Ironically, the Steam Deck is also the Switch 2’s biggest threat. While Nintendo’s new console may have Valve’s beat on screen resolution, refresh rate, and a custom Nvidia processor capable of DLSS and ray tracing, Steam trumps it in value, particularly with game prices.

In my Steam Deck review, I labeled it the “Nintendo Switch for adults.” In an ironic twist, it now seems the Switch’s successor could be the best handheld for adults and children alike thanks to its robust first- and especially third-party support. Here’s why the Nintendo Switch 2 could be the best handheld for playing third-party games.

When Nintendo launched the Switch in 2017, it had no competition in dedicated handheld gaming, a sector it had established with the Game Boy in 1989 and ruled ever since. Sega had come and gone; Sony, after two determined attempts with the PlayStation Portable and PlayStation Vita, had just about given up.