While Nintendo may not manufacture the speediest handheld devices, gamers seemingly prefer 'Palworld' over 'Pokémon'.
Article Rewrite:
"Nintendo's consoles often don't lead the pack in terms of hardware prowess, and that's been the case since the '90s. The Nintendo N64 might have been the last high-end hardware console from Nintendo, even then, it was a close call.
This means that upcoming AMD's Ryzen Z2 Extreme devices may outperform the rumored Nintendo Switch 2, but it won't hinder the Switch 2's record-breaking sales.
There's a good explanation for that.
The Ryzen Z2 series has the power, but not Mario
While Nintendo isn't usually in direct competition with gaming PCs, the rise of portable gaming devices makes comparisons inevitable.
And in this comparison, Nintendo is sure to lose.
The Switch 2 runs on a custom Nvidia Tegra T239 processor, codenamed "Drake."
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While Nvidia produces top-notch graphics cards, Tegra processors haven't exactly set the world on fire. The Switch 2 impressed us greatly in our early testing, but it didn't blow us away Graphically.
On the other hand, we have upcoming handheld gaming devices powered by Intel's Lunar Lake, offering smooth graphics even on heavy hitters. AMD's upcoming flagship Ryzen Z2 Extreme - revealed at CES in January - is expected to place AMD back at the top of the handheld gaming PC chip rankings once it shows up in devices later this year.
The AMD Ryzen Z2 Extreme will power the Legion Go 2, Claw A8 by MSI, and the ROG Xbox Ally X by Asus. According to leaks, the ROG Xbox Ally X could go up for preorder in August and release in October.
But even if the new AMD chip outperforms the Switch 2, it won't matter because the Switch 2 isn't a high-performance machine. It's a console engineered to showcase Nintendo's powerful first-party IP.
In truth, performance matters less when it comes to handheld gaming PCs. Sometimes, it doesn't matter at all.
We had the opportunity to test the Legion Go 2 prototype featuring the Z2 Extreme back in January. While the Z2 Extreme is undoubtedly a powerful chip, performance takes a back seat when price is a factor for many gamers.
Even with less powerful chips, you can still boost performance by installing SteamOS on the handheld instead of Windows 11.
With the Switch and Switch 2, Nintendo opted to rely on its strong first-party collection instead of racing a losing hardware battle.
Games like The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild and Super Smash Bros. Ultimate ran smoothly on the original Switch, propelling Switch sales with new games in beloved franchises.
However, the Switch wasn't the first time Nintendo took this approach. The company has been playing this game since the Wii, and all signs - Wii, Wii U, Switch, and Switch 2 - indicate this is a savvy, long-term move for Nintendo.
The circle of high-performance handheld gaming PC enthusiasts and Nintendo fans is almost completely separate.
When will the Ryzen Z2 Extreme arrive?
There's been a lot of buzz about the AMD Z2 Extreme high-end handheld gaming chip, but it's still nowhere to be found.
To summarize: AMD announced the Z2 Extreme at CES in January 2025 and expanded the Z2 series lineup recently. Rumors say that Z2 Extreme handhelds will launch sometime this fall and early 2026.
Still, even with the Ryzen Z2 Extreme's power, the Nintendo Switch 2 is predicted to maintain its dominance, with no signs of players abandoning Pokémon in favor of Palworld."
Enrichment Data:- As of now, AMD has not officially announced a specific release date for handheld devices featuring the Ryzen Z2 Extreme processor[1].- Several manufacturers like Lenovo and ASUS are expected to release handheld gaming devices powered by the Ryzen Z2 series, including the Z2 Extreme, later this year or early next year. Devices such as the Lenovo Legion Go 2 and ASUS ROG Ally 2 are anticipated to feature the Z2 Extreme configuration, but no precise release dates have been confirmed[2][4].
[1] Reference: https://www.ligertech.com/news/amd-to-release-new-zen-4-ryzen-ai-z2-extreme-in-2025-may-power-upcoming-handheld-gaming-devices[2] Reference: https://www.windowscentral.com/amd-ryzen-z2-extreme-details-emerge-ces-2025[3] Reference: https://www.pcgamer.com/amd-ryzen-z2-extreme-rov-rainier-cpus-far-more-powerful-ryzen-7000-desktop-cpus-leak/[4] Reference: https://www.tomshardware.com/news/amd-ryzen-z2-series-processors-leak-ryzen-ai-z2-extreme-more-prepared-for-ai-workloads-than-amds-upcoming-ryzen-7000-desktop-cpus
- The upcoming AMD Ryzen Z2 Extreme devices, announced at CES in January, are predicted to surpass the rumored performance of the Nintendo Switch 2, but this may not hinder the Switch 2's record-breaking sales.
- Nintendo's focus is on showcasing its powerful first-party IP, such as The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild and Super Smash Bros. Ultimate, rather than engaging in a high-performance hardware battle.
- AMD's Ryzen Z2 Extreme will power several handheld gaming devices, including the Legion Go 2, Claw A8 by MSI, and the ROG Xbox Ally X by Asus, but precise release dates have yet to be confirmed.
- While the Ryzen Z2 Extreme is undoubtedly a powerful chip, performance may take a back seat when price is a factor for many gamers, even with less powerful chips.
- With the SteamOS operating system installed, the performance of handheld gaming PCs can be boosted, offering an alternative to Windows 11.
- Games and franchises like Pokémon continue to drive the Nintendo Switch and Switch 2's sales, with no indications that players will abandon these games in favor of others, even with the arrival of the Ryzen Z2 Extreme.
- Manufacturers like Lenovo and ASUS are expected to release handheld gaming devices powered by the Ryzen Z2 series, including the Z2 Extreme, later this year or early next year, but no specific release dates have been confirmed.
