NPC: Next Portable Console

They unpack a surprise Switch 2 handheld boost that ups the resolution of older games and show which classics benefit most. They debate Nintendo's timing and the tradeoffs for touchscreen, battery, and docked play. A deep dive into an advanced iPad-to-PC streaming setup and the microstutter fix. Finally, hot takes on Anbernic’s pricing moves and a quirky swiveling-screen handheld prototype.

They untangle the messy state of third-party Switch 2 Joy-Con replacements and why feature tradeoffs are causing headaches. They test Android gaming on phones and tablets, comparing cooling, drivers, and which PC ports actually run. They place bets on Valve’s delayed Steam Machine and the outlook for its controller. Short takes on SSD buying and dual-boot pain round things out.

This week, more bad memory and storage news, followed by a conversation about Bloomberg's report that Sony is withdrawing from the PC gaming market and a wild Lenovo handheld. Also available on YouTube here. Links and Show Notes The Latest Portable Gaming News Nintendo Switch 2 Users Face Storage Shortage as Memory Crisis Bites Sony Pulls Back From PlayStation Games on PC Anbernic RG Vita Pro Lenovo Legion Go Fold Concept Resident Evil Requiem (RE9) Subscribe to NPC XL NPC XL is a weekly members-only version of NPC with extra content, available exclusively through our new Patreon for $5/month. Each week on NPC XL, Federico, Brendon, and John record a special segment or deep dive about a particular topic that is released alongside the "regular" NPC episodes. You can subscribe here: https://www.patreon.com/c/NextPortableConsole Leave Feedback for John, Federico, and Brendon NPC Feedback Form Credits Show Art: Brendon Bigley Music: Will LaPorte Follow Us Online On the Web MacStories.net Wavelengths.online Follow us on Mastodon NPC Federico John Brendon Follow us on Bluesky NPC MacStories Federico Viticci John Voorhees Brendon Bigley Affiliate Linking Policy

This week, John, Federico, and Brendon cover the news that GameSir is bringing GameHub to the Mac and chat about the ASUS's special edition ROG Flow Z13. Also available on YouTube here. Links and Show Notes GameSir to Bring GameHub to the Mac GameSir's GameHub is bringing Steam (PC) games to Mac Game Porting Toolkit - Games Emuready The ASUS ROG Flow Z13-KJP ROG Flow Z13-KJP | Kojima 2 in 1 Gaming Laptop This limited edition Death Stranding-inspired tablet is the coolest computer I've ever touched See also: ROG Flow Z13-ACRNM RMT02 | Gaming Laptops | ROG – Republic of Gamers Subscribe to NPC XL NPC XL is a weekly members-only version of NPC with extra content, available exclusively through our new Patreon for $5/month. Each week on NPC XL, Federico, Brendon, and John record a special segment or deep dive about a particular topic that is released alongside the "regular" NPC episodes. You can subscribe here: https://www.patreon.com/c/NextPortableConsole Leave Feedback for John, Federico, and Brendon NPC Feedback Form Credits Show Art: Brendon Bigley Music: Will LaPorte Follow Us Online On the Web MacStories.net Wavelengths.online Follow us on Mastodon NPC Federico John Brendon Follow us on Bluesky NPC MacStories Federico Viticci John Voorhees Brendon Bigley Affiliate Linking Policy

This week, Brendon, Federico, and John tackle the RAM shortage and its effect on the handheld industry before digging into Cocoon 2.0, an excellent Android front-end for your emulators. Also available on YouTube here. Links and Show Notes AYN Odin 3 Ultra Available Again for Pre-Order AYN Odin 3 Ultra RAM Shortage & Industry Impact The out-of-stock Steam Deck is the latest victim of the RAM & storage shortage Cocoon 2.0 Frontend Cocoon 2.0 Subscribe to NPC XL NPC XL is a weekly members-only version of NPC with extra content, available exclusively through our new Patreon for $5/month. Each week on NPC XL, Federico, Brendon, and John record a special segment or deep dive about a particular topic that is released alongside the "regular" NPC episodes. You can subscribe here: https://www.patreon.com/c/NextPortableConsole Leave Feedback for John, Federico, and Brendon NPC Feedback Form Credits Show Art: Brendon Bigley Music: Will LaPorte Follow Us Online On the Web MacStories.net Wavelengths.online Follow us on Mastodon NPC Federico John Brendon Follow us on Bluesky NPC MacStories Federico Viticci John Voorhees Brendon Bigley Affiliate Linking Policy

