It’s Not Sony, Microsoft or Nintendo

The handheld gaming market is heating up faster than an overclocked GPU. With Nintendo’s Switch 2 rumors swirling, Microsoft’s Phil Spencer teasing a portable Xbox, and Sony reportedly eyeing a return to the handheld arena, you’d think the console giants were poised for an epic three-way showdown.

But there’s a plot twist in this tale that even the most observant industry watchers might have missed. While Sony, Microsoft, and Nintendo duke it out for handheld supremacy, there’s a silent player that’s already won the war before the first shot was fired.

And no, it’s not the PC Master Race coming to flex their ray-traced muscles. It’s a name that’s been powering your gaming experiences for years, often without you even realizing it.

The Stealth Champion of Handheld Gaming

Remember when choosing a GPU was as simple as “Red vs. Green”? Those days are long gone, at least in the handheld arena. One company has pulled off a feat that would make Sun Tzu proud: conquering the battlefield by making sure every army uses their weapons.

Take a peek under the hood of today’s hottest handhelds. The Steam Deck? Powered by a custom AMD APU featuring RDNA 2 graphics. The ASUS ROG Ally? You guessed it, rocking an AMD Ryzen Z1 Extreme with RDNA 3. Even the new kid on the block, the Lenovo Legion Go, is flexing AMD silicon.

This dominance isn’t just about being in the right place at the right time, either. The RDNA architecture, paired with Zen CPU cores, offers a combination of power efficiency and performance that’s proving hard to beat in the mobile space. While NVIDIA might still reign supreme in desktop GPUs—especially when it comes to ray tracing—AMD has found its niche in the burgeoning handheld market.

But this 4D chess game doesn’t stop at dedicated gaming handhelds. Cast your mind back to the console launches of 2020. Both the Xbox Series X and PS5 (and now the PS5 Pro, too) came packing AMD hardware. It’s a masterclass in playing all sides. While Nintendo, Sony, and Microsoft are busy trying to out-innovate each other, one company is sitting pretty, knowing that no matter who comes out on top, they’ll be the ones supplying the firepower.

The Future of Handheld Gaming: A RED Horizon

As we peer into the crystal ball of gaming’s future, the landscape is looking decidedly crimson. Bloomberg‘s recent report of Sony’s return to the handheld market has set tongues wagging. But here’s the kicker: regardless of whether this mystery device ends up being a PS Vita successor or something entirely new, chances are it’ll be running on AMD silicon.

The same goes for Microsoft’s rumored Xbox handheld. Phil Spencer might be playing coy about the details, but given Xbox’s existing relationship with AMD, it’s a safer bet than assuming we won’t see another Skyrim port.

And let’s not forget Nintendo. While they’ve historically marched to the beat of their own drum, the demands of modern gaming might just push them into AMD’s welcoming arms for the Switch 2.

So, as the dust settles on the handheld wars, don’t be surprised if you see one particular chip designer standing atop the podium, arms raised in victory. They’ve managed to turn “if you can’t beat ’em, join ’em” into “have ’em all join you.” It’s a strategy so brilliant, it almost makes up for their GPUs still playing catch-up in the ray tracing department on desktops.

In the end, while Sony, Microsoft, and Nintendo battle for your handheld gaming affections, one company will be laughing all the way to the bank. After all, in the silicon-powered saga that is the tech world, they’re not just playing—they’re changing the rules.

What’s your take on this handheld domination? Are you all in on RDNA-powered portables, or do you think there’s still room for an upset in this chip-fueled chess game? Share your thoughts in the comments below!