I have to believe tariffs are part of the high price, but even then, oof. No thanks. I'm not dropping a grand for a gaming handheld, not when that same grand could get me an iPhone + accessories that does far more than play games. Or heck, a budget gaming laptop for that matter.
I can see myself getting a ROG Xbox Ally X and using it as my only computer. Hook it up to a Thunderbolt dock connected to a display, mouse and keyboard at home, disconnect it and play games on the go. That would more than justify the asking price.
Why would I need two of them for co-op? Just connect two external controllers to it (via Bluetooth or whatever). Same as I would with a gaming PC or laptop.
If I had to pick between that, a $449 Switch 2, or a $549 OLED Steam Deck and years of an accumulated Steam library with ~20% of a confirmed compatible library...i'm sorry but this is a no brainer. Steam Deck or Switch 2 every time.
Life comes at you fast. Money slips out of your fingers even faster.
That's an interesting position, given that for $50 more than a Steam Deck OLED you could have a ROG Xbox Ally with guaranteed compatibility with every Steam game you own (because it runs Windows, not Linux+Proton) and an APU a generation newer.
I feel like you guys are shitting on this just because it's "Microsoft". These prices aren't unreasonable given the competition. We're talking about fully-capable Windows PCs here, not devices that have somehow been "cut down" to only do "gaming".