This week, Brendon, Federico, and John cover a raft of new budget handhelds a new OLED tablet from Lenovo, TrimUI leaks, and more Also available on YouTube here. Links and Show Notes The Latest Portable Gaming News News Recap MagicX Two Dream Teased In New Images Anbernic RG Vita is an Android handheld game console with a familiar design Lenovo's next gaming tablet is coming soon (in China) AYANEO Corner AYANEO NEXT 2 handheld gaming PC with AMD Strix Halo will cost $1799 to $3499 at launch (up to $4299 retail) Just look at Ayaneo's absolute unit of a Windows gaming "handheld" AYANEO launches KONKR FIT handheld gaming PC with Ryzen AI 9 HX 370/470 for $999 and up Mangmi Pocket MAX now available: Android handheld with modular controllers Trimui 4.7-inch flip leak TrimUI SP-Style Handheld Also Leaks Tomb Raider Reboot Launches on iOS and Android - MacRumors Subscribe to NPC XL NPC XL is a weekly members-only version of NPC with extra content, available exclusively through our new Patreon for $5/month. Each week on NPC XL, Federico, Brendon, and John record a special segment or deep dive about a particular topic that is released alongside the "regular" NPC episodes. You can subscribe here: https://www.patreon.com/c/NextPortableConsole Leave Feedback for John, Federico, and Brendon NPC Feedback Form Credits Show Art: Brendon Bigley Music: Will LaPorte Follow Us Online On the Web MacStories.net Wavelengths.online Follow us on Mastodon NPC Federico John Brendon Follow us on Bluesky NPC MacStories Federico Viticci John Voorhees Brendon Bigley Affiliate Linking Policy

This week, a quick tour of Nintendo's latest Direct, more details emerge about the Virtual Boy Switch 2 accessory, the Steam Machine and other hardware is delayed, Anbernic goes out on a limb, AYANEO steps on a rake, and the Odin 2 rides off into the sunset. Also available on YouTube here. Links and Show Notes Follow Up Nintendo actually showed me the Virtual Boy Nintendo's new Virtual Boy is more fun to look at than to play Stephen Totilo on Bluesky The Latest Portable Gaming News News Recap Nintendo Direct: Partner Showcase 2.5.2026 Anbernic Announces RG VITA and RG VITA Pro Handhelds AYANEO's Latest QA Slip Means A Free Pocket Air Mini For Buyers AYN is Sunsetting The Odin 2 Subscribe to NPC XL NPC XL is a weekly members-only version of NPC with extra content, available exclusively through our new Patreon for $5/month. Each week on NPC XL, Federico, Brendon, and John record a special segment or deep dive about a particular topic that is released alongside the "regular" NPC episodes. You can subscribe here: https://www.patreon.com/c/NextPortableConsole Leave Feedback for John, Federico, and Brendon NPC Feedback Form Credits Show Art: Brendon Bigley Music: Will LaPorte Follow Us Online On the Web MacStories.net Wavelengths.online Follow us on Mastodon NPC Federico John Brendon Follow us on Bluesky NPC MacStories Federico Viticci John Voorhees Brendon Bigley Affiliate Linking Policy

