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No group has been more vocal about its AI-driven hardships than gamers. The modern silicon rush towards artificial intelligence and the colossal expansion of data centers have diminished the availability of consumer-grade PC components, particularly memory (RAM) and NAND storage (SSDs).
Hardly anyone can afford to build their own gaming desktop PCs, as the usual wallet-crushing cost of a graphics card (GPU) now bleeds into practically every other part you'd need. The answer, at least at first, was to pick up a ready-made alternative, like a portable PC gaming handheld.
Unfortunately, everything from the enduring Steam Deck to a high-end Lenovo Legion Go 2 has been afflicted by the industry's obsession with machine learning and other agentic AI fluff, though it's particularly egregious on the latter's side. Sadly, the Legion Go 2 is now listed at a baffling $2,349.99 at B&H, while Lenovo itself says the handheld is "no longer available" from its own US storefront.
Surprisingly, gamers were already paying $650 over MSRP for the Lenovo Legion Go 2 when it initially sold out, because it's just that good. And that's the real shame of it all: the Legion Go 2 is Lenovo's clever retort to portable consoles, almost like a Nintendo Switch that plays a practically endless library of PC games (and console games, if you dabble in legal emulation of your backups.)
But what's the point if hardly anyone can afford it? And let me be clear, I'm not trying to suggest that the Legion Go 2 was ever marketed as an "affordable" handheld; it's quite the opposite. However, I can't entertain the idea that it's worth more than $1,000 above its launch price, either. If even the wealthier gamers among us are being ripped off, what chance do the rest of us have?
Digging around competing retailers mercifully shows the faintest glimmer of hope: Best Buy lists the Legion Go 2 for $1,999.99, keeping that $650 premium alive and kicking. Nevertheless, I wouldn't expect to see Lenovo's $1,349.99 MSRP making a comeback any time soon, and I shudder at the thought of someone accidentally leaving their $2k handheld on public transport.
Handheld gaming on Windows has at least improved over recent months, with Xbox mode emulating the console-style UI of Valve's SteamOS. If the budget-friendly (white) ROG Xbox Ally manages to avoid this wave of price hikes, it'll likely remain the top recommendation among my team, but I'm not holding my breath. Want one? For now, the ROG Xbox Ally is holding steady at $599.99.
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