The Asus Ally is like a Nintendo Switch for PC games
An accessible, affordable handheld gaming PC isn't entirely far-fetched.
Gaming, big and small
Two interesting gaming hardware items I want to share — one big; one small.
First, I just reviewed the upcoming Asus Ally, a handheld Windows 11 gaming PC that's basically a Steam Deck running Windows instead of SteamOS/Linux.
(If that doesn't mean anything to you, think of it like this: People increasingly want something small and handheld that looks and feels like a Nintendo Switch but plays full-scale PC games.)
Last year's Steam Deck was an admirable first draft and continues improving with regular software updates. The Asus Ally feels like a second- or third-gen attempt at the same idea.
Pluses: It's sleeker, lighter, more powerful and plays games from almost any Windows-compatible storefront. Cons: It's more expensive and lacks the Steam Deck's clever tiny laptop-style touchpads for navigating and controlling keyboard-and-mouse games.
It'll take some work and software/OS updates to feel fully baked, but I've been impressed with what I've seen so far.
Second, and at the opposite end of the portable gaming spectrum, I also recently tested and reviewed the Alienware M18 from Dell's gaming line. Before this year's crop, the last 18-inch gaming laptop I tried was also an Alienware, called the Alienware 18, which I reviewed in 2013.
Is it over the top? A little bit. Is it outrageously expensive? Not when you compare it to the 18-inch Razer Blade 18 I reviewed earlier this year ($3,500 vs. $4,500 for similar configurations). But don't kid yourself; you could buy a half-dozen PS5 consoles for the price of a decent M18 setup.
Asus ROG Ally Review: Handheld Gaming, Windows-Style
https://www.cnet.com/tech/gaming/asus-rog-ally-review-handheld-gaming-windows-style/
Alienware m18 Review: A Big and Bold Gaming Beast
https://www.cnet.com/tech/computing/alienware-m18-review-a-big-and-bold-gaming-beast/
Zelda takes to the sky
Tears of the Kingdom is probably the last major game of this generation of Nintendo Switch hardware. But a new Switch, or whatever its successor will be called, isn’t expected until sometime in 2024.
So, despite lacking any new high-end visuals, my colleague Scott Stein says in his review, “There's no new Nintendo Switch in sight. That's OK. Settle back, dive in and let the magic unfold. This new Zelda game is like a new novel in the great fantasy series you've been waiting for. Twenty hours in, it feels insanely vast.”
Tears of the Kingdom, Reviewed: The New Zelda Game Is the Switch's Swan Song
https://www.cnet.com/tech/gaming/tears-of-the-kingdom-reviewed-the-new-zelda-game-is-the-switchs-swan-song/
Big Ack is a regular email series from veteran technology reporter Dan Ackerman. Forward or share with your friends, or they can sign up here: danackerman.substack.com
See more at:
Twitter: twitter.com/danackerman
TikTok: tiktok.com/@danacknyc
YouTube: youtube.com/danackerman
Mastodon: https://bit.ly/danonmastadon
Plugs!
Buy my book, The Tetris Effect, at Amazon:
https://www.amazon.com/Tetris-Effect-Game-Hypnotized-World-ebook/dp/B01DWX9T7G/
“Upends the standard Silicon Valley, Steve Jobs/Mark Zuckerberg technology-creation myth...the story shines” — The New York Times
Buy my tabletop game, Techlandia, at TechlandiaGame.com!
“A fun mix of quirky social commentary and Lovecraftian horror.” — Gizmodo