This week, the guys tackle a load of weird news from playing Game Boy games on e-readers and ordering pizza from a Wii in 2026, the upcoming Virtual Boy Switch 2 accessory. Also available on YouTube here. Links and Show Notes The Latest Portable Gaming News This is The New Worst Game Boy Setup Someone Just Ordered Domino's on a Wii in 2026 Virtual Boy Classics On Switch Are Bringing Back Two Lost Games Mecha Comet modular Linux handheld hits Kickstarter for $189 and up Onyx Boox Palma | A Review Subscribe to NPC XL NPC XL is a weekly members-only version of NPC with extra content, available exclusively through our new Patreon for $5/month. Each week on NPC XL, Federico, Brendon, and John record a special segment or deep dive about a particular topic that is released alongside the "regular" NPC episodes. You can subscribe here: https://www.patreon.com/c/NextPortableConsole Leave Feedback for John, Federico, and Brendon NPC Feedback Form Credits Show Art: Brendon Bigley Music: Will LaPorte Follow Us Online On the Web MacStories.net Wavelengths.online Follow us on Mastodon NPC Federico John Brendon Follow us on Bluesky NPC MacStories Federico Viticci John Voorhees Brendon Bigley Affiliate Linking Policy

This week, Federico and John go it alone without Brendon to cover Game Pass on ARM, an avalanche of AYANEO announcements, and why the TrimUI Brick Pro has shot up their most-anticipated handheld list for 2026. Also available on YouTube here. Links and Show Notes The Latest Portable Gaming News Xbox app is now available on ARM-based Windows 11 PCs AYANEO Pocket S Mini is a smaller handheld Android game console with Snapdragon G3x Gen 2 AYANEO unveils KONKR FIT handheld gaming PC with Ryzen AI 9 HX 470 AYANEO Unveils Details on the Pocket Vert TRIMUI Brick Pro Coming Soon TRIMUI Officially Teases The "Brick Pro" Handheld REDMAGIC 11 Air is a slim gaming phone with active cooling fan and massive 7000mAh battery Asus hits pause on smartphone business with no new Zenfone or ROG Phone models planned for 2026 Chinese modders end console wars with a PS5, Xbox Series S, and Switch 2 combo console Subscribe to NPC XL NPC XL is a weekly members-only version of NPC with extra content, available exclusively through our new Patreon for $5/month. Each week on NPC XL, Federico, Brendon, and John record a special segment or deep dive about a particular topic that is released alongside the "regular" NPC episodes. You can subscribe here: https://www.patreon.com/c/NextPortableConsole Leave Feedback for John, Federico, and Brendon NPC Feedback Form Credits Show Art: Brendon Bigley Music: Will LaPorte Follow Us Online On the Web MacStories.net Wavelengths.online Follow us on Mastodon NPC Federico John Brendon Follow us on Bluesky NPC MacStories Federico Viticci John Voorhees Brendon Bigley Affiliate Linking Policy

This week on NPC, rumors swirl about the Steam Machine's pricing, AYANEO pauses to collect itself, GameSir's Pocket Taco goes live, the lack of foldable phone controllers, and our first videogames. Also available on YouTube here. Links and Show Notes The Latest Portable Gaming News Steam Machine pricing may have leaked Meta has closed three VR studios as part of its metaverse-focused layoffs GameSir Pocket Taco phone controller Kickstarter is now live AYANEO Pocket PLAY delayed AYN Thor gets major OTA update, Batch 2 shipping January 15, prices rising for Batch 3 Retrocade is coming to Apple Vision Pro A FEX announcement is coming Subscribe to NPC XL NPC XL is a weekly members-only version of NPC with extra content, available exclusively through our new Patreon for $5/month. Each week on NPC XL, Federico, Brendon, and John record a special segment or deep dive about a particular topic that is released alongside the "regular" NPC episodes. You can subscribe here: https://www.patreon.com/c/NextPortableConsole Leave Feedback for John, Federico, and Brendon NPC Feedback Form Credits Show Art: Brendon Bigley Music: Will LaPorte Follow Us Online On the Web MacStories.net Wavelengths.online Follow us on Mastodon NPC Federico John Brendon Follow us on Bluesky NPC MacStories Federico Viticci John Voorhees Brendon Bigley Affiliate Linking Policy