PAX, the Pocket Taco, and a $900 PlayStation

This week on Next Portable Console, Brendon reports back on the hardware he saw at PAX East, John gives the Pocket Taco a try, and with Federico, they cover the latest handheld news.

Also available on YouTube here.

Links and Show Notes The Latest Portable Gaming News

• More videos of the Anbernic "RG Flic"
• AYANEO Pauses More Handhelds
• More PlayStation Handheld Rumors
• Dolphin Now Supports Game Boy Player
• Brendon on PAX East
• John Reviews the GameSir Pocket Taco

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This week on Next Portable Console, a PlayStation Portable update, Honda and Sony call off car-based gaming, Epilogue shows of the SN Operator and makes and app, the fate of Windows handhelds, Federico's Legion Go makes a comeback, and more.

Also available on YouTube here.

Links and Show Notes The Latest Portable Gaming News

• PlayStation Portal has added a higher quality 1080p option
• Sony and Honda cancel Afeela EV project after years of development
• Epilogue News
  • SN Operator Sneak peek
  • Epilogue releases Retrace mobile app for game cartridge identification and counterfeit detection
  • Epilogue Retrace on the App Store
• AYANEO Ends Next 2 Pre-oreders
  • AYANEO suspends pre-orders of Next 2
  • The Verge: AYANEO Windows gaming handheld sustainability
• Federico Revitalizes his Legion Go
  • Lenovo Legion Go

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This week on Next Portable Console, Nintendo dropped a big Switch 2 software surprise, Anbernic got back to being weird, Federico went large with his PC streaming setup, and more.

Also available on YouTube here.

Links and Show Notes The Latest Portable Gaming News

• Switch 2 Software Update
  • System Update Information for Nintendo Switch 2
• Anbernic News
  • [UPDATE] Anbernic RG Vita and RG Vita Pro Price and Release Date Revealed
  • Anbernic's Next Handheld Might Flip the Script With a Rotating Screen
  • Anbernic new device
• Federico's Big Streaming Handheld
  • Razer Kishi V2 XL
  • FINALLY! Here's how I fixed iPad stuttering

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This week, the confusing state of Switch 2 Joy-Con replacements, more on emulating PC games on Android, and we place our bets on the future of Valve's Steam Machine.

Also available on YouTube here.

Links and Show Notes Switching Back to Windows for Marathon

• Marathon
• Bazzite
• SteamOS

Switch 2 Third-Party Joy-Con Controllers

• Mobapad M12 HD / M12S Switch 2 Joy-Con
• NYXI Hyperion 3 Switch 2 JoyPad
• HORI Split Pad Pro

Android Gaming & PC Emulation on Phones

• Red Magic 11 Pro
• GameHub
• GameNative v0.8 update
• Slay the Spire 2 on Steam
• AYN Thor

Gaming Tablets

• Red Magic Astra tablet
• Lenovo Legion Tab Gen 5 / Y700 (2026)
• Xiaomi 17 Ultra

Steam Machine Delay

• Valve Steam Machine delay
• Valve reaffirms 2026 launch

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This week, more bad memory and storage news, followed by a conversation about Bloomberg's report that Sony is withdrawing from the PC gaming market and a wild Lenovo handheld.

Also available on YouTube here.

Links and Show Notes The Latest Portable Gaming News

• Nintendo Switch 2 Users Face Storage Shortage as Memory Crisis Bites
• Sony Pulls Back From PlayStation Games on PC
• Anbernic RG Vita Pro
• Lenovo Legion Go Fold Concept
• Resident Evil Requiem (RE9)

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This week, John, Federico, and Brendon cover the news that GameSir is bringing GameHub to the Mac and chat about the ASUS's special edition ROG Flow Z13.

Also available on YouTube here.

Links and Show Notes

GameSir to Bring GameHub to the Mac

• GameSir's GameHub is bringing Steam (PC) games to Mac
• Game Porting Toolkit - Games
• Emuready

The ASUS ROG Flow Z13-KJP

• ROG Flow Z13-KJP | Kojima 2 in 1 Gaming Laptop
• This limited edition Death Stranding-inspired tablet is the coolest computer I've ever touched
• See also:
• ROG Flow Z13-ACRNM RMT02 | Gaming Laptops | ROG – Republic of Gamers

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This week, Brendon, Federico, and John tackle the RAM shortage and its effect on the handheld industry before digging into Cocoon 2.0, an excellent Android front-end for your emulators.

Also available on YouTube here.

Links and Show Notes

AYN Odin 3 Ultra Available Again for Pre-Order

• AYN Odin 3 Ultra

RAM Shortage & Industry Impact

• The out-of-stock Steam Deck is the latest victim of the RAM & storage shortage

Cocoon 2.0 Frontend

• Cocoon 2.0

Subscribe to NPC XL

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This week, Brendon, Federico, and John cover a raft of new budget handhelds a new OLED tablet from Lenovo, TrimUI leaks, and more

Also available on YouTube here.

Links and Show Notes

The Latest Portable Gaming News

News Recap

• MagicX Two Dream Teased In New Images
• Anbernic RG Vita is an Android handheld game console with a familiar design
• Lenovo's next gaming tablet is coming soon (in China)
• AYANEO Corner
• AYANEO NEXT 2 handheld gaming PC with AMD Strix Halo will cost $1799 to $3499 at launch (up to $4299 retail)
• Just look at Ayaneo's absolute unit of a Windows gaming "handheld"
• AYANEO launches KONKR FIT handheld gaming PC with Ryzen AI 9 HX 370/470 for $999 and up
• Mangmi Pocket MAX now available: Android handheld with modular controllers
• Trimui 4.7-inch flip leak
• TrimUI SP-Style Handheld Also Leaks
• Tomb Raider Reboot Launches on iOS and Android - MacRumors

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This week, a quick tour of Nintendo's latest Direct, more details emerge about the Virtual Boy Switch 2 accessory, the Steam Machine and other hardware is delayed, Anbernic goes out on a limb, AYANEO steps on a rake, and the Odin 2 rides off into the sunset.

Also available on YouTube here.

Links and Show Notes

Follow Up

• Nintendo actually showed me the Virtual Boy
• Nintendo's new Virtual Boy is more fun to look at than to play
• Stephen Totilo on Bluesky

The Latest Portable Gaming News

News Recap

• Nintendo Direct: Partner Showcase 2.5.2026
• Anbernic Announces RG VITA and RG VITA Pro Handhelds
• AYANEO's Latest QA Slip Means A Free Pocket Air Mini For Buyers
• AYN is Sunsetting The Odin 2

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This week, the guys tackle a load of weird news from playing Game Boy games on e-readers and ordering pizza from a Wii in 2026, the upcoming Virtual Boy Switch 2 accessory.

Also available on YouTube here.

Links and Show Notes

The Latest Portable Gaming News

• This is The New Worst Game Boy Setup
• Someone Just Ordered Domino's on a Wii in 2026
• Virtual Boy Classics On Switch Are Bringing Back Two Lost Games
• Mecha Comet modular Linux handheld hits Kickstarter for $189 and up
• Onyx Boox Palma | A Review

Subscribe to NPC XL

NPC XL is a weekly members-only version of NPC with extra content, available exclusively through our new Patreon for $5/month.

Each week on NPC XL, Federico, Brendon, and John record a special segment or deep dive about a particular topic that is released alongside the "regular" NPC episodes.

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