Is Nintendo Switch 2 the sales killer of PC handhelds?

Last week we experienced a rare moment in the video game industry. We witnessed the debut of a new console, the Nintendo Switch 2, and the introduction of a potential rival, the ROG Xbox Ally. Two worlds that run similarly on parallel lines. The topic has been discussed in this newsroom, and the question was even asked if the ROG Xbox Ally is a "Nintendo Switch 2 killer". Although they are devices with different focuses, the comparison between the two seems inevitable. Is there a real threat to Nintendo in this new Xbox move?

Nintendo Switch and the origins of PC handhelds

When the original Nintendo Switch debuted in 2017, we had the birth of a relatively new category: hybrid consoles. At the time, the company was coming off one of its worst moments. The Wii U barely sold 13.56 million units, while the Nintendo 3DS, at 75.94 million units, didn’t even manage half as many as its predecessor, the Nintendo DS. But the Switch, by merging its two worlds into one, managed to become one of the best-selling video game consoles worldwide and the second best-selling in Nintendo’s history.

The popularity of the Switch also served as a catalyst for a new category: PC handhelds. Beyond carrying the power of a gamer laptop, why not create a dedicated device? Valve was one of the first companies to explore this idea with the Steam Deck, which in February 2022 made it possible for one of the most important PC gaming systems to be carried around. This was not Valve’s first foray into the console market. In 2015, they attempted to take over living rooms with the Steam Machines, but the project lacked momentum.

Since then, other brands such as Asus, Lenovo, and MSI have ventured into this space, betting on portable devices with more power, high-quality screens, and various price configurations. The idea of accessing libraries such as Steam, Epic, or Game Pass from a single portable device has captured the interest of a specific, albeit still limited, audience.

Nintendo Switch vs. PC Handhelds: The Numbers

Despite the significant noise within the enthusiast market for this type of handheld PC, the doubt remains. How many of these handheld PCs have been sold, and how do they compare to the Nintendo Switch?

Nintendo Switch

Let’s first review Nintendo’s console. According to the company’s official figures, in its first year, the hybrid console had a total of 14.86 million units sold. In a single year, they managed to surpass the total sales of the Wii U. As of its most recent financial report in March of this year, the Switch had sold 152.12 million units, making it the third best-selling console in history, behind only the Nintendo DS and the PlayStation 2.

For the Switch 2, there are still no official sales numbers for its first weekend, and we may have to wait a few months. According to the company’s reserved estimates, and in the face of recent factors such as tariffs and inflation, the Kyoto-based company expects to match the sales of the original Switch in its first year.

PC handhelds

However, in this somewhat broader field, sales figures in some cases are only estimates, with very few companies actually disclosing their numbers. Valve is at an estimate between 3.7 and 4 million units. Asus mentioned about 500,000 units a year ago. According to an analysis published by The Verge in February 2025, through a study conducted by research firm IDC, from 2022 to 2024, it has an estimate of 5,972,000 total units. By 2025, the same firm estimates that it will reach about 2 million units sold.

Full screen

These figures suggest that, while there is interest, the segment remains small compared to traditional consoles. According to the same report, this situation can be interpreted in two ways: as a niche category without much future growth or as a technology in its early stages that has not yet reached its potential.

Can Xbox come to turn things around?

We can argue all we want about the drivers of the numbers in this category: the enthusiasts themselves? the price? A new category in development? But we can also talk about an issue that also makes sense: brand familiarity. Although in gaming, Nintendo and PC are in completely different universes, those from Kyoto are recognized as one of the top three manufacturers. And in the face of that, Nintendo Switch 2 has a path that, although it would seem to have more competition, meets a completely different class of devices.

With the presentation of the ROG Xbox Ally, Xbox and Asus consolidate an alliance that combines the strengths of both companies: the hardware of a handheld PC with Microsoft’s ecosystem of services. This device represents a new step in the Xbox Everywhere strategy by enabling access to Game Pass, cloud gaming, and digital libraries in a compact form factor. While Xbox has a strong user base, its Series X and S consoles have sold 28.3 million units in four years, a considerably smaller number compared to Nintendo. However, brand recognition, support for services such as Game Pass, and global distribution could give the new device a growth opportunity within the PC handheld segment.

Follow MeriStation USA on X (formerly known as Twitter). Your video game and entertainment website for all the news, updates, and breaking news from the world of video games, movies, series, manga, and anime. Previews, reviews, interviews, trailers, gameplay, podcasts and more! Follow us now!