At Gamescom 2025, MSI unveiled the Claw A8 Z2 Extreme, its latest gaming handheld featuring AMD's new Ryzen Z2 Extreme chip. Despite high expectations, initial impressions were underwhelming due to the processor's performance, which felt comparable to the older Z1 Extreme. This overshadowed the device's otherwise impressive specifications, including a high-refresh-rate 8-inch touchscreen , 24GB of LPDDR5x RAM, an 80Wh battery, and support for Wi-Fi 7 and Bluetooth 5.4.
Physically, the Claw A8 boasts a bold Neon Green colorway and a more aggressive design. However, its 765g weight makes it relatively heavy compared to other handheld devices. The display, while praised for its quality, lacks OLED technology, which could have enhanced visual fidelity. Pricing starts at €999 in available European markets, with availability in the US and UK still pending. Given the high price point and limited performance improvements, the Claw A8's real potential remains to be seen in full reviews and tests.
In contrast, Microsoft's collaboration with ASUS introduced the Xbox Ally and Xbox Ally X at Gamescom 2025. These Windows-based gaming handhelds aim to offer a significantly improved experience over past devices, thanks to refined ergonomics, intuitive controls mirroring Xbox controllers, and deeper Windows 11 integrations for gaming. The hardware, particularly the Xbox Ally X, boasts strong performance, with smooth gameplay in AAA titles and a 7-inch 1080p IPS display supporting 120Hz with AMD FreeSync. However, concerns over software readiness remain, as some features were buggy during testing. Critical details like pricing and battery life are still uncertain, with potential limitations due to power consumption. The official launch is scheduled for October 16, 2025.
The Chinese PC gaming industry is also making significant strides, with a focus on producing high-quality, globally competitive AAA titles. This shift began with the highly anticipated game Black Myth: Wukong, revealed in 2020, which set a new benchmark for Chinese-developed games. Developers like Qiwei "Soulframe" Liang of S-Game, now working on Phantom Blade Zero, are part of a new wave creating ambitious titles inspired by Black Myth’s success. Driven by earnings from mobile gaming, Chinese studios—backed by large companies like Tencent and NetEase—are reinvesting in big-budget PC games, aiming for creative prestige and widespread acclaim. While challenges remain in meeting global expectations, there is growing pride among Chinese gamers and developers alike. The article positions China as a dominant force in the future of PC gaming, forecasting a surge of AAA titles such as Delta Force, Wuchang, The Bustling World, Blood Message, and Where Winds Meet leading into 2030.
In promotional news, Intel has launched a campaign called "Gamer Days 2025," running through September 7th, to boost sales of its desktop CPUs. As part of the campaign, Intel is offering free copies of the game Battlefield 6 with the purchase of select processors, including both current-generation Arrow Lake models and some previous-generation chips. Notable deals include a 12% discount on the flagship Intel Core Ultra 9 285K and a 36% discount on the Core Ultra 7 265K . The promotion extends to nearly 20 processors, with offerings also available through PC builders such as CyberPowerPC and Origin in the US, and Scan and Overclockers in the UK. While price cuts are attractive, the bundled Battlefield 6 game is seen as the primary incentive—especially given that current-gen Arrow Lake CPUs have underwhelmed on gaming performance and some older models are still affected by concerns over stability issues.
Overall, the PC gaming industry continues to evolve rapidly, with new hardware innovations and promotional strategies shaping the gaming landscape. While some products, like the MSI Claw A8 Z2 Extreme, may not meet expectations, others, such as the Xbox Ally and Intel's promotional campaign, offer promising developments for gamers. Additionally, the rise of Chinese-developed AAA titles indicates a diversification of content and competition in the global gaming market.
