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In November 2020, the stunning specifications of the PS5 and Xbox Series X captured the gaming discussion. Loading screens were expected to vanish, due to onboard solid-state drives; aquatic graphics would appear more realistic than ever, driven by ray-tracing; and true-to-life settings awaited exploration in glorious 4K. As gamers counted down the release of CD Projekt's title, dedicated players debated intensely about how Sony's 10.3-teraflop machine would compare against Microsoft's 12-teraflop giant. At the same time, plenty of players appeared quite happy to stick with Among Us and Nintendo's island getaway.

The latest console cycle of interactive platforms kicked off with the typical celebration of advanced hardware. But the last five years have also seen system developers quickly broaden their focus to include lower-cost options at reduced price points, including cloud gaming services, handhelds, and even less-powerful consoles. While there are several related causes for this phenomenon, two major factors are the revival of handheld gaming and the move from traditional console setups to broader platforms. Some of the best surprises of this cycle have come from looking backwards and sideways, instead of always and only forward.

Sony's Platform

Just in December 2019, ex-Sony executive Sony's chief stated to media that portable consoles was “a business that we’re not involved in.” This comment aged like fine milk. Towards the end of the 2010s, many industry insiders expected that smartphones would cause the demise for dedicated portables, but luckily, it didn’t turn out that way. Driven by a huge increase, because of the budget portable in 2019 and Nintendo's hit title in 2020, the Switch has remained a massive phenomenon. In 2022, the Valve's handheld had achieved the once-unthinkable, making the desktop play completely mobile.

When PlayStation first revealed its Portal remote handheld in 2023, its goofy-lookin’ design elicited numerous comments, and it’s just as strange to look at in person. Yet, priced at two hundred dollars, it’s a solid choice to a standalone portable for those who have a sizable library of PlayStation titles. Better still, the streaming device has now acquired full streaming functionality, meaning users can avoid monopolize the PS5 console to play their games. It requires a top-tier membership costing $17.99 per month, but considering what you could pay for a Switch 2, ROG Ally X, or the PC handheld, the streaming device appears cost-effective relative to others. It might not be the Vita 2 we were anticipating, but it’s a step in the right direction that seemed flat-out impossible in 2020.

While the price of a PS5 currently ranges from five hundred for the all-digital to $750 for the enhanced edition (physical media support optional), Sony has also announced a area-specific, exclusive to Japan PS5. It's priced at ¥55,000, or roughly $350, and works solely with a local account. Therefore, the new hardware are dropping in price — but not everywhere.

Xbox

Launched with the top-spec Xbox Series X, the all-digital Series S uses a lot of the same components, but outputs games in QHD rather than ultra-high definition. The dual hardware offering aimed to encourage a “gentler” transition between generations, like the computer market. Backward compatibility has remained a major focus, with the two systems able to access previous titles of Xbox One and Xbox 360 games with better speed and appearance. The S model was part of the company's plan to expand its market share in Asia and Latin America, where it had historically lagged behind other console makers.

The company's requirement that titles support both systems has rankled some developers after release — like Control’s Remedy Entertainment, Larian of Baldur's Gate 3, and Black Myth: Wukong’s Game Science. These studios argue that adapting for the lower-end console poses a significant hurdle to adapting software for Microsoft. Even so, the policy isn't changing soon — previously, the Xbox head informed an ex-IGN employee that targeting Series S makes it easier to port games to handheld consoles like the portable PCs.

As Microsoft enters the portable market and encouraging gamers to play on smart TVs and handheld gadgets — without a dedicated system — it’s not clear how a low-end console fits into the company’s strategy going forward. Yet, I’ve always had a soft spot for the Series S. In contrast to other systems, it is not unattractive or hard to store inside a normal piece of furniture. It looks like a stylish appliance and adequately serves the requirements of average players. For several months in 2021, it was the exclusive latest hardware you could purchase physically, and you could often find it at Costco for a mere $250. (Currently, it sells for $399.)

The Nintendo Platform

Simultaneously that included the debut of PS5 and Xbox Series X, Nintendo released a nostalgic portable device with the first Mario title to commemorate the milestone of the early handheld. This perfectly illustrates of the company’s pointed disinterest in selling players cutting-edge tech just for the sake of it. Several popular Nintendo products (such as the Game Boy and Switch) embody the development strategy of the late Gunpei Yokoi: “creative use of existing tech.” In other words, it doesn’t need to be the latest technology on the market, but it should provide entertainment.

Released in early 2017, the portable-home system continued to dominate|