent your Switch 2's display from shattering into a thousand tiny pieces, it also leaves the device more scratch-prone than other, similar devices. It was the same problem with the display on the Switch OLED, which also used this plastic film. You're better off finding a screen protector for your Switch 2, and I've already tried several so you can get an idea which one is best. Genki sent along its $20 Aegis Shield protector, while Dbrand provided us with its $35 Prism 2.0 ($20 if you buy it alongside the Killswitch). Both offer very similar plastic plates to help you line up the screen protector with the Switch 2 display. You only need to clean the screen with a microfiber cloth and alcohol wipes, plant the plastic piece over the console, and then pull the slip of plastic film back to reveal the actual screen protector. Both work well enough, but depending on how straight you pull back on the internal protector, you may still be left with air bubbles you need to manually squeegee out. High-end accessories inevitably make the $450 Switch 2 cost more. Just remember, cheaper cases aren't necessarily worse. If you want a lightweight console, you'll want a case that's more mundane.
Malay Mail
4 days ago
- Business
- Malay Mail
Microsoft confirms next-gen Xbox console, partners with AMD for cutting-edge tech
SAN FRANCISCO, June 18 — Xbox president Sarah Bond yesterday confirmed that her team is working on a new Xbox video game console. 'We're investing in our next generation of hardware line-up across console, handheld, PC, cloud and accessories,' Bond said in a video posted on X. Semiconductors powering the new hardware will be made in collaboration with Silicon Valley-based Advanced Micro Devices (AMD). 'We've established a strategic, multi-year partnership with AMD to co-engineer silicon across a portfolio of devices, including our next generation Xbox consoles.' Microsoft earlier this month unveiled its first Xbox-branded handheld gaming devices, touting them as a way to play its vast library of titles anywhere. Two 'ROG Xbox Ally' models made in a partnership with Taiwan-based ASUS will be available by the year-end holiday season, Bond said during an online event showcasing games heading for the platform. Microsoft promised to disclose pricing and release date details for Xbox Ally in the coming months. Both Xbox handhelds appeared similar to Microsoft console controllers in terms of buttons, toggles and grips but looked elongated to provide room for centre screens. 'At Xbox, our vision is for you to play the games you want with the people you want, anywhere you want,' Bond said in the video. — AFP
Free Malaysia Today
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- Free Malaysia Today
Microsoft working on next-gen Xbox video game console
Microsoft earlier this month unveiled its first Xbox-branded handheld gaming devices. (EPA Images pic) SAN FRANCISCO : Xbox president Sarah Bond today confirmed that her team is working on a new Xbox video game console. 'We're investing in our next generation of hardware line-up across console, handheld, PC, cloud and accessories,' Bond said in a video posted on X. Semiconductors powering the new hardware will be made in collaboration with Silicon Valley-based Advanced Micro Devices (AMD). 'We've established a strategic, multi-year partnership with AMD to co-engineer silicon across a portfolio of devices, including our next generation Xbox consoles.' Microsoft earlier this month unveiled its first Xbox-branded handheld gaming devices, touting them as a way to play its vast library of titles anywhere. Two 'ROG Xbox Ally' models made in a partnership with Taiwan-based Asus will be available by the year-end holiday season, Bond said during an online event showcasing games heading for the platform. Microsoft promised to disclose pricing and release date details for Xbox Ally in the coming months. Both Xbox handhelds appeared similar to Microsoft console controllers in terms of buttons, toggles and grips but looked elongated to provide room for centre screens. 'At Xbox, our vision is for you to play the games you want with the people you want, anywhere you want,' Bond said in the video.
