Images of Logitech and Tencent's cloud gaming handheld show it running Android
Earlier this month Logitech G, the gaming-oriented branch of the peripherals maker, announced that it will launch a “cloud gaming handheld” later this year in partnership with Tencent Games. Little is known about the handheld and the design is kept under wraps – well, it was, until Evan Blass got involved (the images quickly got removed due to a DMCA complaint).
The design looks similar to the one seen in Tencent patent filings for a “PC console”, but that’s no surprise – there are only so many ways to design a landscape handheld with all the sticks, buttons and triggers necessary for most games.
Crucially, the leaked images reveal something important about the actual device – it runs Android (complete with the Google Play Store), so it isn’t a PC like Valve’s Steam Deck.
An unofficial look at Logitech and Tencent"s cloud gaming handheld
Admittedly, the platform doesn’t matter too much since this device is focused on streaming rather than native games. Logitech and Tencent said they are in talks to feature Xbox Cloud Gaming and Nvidia GeForce Now on the handheld and both services already have Android apps. The image also shows the Steam icon, so the two companies may have secured another important partner.
Here the controls (Logitech’s forte) and connectivity are the key aspects. Speaking of, the image only shows Wi-Fi and Bluetooth. That doesn’t mean that there won’t be a 5G version of the handheld for on-the-go gaming, but it does make it more likely (promo images usually show the fully stacked models).
As for gameplay scenarios, you may have noticed that there are two Xbox icons. Either that’s a mistake or one is for the Xbox Cloud Gaming service, the other for Xbox Remote Play. Come to think of it, the Steam icon may be for Steam Link (i.e. streaming games from your PC rather than the cloud).
