Logitech Shelves Handheld Ambitions for Now

Piispanen admits the handheld concept remains a compelling value proposition, yet he remains unconvinced that now is the time for a successor. The company’s first attempt, a Tencent-backed collaboration launched in 2022, struggled to carve out a niche against the Steam Deck. While the $350 G Cloud relied entirely on cloud streaming, its competitor offered local PC performance, effectively overshadowing Logitech’s debut.

The market landscape has shifted significantly since that release. With the cost of Steam Deck hardware climbing toward $789, the entry point for portable gaming has become increasingly expensive. Some industry players, including Sony, view cloud-focused thin clients as a necessary hedge against rising memory prices. However, Logitech appears wary of repeating its previous experience, suggesting the company was burned by the lukewarm reception of its first foray into the dedicated handheld market.