In a way, it’s a surprise that more companies didn’t jump on the handheld gaming train far earlier than they did. All the signs have been there that the handheld gaming market could be incredibly profitable, with the main sign being the rise of the mobile gaming market. Just look at the iGaming industry. Back in 2007, after the first iPhone was announced, it didn’t take long for online casino companies to take advantage, updating their platforms to be more mobile-friendly.
By the early 2010s, more online casinos were being launched to capitalise on this new market, to the point where, today, the market is worth around $90 billion, with thousands of traditional and sweeps casinos to choose from – click here to find out more about the sweeps side of the industry.
It’s been clear for a long time that people like playing games on the go, with an emphasis on convenience and accessibility. However, the handheld gaming industry has only really gotten started in the last five years. Looking at the three major players in the industry, Valve’s Steam Deck was announced back in 2021 and released on February 25th, 2022. Meanwhile, ASUS introduced ROG Ally in 2023, while Lenovo only unveiled the Legion GO S this year. As far as the handheld gaming revolution is concerned, it’s fair to say these companies are late to the party. But the important thing is, at least they’ve arrived!
The Handheld Gaming Market Kicks Off
While the mobile gaming market remains strong, players around the world are happy to now have the choice between the online gaming worlds in their phones, and the traditional gaming worlds that are now available in devices like ROG Ally and Legion GO S.
Although they still have the choice of which handheld gaming device is the best one. Looking at the handheld industry, of course, it’s hard to pinpoint exactly which handheld gaming device is the most dominant, especially since the industry’s still in the early stages.
With that being said, as we mentioned before, there are some traits that distinguish Steam, ASUS, and Lenovo as the three major players.
Steam, ASUS, and Lenovo
Looking at Steam for a moment, the Steam Deck stands out primarily due to its deep integration with Valve’s thriving PC gaming ecosystem. Over the last twenty or so years, Steam has been one of the top digital distribution services, with a range of features that make it a go-to platform for PC gamers. The Steam Deck benefits from this ecosystem, providing users with seamless access to their Steam libraries, cloud saves, and regular software updates.
ASUS, on the other hand, has approached the market with raw power and versatility, with the ROG Aly boasting a super high-refresh-rate display and a far more powerful AMD chipset compared to the Steam Deck. Put simply, this device is performance driven, and gives players the chance to play some incredible AAA games without worrying about compromising on graphical quality or battery life.
Then there’s Lenovo’s Legion Go S, which has further shaken up the market by emphasising modular functionality. Whether it’s the detachable controllers, the high-resolution display, or the hybrid design that allows it to function as both a handheld and a small desktop gaming machine, this is a fantastic option that offers a truly unique take on portable gaming as a concept.
All three of these devices are currently making their claim in the market, to the point where it’s hard to say which is the most dominant. Looking at numbers, however, the Steam Deck seems to be the one that has taken the world by storm, with the largest market presence and the most significant sales to date – set to grow even higher now Valve has launched a new white version of the device.
Since its release, the Steam Deck has established itself as a dominant force in the handheld gaming space, benefitting from Valve’s brand, an already loyal fanbase, and its ability to run a vast library of PC games. And that doesn’t look set to change any time soon.
