NPC: Next Portable Console

This week, a quick tour of Nintendo's latest Direct, more details emerge about the Virtual Boy Switch 2 accessory, the Steam Machine and other hardware is delayed, Anbernic goes out on a limb, AYANEO steps on a rake, and the Odin 2 rides off into the sunset.
Also available on YouTube here.
Links and Show Notes
Follow Up
Nintendo actually showed me the Virtual Boy
Nintendo's new Virtual Boy is more fun to look at than to play
Stephen Totilo on Bluesky
The Latest Portable Gaming News
News Recap
Nintendo Direct: Partner Showcase 2.5.2026
Anbernic Announces RG VITA and RG VITA Pro Handhelds
AYANEO's Latest QA Slip Means A Free Pocket Air Mini For Buyers
AYN is Sunsetting The Odin 2
Subscribe to NPC XL
NPC XL is a weekly members-only version of NPC with extra content, available exclusively through our new Patreon for $5/month.
Each week on NPC XL, Federico, Brendon, and John record a special segment or deep dive about a particular topic that is released alongside the "regular" NPC episodes.
You can subscribe here: https://www.patreon.com/c/NextPortableConsole
Leave Feedback for John, Federico, and Brendon
NPC Feedback Form
Credits
Show Art: Brendon Bigley
Music: Will LaPorte
Follow Us Online
On the Web
MacStories.net
Wavelengths.online
Follow us on Mastodon
NPC
Federico
John
Brendon
Follow us on Bluesky
NPC
MacStories
Federico Viticci
John Voorhees
Brendon Bigley
Affiliate Linking Policy

This week, the guys tackle a load of weird news from playing Game Boy games on e-readers and ordering pizza from a Wii in 2026, the upcoming Virtual Boy Switch 2 accessory.
Also available on YouTube here.
Links and Show Notes
The Latest Portable Gaming News
This is The New Worst Game Boy Setup
Someone Just Ordered Domino's on a Wii in 2026
Virtual Boy Classics On Switch Are Bringing Back Two Lost Games
Mecha Comet modular Linux handheld hits Kickstarter for $189 and up
Onyx Boox Palma | A Review
Subscribe to NPC XL
NPC XL is a weekly members-only version of NPC with extra content, available exclusively through our new Patreon for $5/month.
Each week on NPC XL, Federico, Brendon, and John record a special segment or deep dive about a particular topic that is released alongside the "regular" NPC episodes.
You can subscribe here: https://www.patreon.com/c/NextPortableConsole
Leave Feedback for John, Federico, and Brendon
NPC Feedback Form
Credits
Show Art: Brendon Bigley
Music: Will LaPorte
Follow Us Online
On the Web
MacStories.net
Wavelengths.online
Follow us on Mastodon
NPC
Federico
John
Brendon
Follow us on Bluesky
NPC
MacStories
Federico Viticci
John Voorhees
Brendon Bigley
Affiliate Linking Policy

This week, Federico and John go it alone without Brendon to cover Game Pass on ARM, an avalanche of AYANEO announcements, and why the TrimUI Brick Pro has shot up their most-anticipated handheld list for 2026.
Also available on YouTube here.
Links and Show Notes
The Latest Portable Gaming News
Xbox app is now available on ARM-based Windows 11 PCs
AYANEO Pocket S Mini is a smaller handheld Android game console with Snapdragon G3x Gen 2
AYANEO unveils KONKR FIT handheld gaming PC with Ryzen AI 9 HX 470
AYANEO Unveils Details on the Pocket Vert
TRIMUI Brick Pro Coming Soon
TRIMUI Officially Teases The "Brick Pro" Handheld
REDMAGIC 11 Air is a slim gaming phone with active cooling fan and massive 7000mAh battery
Asus hits pause on smartphone business with no new Zenfone or ROG Phone models planned for 2026
Chinese modders end console wars with a PS5, Xbox Series S, and Switch 2 combo console
Subscribe to NPC XL
NPC XL is a weekly members-only version of NPC with extra content, available exclusively through our new Patreon for $5/month.
Each week on NPC XL, Federico, Brendon, and John record a special segment or deep dive about a particular topic that is released alongside the "regular" NPC episodes.
You can subscribe here: https://www.patreon.com/c/NextPortableConsole
Leave Feedback for John, Federico, and Brendon
NPC Feedback Form
Credits
Show Art: Brendon Bigley
Music: Will LaPorte
Follow Us Online
On the Web
MacStories.net
Wavelengths.online
Follow us on Mastodon
NPC
Federico
John
Brendon
Follow us on Bluesky
NPC
MacStories
Federico Viticci
John Voorhees
Brendon Bigley
Affiliate Linking Policy

