The anticipation for the Nintendo Switch 2 is palpable, yet its hefty price tag of $449.99 and games starting at $79.99 has me reconsidering my investment. My enthusiasm has waned since I've been thoroughly enjoying my Asus ROG Ally, which has only highlighted the issues I had with the original Switch, particularly in today's vibrant handheld gaming PC market.

Asus ROG Ally Is All I Need

Handheld gaming has been a part of my life since childhood, from the Game Boy to the Nintendo DS and PlayStation Portable. There's an unmatched comfort in playing games tucked under blankets in my bed. I even championed the PlayStation Vita, using it daily during my college train commute.

When the Nintendo Switch launched in 2017, it was revolutionary. I bought it near launch, but my usage was limited to exclusives. For games that felt right for handheld play, I reserved them mentally for the Switch, unable to enjoy them elsewhere. Yet, the guilt of repurchasing games available for free on Epic Games Store, Game Pass, PlayStation Plus, or Humble Choice on the Switch, coupled with the rarity of significant discounts on Switch games, led me to often not play them at all.

The 2023 launch of the Asus ROG Ally changed everything. Running Windows 11, it accesses Steam, Game Pass, Epic Games, and more, allowing me to play comfortably from bed. Now, I'm diving into a variety of indie games and tackling my backlog. Without the Ally, I would've missed out on gems like Celeste, Little Nightmares II, and Resident Evil Remake—now among my all-time favorites—without additional expenditure. The Ally has not only become my preferred handheld but also saved me a considerable amount of money.

Despite my love for Nintendo games, the Switch 2 Direct left me uncertain about its place in my gaming life. The original Switch was groundbreaking due to its versatility, affordability, and exclusive titles. It was the go-to handheld option at the time.

The Switch 2 Isn’t Alone Anymore

With a starting price of $449, the Nintendo Switch 2 enters a competitive market, closely aligning with the $499 PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X, and even surpassing the initial $399 price of the PS5 digital edition. Since the original Switch's launch, the handheld gaming landscape has evolved, spurred by the Steam Deck in 2022, followed by devices like the Asus ROG Ally, Lenovo Legion Go, and MSI Claw. Rumors of an Xbox handheld add to the competition, making the Switch 2 less unique. For those like me, who already own a powerful handheld gaming PC, the Switch 2's value proposition diminishes.

Handheld gaming PCs boast robust hardware capable of running indies and third-party games effortlessly, with access to a vast library and existing game collections. The future looks bright with advancements like the AMD Ryzen Z2 Extreme chipset on the horizon, poised to outpace the Switch 2.

For owners of handheld gaming PCs, the Switch 2's appeal might be limited to its first-party exclusives. Yet, with high-priced titles like Mario Kart World at $79.99 and Donkey Kong Bananza at $69.99, and the infrequency of discounts on Nintendo games, the investment becomes harder to justify.

While Nintendo's exclusives hold undeniable value and have a rich history of delivering some of the best games, for someone like me with a handheld gaming PC, the Switch 2 seems less essential. Devices like the Legion Go offer superior performance and a broad library of games. My Asus ROG Ally fulfills all my handheld gaming needs, providing access to a wide range of games across multiple platforms, making it the better choice for my gaming experience.