Qualcomm lately entered the moveable gaming market by releasing a devoted gaming chip for the Razer Edge. However whereas many assumed it was sticking to Android-powered gadgets, evidently Qualcomm could have larger ambitions.
Throughout a media roundtable occasion at Computex 2023, Qualcomm revealed that it has spoken to each PlayStation and Nintendo concerning future moveable gaming gadgets.
“These are corporations [PlayStation and Nintendo] which are taken with having handheld gaming capabilities. So clearly they might attain out and speak to us,” Alex Katouzian (Qualcomm’s Senior Vice President and Basic Supervisor of the Cellular, Compute and XR) stated. “I believe they, normally, will attain out to somebody like Qualcomm as a result of they understand how huge we’re in Android gaming.”
It’s essential to notice that Qualcomm didn’t verify that it’s working with both firm on a brand new handheld, and will have merely provided recommendation. However with the latest announcement of the Sony Challenge Q moveable and ongoing rumours {that a} Nintendo Swap successor may arrive within the subsequent few years, it’s definitely believable that Qualcomm’s gaming-centric processor may energy no less than one of many upcoming gadgets.
Again in 2021, Qualcomm launched a processor referred to as the Snapdragon G3x Gen1, which was designed particularly for gaming handhelds. To date, the Razer Edge is the one moveable to make use of that processor, however Qualcomm suggests it’s open to searching for companions who wish to use their very own ecosystem reasonably than solely sticking to Android-powered techniques.
“Numerous console sport corporations need these handheld gadgets. They’re not essentially high-end graphics succesful gadgets, however they wish to hold all these cellular players in their very own ecosystem. So in that sense, it is sensible for us to attempt to go after that,” Alex Katouzian stated.
“For those who have a look at the hand held gaming {dollars} which were generated within the yr, it’s larger than all the different sport segments put collectively.”
So may Qualcomm actually be working with these gaming corporations? We’re not satisfied for the following Nintendo Swap, particularly if Nintendo lastly decides to allow 4K assist for its subsequent console.
Our benchmark exams present the Snapdragon G3x Gen1 isn’t much more highly effective than the newest smartphone chips, not to mention quick sufficient to play video video games at a 4K decision. Qualcomm must give its processor a severe efficiency enhance to energy a Swap successor, though it’s admittedly not out of the query that it may accomplish that by growing a customized chip for Nintendo.
It’s extra possible that Qualcomm is working with Sony on the lately revealed Challenge Q, because the moveable received’t want a strong native efficiency because it streams video games over a Wi-FI connection as a substitute. Both method, we will solely speculate for now – nevertheless it’s a transfer that will make plenty of sense for Qualcomm because it seems to be to delve deeper into the gaming market.