This week on NPC, rumors swirl about the Steam Machine's pricing, AYANEO pauses to collect itself, GameSir's Pocket Taco goes live, the lack of foldable phone controllers, and our first videogames.
Also available on YouTube here.
Links and Show Notes
The Latest Portable Gaming News
Steam Machine pricing may have leaked
Meta has closed three VR studios as part of its metaverse-focused layoffs
GameSir Pocket Taco phone controller Kickstarter is now live
AYANEO Pocket PLAY delayed
AYN Thor gets major OTA update, Batch 2 shipping January 15, prices rising for Batch 3
Retrocade is coming to Apple Vision Pro
A FEX announcement is coming
Subscribe to NPC XL
NPC XL is a weekly members-only version of NPC with extra content, available exclusively through our new Patreon for $5/month.
Each week on NPC XL, Federico, Brendon, and John record a special segment or deep dive about a particular topic that is released alongside the "regular" NPC episodes.
You can subscribe here: https://www.patreon.com/c/NextPortableConsole
Leave Feedback for John, Federico, and Brendon
NPC Feedback Form
Credits
Show Art: Brendon Bigley
Music: Will LaPorte
Follow Us Online
On the Web
MacStories.net
Wavelengths.online
Follow us on Mastodon
NPC
Federico
John
Brendon
Follow us on Bluesky
NPC
MacStories
Federico Viticci
John Voorhees
Brendon Bigley
Affiliate Linking Policy

This week, a whirlwind tour of the handheld news from CES 2026, Switch 2 grips, AR glasses, new chips from AMD, the OneXSugar Wallet, and more.
Also available on YouTube here.
Links and Show Notes
The Portable Gaming News from CES
NOW LIVE: Nintendo just officially revealed the new purple/light green Switch 2 Joy
Genki Grips: Made to be Held by Human Things
Pocket8 Makes PICO–8 Playable On Your iPhone
touchHLE homepage
The Xreal 1S glasses get a spec bump and 3D conversion
The OneXSugar Wallet is the first gaming handheld with a folding screen
You can charge Belkin's new Switch 2 power case without opening it
Qualcomm's next-gen Snapdragon X2 laptops are here — and they brought a new friend
AMD heard you like powerful gaming portables — so here are new Strix Halo chips
Lenovo Legion Go 2 with SteamOS launches in June, priced at $1199
Lenovo's new concept gaming laptop goes wide. Really wide.
GameSir X Hyperkin Reveal A Controller With GC, N64 & SEGA Attachments
Subscribe to NPC XL
NPC XL is a weekly members-only version of NPC with extra content, available exclusively through our new Patreon for $5/month.
Each week on NPC XL, Federico, Brendon, and John record a special segment or deep dive about a particular topic that is released alongside the "regular" NPC episodes.
You can subscribe here: https://www.patreon.com/c/NextPortableConsole
Leave Feedback for John, Federico, and Brendon
NPC Feedback Form
Credits
Show Art: Brendon Bigley
Music: Will LaPorte
Follow Us Online
On the Web
MacStories.net
Wavelengths.online
Follow us on Mastodon
NPC
Federico
John
Brendon
Follow us on Bluesky
NPC
MacStories
Federico Viticci
John Voorhees
Brendon Bigley
Affiliate Linking Policy