Logitech G Cloud is a new portable streaming console that feels a little too cutting-edge in our age of poor public Wi-Fi.
Now fully announced after a leak last month, Logitech G Cloud is an Android handheld device that comes with Xbox Cloud Gaming and Nvidia GeForce Now pre-installed. Launching exclusively in North America on October 17 for $349.99 (approximately $308 / AU$527), it will let you play top triple-A games via the cloud, on the go.
The console features a seven-inch 1080p touchscreen that supports a 60Hz refresh rate, 12+ hours of battery life, and remappable haptics, gyroscope, and controls. However, it doesn't support 5G natively, nor does it include a SIM card slot, so you'll need to rely on Wi-Fi to stream anything to the console.
With the Google Play Store pre-installed, you'll also be able to run some of the best Android games. It also supports Xbox Remote Play and Steam Link, allowing you to stream all of your Xbox and Steam libraries, including games not on Xbox Game Pass, directly to your console.
a little too early
Logitech Gaming Video President Ujesh Desai is excited about the prospect, saying (opens in a new tab) "Cloud gaming is a super exciting new way to game. I love that you can access game libraries from any place.
"What we wanted to do was challenge ourselves to create a device that was perfectly optimized for cloud gaming. That meant precision controls, similar to a high-end Xbox controller, a huge HD screen, incredible longevity battery life and a lightweight design so gamers can enjoy long gaming sessions, without compromise.
But Logitech G Cloud's core selling point is severely compromised by the current state of Wi-Fi accessibility. As a cloud gaming console, you'll need to be within range of a strong, stable internet connection to play all the games on the device. Unfortunately, places where you're likely to want to take a handheld game console — trains, airports, cars, and other public places — generally don't have reliable Wi-Fi. Take the Logitech G to your local park to play outside and you'll likely find it transformed into an old piece of molded plastic.
A decade from now, when super-fast public Wi-Fi is the norm, the handheld could present one of the easiest and most affordable ways to play top triple-A games wherever you want. For now though, with the state of public Wi-Fi, its use case is pretty limited. You'll probably end up using it at home, which somewhat diminishes its purpose as a truly portable handheld console.
The cost of Logitech G Cloud will also draw attention. At the same price as the Nintendo Switch OLED, and just $50 less than the price of Valve's Steam Deck, many will be wondering why they would bother spending on the streaming-exclusive console. Add to that the subscription fees you'd have to pay for Xbox Game Pass Ultimate or Nvidia GeForce Now, and the price of Logitech's new kit looks even less appealing.
To entice clearance enthusiasts, Logitech is selling pre-orders (opens in a new tab) of the console for $299.99, or $50 off its full retail price. It hasn't been specified if the Logitech G Cloud will come to other markets outside of North America, but we expect it to come to Europe and other regions in the future.