The Switch Lite is exactly this. $200 handheld that runs first party games. There are android handhelds like the Retroid pocket 5 as well.
A Steam Deck Lite would be incredible. Small, cheap, linux-based, and powerful enough to run indie games and some light 3D. I think that form factor basically needs an arm cpu though.
gradual@lemmings.world 3 weeks ago
Because we already have phones.
The solution is to release games for phones that require a controller, but most companies aren’t willing to be the first ones to do it.
Elevator7009@lemmy.zip 3 weeks ago
I’m probably part of the problem. I’ve never used a controller except a few times at friends’ houses. I grew up with Nintendo DS, Wii, PC, and smartphone games. I don’t want to ever have to pick up a controller.
pory@lemmy.world 3 weeks ago
With a phone, there’s a type of controller that wraps around the phone, turning it into a Switch form factor. That’s probably the middle ground between atrocious touchscreen d-pads (or only playing games that actually work well with touch controls) versus lugging around a Dualsense and some mount contraption or kickstanding your phone on a surface.
Elevator7009@lemmy.zip 3 weeks ago
I’ve never had trouble with touch screen D-pads ^^; again part of the problem I suppose, because it seems by your post people hate the things I’m genuinely satisfied with. I hope the general controller-liking population gets things to serve their needs too, though.