Logitech's Steam Deck Rival Leaks With GeForce Now, xCloud Support

By Aaron Klotz
published

With a focus on streaming games from the cloud

Logitech Logo
(Image credit: Shutterstock)

In a recent Twitter post by Evan Blass -- which has now been DMCAed, Logitech is reportedly working on a brand new Android handheld gaming device, focusing on running Android games and streaming games from cloud services such as Xbox Cloud Gaming and GeForce Now. Effectively, it appears to be the Android counterpart to Valve's Steam Deck and the Nintendo Switch.

The story started earlier this month when Logitech and Tencent Games announced a partnership (opens in new tab) to create a new "cloud gaming handheld" and bring it to market later this year. 

But yesterday, we got leaked images of the new handheld thanks to a Tweet by Evan Blass (@evleaks), which shows off the whole exterior of the new console. But unfortunately, Logitech quickly DMCAed his post, so his images are no longer viewable. Thankfully news outlets that have reported on his Tweet have saved copies of the leaked images for us to see.

Logitech Logo

(Image credit: Logitech)

Right off the bat, the most interesting feature showcased in the leaked images is support for Google Play games, which suggests this will be an Android handheld. Unfortunately, Logitech never stated what operating system this new console would use, so we can only guess from this leak that it will have a focus on Android and feature an ARM processor of some kind.

Either way, if Logitech's new console does get Android, it will be a nice change of pace from the current bombardment of PC-focused handhelds such as the Steam Deck, Aya Neo, and others. At this time, we don't have an Android gaming handheld with the same high visibility as the Steam Deck. So Logitech could have a huge opportunity on its hands if it turns out to be successful.

But success will be critical; Android is a whole different ball game compared to Windows handhelds. In the Android space, mobile gamers already have portable gaming handhelds in their hands via smartphones. Considering how powerful gaming phones have become, running Android games on mobile devices is a non-issue these days. Plus, many accessories are on the market today turn your gaming phone into a handheld console.

As a result, gamers don't have a top priority of looking for another portable handheld when a smartphone will suffice. Logitech will need to figure out some way to stand out from the smartphone gaming crowd if it wants to be really successful.

The handheld itself is aesthetically pleasing compared to the matte black theme that is very common on Logitech gaming peripherals. Logitech has instead gone with a white theme, accompanied by black accented joysticks, edges, and triggers.

To the left, you get a joystick at the top of the device and a D pad to the middle. To the right another joystick is present, but sitting in the middle of the device, with Y, X, B, A buttons sitting at the top. We don't know the dimensions of the device, or the size of the display, but its form factor looks more compact - like a Switch, as opposed to something larger such as a Steam Deck.

Logitech says the new console will launch sometime in 2022, so we should get an official launch date, official specifications and other details here soon.

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Aaron Klotz
Aaron Klotz
Freelance News Writer

Aaron Klotz is a freelance writer for Tom’s Hardware US, covering news topics related to computer hardware such as CPUs, and graphics cards.

7 Comments Comment from the forums
  • -Fran-
    Cloud gaming? Yeah, no thanks.

    If they could deliver something that I can run in my main PC and then stream over WiFi to the device, then I'd be less inclined to say "hard pass". Otherwise, hard pass.

    That being said, looking at how Logitech has been... I don't know how to say it better... Ignored? With not much spark as of late? Just trusting they'll put a proper Steam Deck competitor is exactly what they need, if they do it right. Just, please Logitech if you're reading this, don't fall for the stupidity of "Cloud Gaming". Make a proper Steam Deck competitor: a PC first and whatever else second. Give it beefy specs, a great screen, proper battery life and amazing ergonomics at a competitive price. No need to make it $600 even, but at least under $1K with great specs.

    Regards.
    Reply
  • ezst036
    Meh. Yet another Android device that spies on you.

    I'd like to see more purely-Linux based devices.
    Reply
  • hasten
    Looks cheap in comparison to either the deck or switch... sorry to disagree with the author here but is this supposed to compete with the more premium products or slot in as another attempt at a ~199 droid gadget following a similar blueprint to disappear in a year?
    Reply
  • Giroro
    It took me way too long to figure out that this was talking about a Steam Deck competitor and not a Stream deck competitor. Although an always-online cloud based android device is hardly a Steam Deck Competitor.

    Also, the linked article from the verge contains no pictures of the Logitech device.
    The only photo on that page clearly has the caption:
    "Backbone recently launched a new PlayStation-inspired iPhone controller. "
    Reply
  • salgado18
    -Fran- said:
    Cloud gaming? Yeah, no thanks.

    If they could deliver something that I can run in my main PC and then stream over WiFi to the device, then I'd be less inclined to say "hard pass". Otherwise, hard pass.

    That being said, looking at how Logitech has been... I don't know how to say it better... Ignored? With not much spark as of late? Just trusting they'll put a proper Steam Deck competitor is exactly what they need, if they do it right. Just, please Logitech if you're reading this, don't fall for the stupidity of "Cloud Gaming". Make a proper Steam Deck competitor: a PC first and whatever else second. Give it beefy specs, a great screen, proper battery life and amazing ergonomics at a competitive price. No need to make it $600 even, but at least under $1K with great specs.

    Regards.
    I agree on the points about local streaming and PC in general. But it could still be a nice device if it had mid-strong specs, very good battery life (Steam Deck and alike are not good at it), and great ergonomics and controls. Smartphones are clunky to add physical buttons, and many don't have good batteries due to the need for portability. And portable PCs are way too powerful to run on small batteries, get a high end game and you're limited to 2h gaming max. I see a market for that device.
    Reply
  • -Fran-
    salgado18 said:
    I agree on the points about local streaming and PC in general. But it could still be a nice device if it had mid-strong specs, very good battery life (Steam Deck and alike are not good at it), and great ergonomics and controls. Smartphones are clunky to add physical buttons, and many don't have good batteries due to the need for portability. And portable PCs are way too powerful to run on small batteries, get a high end game and you're limited to 2h gaming max. I see a market for that device.
    You already have very good controllers for phones, so another "android console" is not really needed provided you have a decent enough phone. If you're in the market for such a product, there's a good chance you already have a competent phone that can run games and/or can get a controller for the phone. I mean, check iPega and the 8bitdo controllers. They're really good and completely kill the idea of an android portable console, unless it's capable of things a phone can't do, which I doubt Logitech can do in the same performance league of your Samsung or Asus or Sony when using Snapdragon 8+ and such.

    Regards.
    Reply
  • criticaloftom
    The only thing a logitech handheld will have for it is logitechs preipheral efficiency am i right people :P ?!
    Android is a hard pass; If you are going off Windows for gaming, your starting to need to go full fat linux not some bastardized locked down version.
    Reply