13 Portable Console Innovations Changing How We Play Anywhere

10. Console-to-Handheld Hybrids: Switch, Steam Deck, and Beyond

Remember when you had to choose between TV-bound “real” consoles and simple portables? The Nintendo Switch blew that boundary to pieces by letting you dock or undock and play huge games wherever you want. The Steam Deck followed up with PC game libraries and full hybrid flexibility. With 129 million Switches sold (and counting), there’s no denying the mass appeal of dropping your quest mid-boss at home, then picking it up on a road trip. Hybrid setups are now the new normal—once-unthinkable AAA adventures become instant travel buddies, whether you’re at a LAN party or your favorite chill spot.