Switch 2, Steam Deck, and the next-gen console wars

The Nintendo Switch 2 is nigh. Nigh-ish, anyway. When it does launch later this year, it might start another revolution in portable gaming, as millions of people are able to play from their couch, their bed, the train, and anywhere else. That was also true of the first Switch, though, and as big a hit as it was it didn’t spark an industry-wide shift to handhelds the way some people expected. So what gives?

On this episode of The Vergecast, we dig in on the state of the handheld console wars. The Verge’s Sean Hollister joins the show to tell us about what we’ve learned about the Steam Deck’s success, and whether the sales numbers we’re seeing reflect an exciting new market or a surprisingly static one. We also talk about why Sony and Microsoft have (so far) avoided building Steam Deck-like gadgets of their own, and why the Windows handheld universe

remains a bit disappointing. We all think handheld, convertible consoles could be the future, but it might take a little longer than we thought.

After that, David reports on a trip he took to Florida to see behind the scenes at TGL, a golf league featuring some of the highest-tech sporting gear you’ve ever seen anywhere. Tiger Woods, Rory McIlroy, and some of the other biggest names in golf are betting big that this combination of video games, augmented reality, and live action can be a hit both on TV and in your social feeds. But it also raises some questions, like: how do you know when you can trust the computer? And how big is a 53-foot-tall screen, really?

Finally, we answer a question from the Vergecast Hotline (call 866-VERGE11 or email vergecast@theverge.com!) about why you might upgrade from a normal iPad to an iPad Air. We’ve heard from a lot of students and note-takers the last few weeks who say the extra stylus support, and a few power-hungry apps, make the extra expense worth it.

If you want to know more about everything we discuss in this episode, here are some links to get you started: