The Future of Handheld Gaming: Steam Machine Hype, GTA VI Delays, and Why Nostalgia Isn’t Everything
By Paul Perez
The gaming world is buzzing again—this time with Valve’s newly announced Steam Machine, the next evolution in the Steam ecosystem. As someone who’s streamed on Twitch using the Steam Deck and enjoys portable gaming, this announcement hits a sweet spot for me.
It’s not just about new hardware; it’s about where gaming is headed next.
A More Powerful Steam Future
Valve’s latest Steam Machine promises a big leap forward—reportedly six times more advanced than the current Steam Deck. Being able to play games natively on the go and then return home, load up your cloud save and instantly enjoy better graphics and performance on your TV? That’s the future I’ve been waiting for.
It's not to say you can't do this with your current gaming rig/PC, but I think the Steam Machine will be more affordable compared to it.
I’m convinced that the Steam Deck 2 is somewhere on the horizon. How far? Who knows. Maybe months. Maybe years. But the Steam Machine feels like a preview of what’s coming.
And it fits into a bigger industry trend. Rumors around the PlayStation 6 suggest it may also combine console and handheld gaming—actual native play, no Wi-Fi dependency, no remote streaming. That hybrid future excites me the most.
A Small Wish for the Deck
If I have one request: make the next Steam Deck more portable. I love the device, but once it’s in the case, it becomes a chunky brick. Compared to the Switch OLED—which slips into my back pack like a dream—the Deck feels bulky. A slimmer profile would be welcome.
Still, this whole era is exciting simply because of the massive Steam library we can take with us on the go. For me, the real challenge is not access—it’s finding the time.
Time, Games, and What I’ve Learned About Myself
I recently watched a Mark Manson video about wasting time, and it got me thinking: how do I spend my limited free hours? I enjoy gaming, but I’ve realized a few things about what works for me:
1. I love short games.
Eight to ten hours? Perfect. Fifteen? Great. Forty-hour epics? I dabble, but I don’t finish.
2. I need games with movement.
Games with long cutscenes or endless dialogue put me to sleep these days—literally. Harold Halibut, Ni no Kuni, and even Like a Dragon had me nodding off. I need to be doing something, not watching something.
3. Portable gaming fits my life best.
If I’m traveling or relaxing with a handheld like a Steam Deck or Switch, I can make progress. But sitting in front of the TV for hours? Nearly impossible with work, social life, and everything else.
GTA VI Delay? Honestly…Who Cares?
While listening to Podcast Unlocked (episode 715), I heard the news: GTA VI is delayed from May 2026 to November 2026.
And my reaction?
So what.
Most gamers already have massive backlogs. The idea that a delay “devastates” anyone feels exaggerated—unless GTA is literally the only game someone plays. For those players, I genuinely get it. For the rest of us? We’ll be fine.
I’m still finishing games from two to three years ago. I’m still working on Miles Morales, a “short” game by modern standards. I’ve got Game Pass, PlayStation Plus, piles of games I want to try—but not enough time to get to any of them.
Rockstar Controversy: A Different Kind of Delay Story
The more troubling news isn’t the delay—it’s the firing of 30–40 Rockstar employees. Rockstar says they leaked confidential information. The employees claim they were pushing to unionize and were fired for it.
As a union member myself, I feel strongly about this. My union is a significant reason I can afford my life. If these workers were fired for organizing, that’s unacceptable—and it’s something we’re seeing more of in the gaming industry as labor movements grow.
Here's a video where I discuss this the GTA 6 delay and Rockstar Games.
The Nostalgia Trap in Gaming
As I kept listening to Podcast Unlocked (episode 715), one thing stood out: they spend a lot of time talking about old franchises. Halo, Mass Effect, KOTOR—classic titles, no doubt. But do people still care that much?
Nostalgia has fueled entertainment for a decade—superhero movies, remakes, reboots. And nostalgia can be tremendous when done well.
Examples of it working:
- The Dead Space remake
- The new Silent Hill 2 remake
- Franchise revivals done with passion
But when nostalgia becomes a lazy cash grab, it hurts the brand. Think Alien and Predator, which have both had ups and downs, though I’ve enjoyed the most recent entries (Alien: Romulus, Predator: Badlands, etc.).
Sometimes, franchises had their time. Not everything needs a revival.
New Games Deserve the Hype Too
One of my favorite shows, the AEW Games Podcast with Adam Cole and Evil Uno, nails the balance. They talk about new games constantly—Clair Obscura, the latest Silent Hill, and fresh indie titles on Steam. Their excitement for new titles is contagious.
Amazing new games are dropping every week. Not everything great comes from the 2000s.
Final Thoughts
The Steam Machine feels like a glimpse into gaming’s hybrid future: portable, powerful, seamless.
Playing games should be joyful—not stressful, not obligatory, not endless homework. And with the future of handheld gaming taking shape, that joy is about to get even easier to carry with us.
One More Thing...
In late 2024 and early 2025, I spent three months at home due to a work injury. During this time, I bought an MPC One Plus, an Arturia Minilab 3 keyboard, and an RC-505 MK II Loopstation, among other equipment. Why did I choose music production? It’s a creative outlet I had experimented with before.
I was inspired by Marc Rebillet, a musician known for his improvisational performances, and I enjoyed watching his livestreams on YouTube. He performed in public on various streets in New York, and I found it very entertaining. I thought to myself, "That’s so cool! I can do that." While I’m not particularly interested in performing outdoors, I wanted to create music spontaneously. This motivated me to find equipment similar to what he uses in his videos.
I’ve been practicing on and off since early this year, and this is the first video I’ve published where I’m putting some of that knowledge into practice.
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