The Nintendo Switch 2 is set to launch sooner than expected, and while we know a great deal about its features, the steep $449.99 price tag combined with $79.99 game launches makes it a less appealing purchase than anticipated. Honestly, I’ve barely touched my original Nintendo Switch since getting my hands on the Asus ROG Ally, and many of the issues I had with the first console seem even more pronounced in its successor—especially now that handheld gaming PCs are reshaping the market.
Asus ROG Ally Is All I Need
I've been a dedicated handheld gamer since childhood, transitioning from the Game Boy to the Nintendo DS and PlayStation Portable along the way. Handheld play remains my preferred method—it's hard to beat the comfort of curling up under blankets and gaming from bed. I was even one of the few loyal PlayStation Vita users, playing it daily during my college commute.
The Nintendo Switch blew me away back in 2017, and although I bought mine near launch, I only used it for exclusive titles. Playing games on PC never felt comfortable enough to truly enjoy, so any game that seemed suited for portable play ended up mentally filed under “Reserved for handheld.” My brain refused to let me play those games anywhere else.
However, if a title was available for free through Epic Games Store, Game Pass, PlayStation Plus, or Humble Choice, I couldn’t bring myself to buy it again on Switch. It didn't help that Switch games rarely go on sale, and when they do, the discounts aren't nearly as generous as on other platforms. This constant loop of "Why repurchase a game I already own?" followed by "But I want to play it on a handheld" always led to the same result—I didn't end up playing at all.
Then came the launch of the Asus ROG Ally in 2023, which broke that cycle. As a Windows 11-powered handheld gaming PC, it grants full access to Steam, Game Pass, Epic, and more. Suddenly, I could enjoy all those games I'd previously avoided on desktop PC—all from the comfort of my bed.
Now, I’m deep into a treasure trove of indie titles on my Ally, still working through my backlog. Without it, I’d have never experienced games like *Celeste*, *Little Nightmares II*, or the original *Resident Evil Remake*—titles that are now among my favorites. And best of all, I didn’t have to pay extra for any of them. If it weren’t for the Ally, I would have had to rebuy them on Switch. Now, it’s become my primary handheld device and has saved me hundreds in the process.
Still, I was excited for the Nintendo Switch 2 announcement, as Nintendo exclusives hold a special place in my heart. But after the Switch 2 Direct, I'm not sure where this new system fits in my life anymore.
The Switch 2 Isn’t Alone Anymore
At $449 (to start), the Nintendo Switch 2 enters a highly competitive market. That price brings it close to the $499 PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X. In fact, the PS5 launched even cheaper with its $399 digital edition. What’s worse is that over the past eight years since the original Switch debuted, its design has inspired a wave of competition. While the Steam Deck started the trend in 2022, manufacturers like Asus, Lenovo, and MSI have released capable handheld gaming PCs such as the ROG Ally, Legion Go, and Claw. Rumors also suggest Microsoft is developing its own handheld console. The Switch 2 is no longer unique—and it only makes sense as an investment if you don’t already own another handheld. Which I do.
Handheld gaming PCs pack powerful hardware that easily handles indies and third-party titles. With a much larger library and the ability to play games you already own, they offer a far more flexible experience. The components inside these devices are improving rapidly, too. The upcoming AMD Ryzen Z2 Extreme chip promises even better performance, and it won’t be long before the Switch 2 struggles to keep up.
For owners of handheld gaming PCs, wanting to play new Nintendo exclusives means facing a high cost of entry with limited returns. If you already have a machine like the Asus ROG Ally that can run everything from third-party titles to indie gems, then buying a Switch 2 is essentially just for Nintendo’s first-party games.
The pricing model doesn’t help either. Titles like *Mario Kart World* and *Donkey Kong Bananza* are launching at $79.99 and $69.99 respectively. Considering Nintendo rarely discounts its games—especially first-party titles—it’s tough to get excited about paying full price repeatedly.
That said, there’s undeniable value in Nintendo’s exclusive lineup. The company has created some of the most iconic games in history, and for many players, upcoming Switch 2 titles will justify the system’s high cost. But for someone like me—who already owns a handheld gaming PC—it takes more than that to convince me to invest.
The Nintendo Switch 2 simply isn’t a compelling purchase for everyone, especially not for those who already own a handheld gaming PC. Devices like the Lenovo Legion Go deliver strong performance and access to an enormous library of indie and third-party titles. For me, the Asus ROG Ally does everything I once needed the Switch for, and with support for multiple storefronts, it's simply a better place to play games.