The Verge
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- The Verge
Life with the Nintendo Switch 2
The Nintendo Switch 2 is great. In many ways, it's exactly what we hoped for: a Switch, only better. And yet there's something… underwhelming about it. Maybe it's unfair, but we've come to expect Nintendo to consistently amaze us with either how its consoles work or the games you can play with them. In this case, it still feels like a Switch. Only better. And not universally better, either. On this episode of The Vergecast, now that a number of folks on our team have spent some real time with the Switch 2, it's time to talk about how we feel about this new console. First, The Verge 's Andrew Webster joins the show to talk through his review, from the controllers to the design to the game-changing games here and yet to come. Then, The Verge 's Ash Parrish tells us about her experiences traveling with the Switch 2, how her experience has compared to her first demos of the device, and the games she's been playing so far. Then we pivot a bit, and talk about the Xbox Ally X and Microsoft's own vision for handheld gaming. Finally, The Verge 's Sean Hollister helps us answer a question from the Vergecast Hotline (call 866-VERGE11 or email vergecast@ about the state of consoles. Everything in gaming seems more expensive than ever, and more expensive all the time; is it time for the console business to change? If you want to know more about everything we discuss in this episode, here are some links to get you started:
Yahoo
6 days ago
- Yahoo
Microsoft wants to win the handheld gaming war by no longer making one
When you buy through links on our articles, Future and its syndication partners may earn a commission. The gaming industry is notoriously volatile. And that's true of more than just software. This week, we have a new entry for the graveyard of delayed or discontinued gaming hardware, and Microsoft is at the heart of it all. Microsoft's rumored first-party Xbox handheld may take longer to arrive than initially expected. According to an exclusive report from Windows Central, Microsoft has paused development on the Xbox handheld to focus instead on optimizing Windows 11 for gaming experiences. Here's what we know so far about the delay, Windows optimizations, and the future of Xbox handhelds. Even though the Xbox handheld seems to be on pause, Microsoft is still working on something else. Codenamed "Kennan," the project for a branded Xbox handheld with Asus is reportedly still underway. So we will still get an Xbox handheld — even if it's mostly just a next-gen ROG Ally with a black-and-green color scheme. The first-party handheld that's reportedly been delayed was initially expected to launch alongside a next-generation Xbox home console in 2027. While we understand that the Xbox Series X successor will still launch during that window, the handheld device appears to have been shelved for now. According to the report from Windows Central, "sources have indicated ... that Microsoft is still deeply investing in developing its own Xbox gaming handheld technology in the future, but it was announced internally [Thursday] that the priorities are moving more deeply towards third-party OEM handhelds in the interim." So it appears that Microsoft is still planning to make its own handheld gaming device, just not by 2027. Microsoft's Xbox handheld may end up being a mid-cycle device rather than a dual-launch device for Microsoft's next console generation, but only time will tell. Microsoft is switching its handheld development to further support the "Kennan" handheld, which was co-designed with Asus, and to focus more on software optimization. As Windows Central reports, "Microsoft has decided to prioritize its teams to improve Windows 11 gaming performance, specifically for devices like the ASUS partner, 'Project Kennan.'" It's possible that the threat from SteamOS, which on paper delivers better gaming performance than Windows 11 itself, has informed these decisions." NEW Features: AMD Ryzen Z2 Go processor, 8-inch 120 Hz refresh rate display, 16GB of RAM, 512GB of storage (with a MicroSD slot for up to an additional 2TB). The SteamOS version of the Legion Go S is the one to get. It boasts better battery life and frame rates, all at a lower price than the Windows version. View Deal Now that Lenovo's Legion Go S with SteamOS is available, Microsoft has some serious OS competition for gaming handhelds. Valve's Linux-based operating system tends to be less resource-intensive than Windows 11, and thus offers better battery life and smoother performance. Of course, SteamOS isn't the best solution for everyone. Some first-party launchers don't have Linux support or may not run correctly through Proton emulation. Workarounds exist for more major launchers, like the Epic Games Store or Ubisoft Connect. And Valve is still updating the Steam library to make more games compatible with SteamOS. The SteamOS library currently features over 17,000 games, though most are single-player. Kernel-level anti-cheat systems seem the most significant barrier to enabling popular multiplayer games on SteamOS. Outside of the smaller multiplayer library, SteamOS is stable, is a low-hardware-lift OS, and it doesn't get hamstrung by Windows 11's terrible touchscreen controls on the desktop. This has made the Steam Deck (and potentially now the Legion Go S with SteamOS) a more attractive gaming handheld than its Windows competitors. Unless you're like me, and you've got an MMO you just can't put down, SteamOS is a solid solution. However, if Microsoft optimizes Windows 11 for gaming handhelds, that could remove at least a few OS-based pain points for Windows-based gaming handhelds. Forget Windows 11, this version of Windows 10 is officially supported until 2032 I ditched my rig for GeForce Now: Here's what the experience is really like. Don't buy an Nvidia RTX 5060 laptop, wait for the RTX 5050
