Summary
MSIhas teased an exciting reveal for CES 2024, and it may be a handheld gaming device to compete with Valve’s highly successful Steam Deck. CES, the Consumer Electronics Show, is an annual event that gives technology companies from around the globe a chance to showcase newly released or upcoming products. Last year, for example, ASUS showed off its new Vibe cloud gaming laptop andHyperX revealed a new Xbox controller at CES 2023along with a line of gaming mice. This year, the show will be taking place in Las Vegas from January 9-12.
From its launch in early 2022, theSteam Deck handheld gaming PC was an instant success. Rather than competing with the Nintendo Switch, as many people assumed it would, Valve’s device created an entirely new niche that, it turns out, millions of gamers were waiting to be filled. In November 2023, the company shared that “multiple millions” of Steam Decks had been sold, and its incredibly positive reception unsurprisingly caught the attention of other tech companies, which promptly released similar devices. The Logitech G CLOUD launched in October 2022, the ASUS ROG Ally in June 2023, and the Lenovo Legion Go in October 2023.
Now, it seems that MSI is prepping to get in on the game with aSteam Deckcompetitor. The company took to social media to share a short teaser video of what clearly looks like a handheld gaming device with two analog sticks visible. The clip is accompanied by the words “get a grip and stay tuned,” and the video closes with the hashtag #MSIxCES2024. Notably, Intel Gaming responded to the post on Twitter with three “thinking” emojis, and some viewers are taking this to mean that the teased MSI device may feature Intel graphics or processors.
When Is CES 2024?
So far, despite the competitors that have appeared on the market, Valve’s Steam Deck seems to be maintaining the lead, with ASUS’ device following closely behind. Xbox headPhil Spencer has mentioned both handheld PCsmore than once in interviews, sharing how he brings them on business trips.
In addition to the convenience of portability, the success of these devices seems to stem from the fact that they appeal to gamers of all communities. Rather than forming a separate ecosystem, users of the Asus handheld can immerse themselves in both PC and console gaming, thanks to theROG Ally’s Steam and Xbox Game Pass apps. Even the Steam Deck can play Xbox and PlayStation games via the cloud with some workarounds. Hopefully, the device that MSI unveils during CES 2024 will have taken a few pages from Asus’ book and come with the ability to play games from multiple ecosystems out of the box.
