SoCal News Desk

In a notice released on July 1, Sony announced that PlayStation will discontinue physical disc production by January 2028 (Source: PlayStation.Blog). Similarly, Xbox has also begun experimenting with digital gaming solutions, as reported in Games Industry. The choice comes with a consumer shift away from physical media and a shift to digital format gaming. However, as larger companies step away from handheld gaming, new companies are reviving the console scene, leaning into nostalgic titles and themes.

On July 7, Blaze Entertainment revealed the Super Pocket Activision Edition. The handheld console is fully licensed with 34 games from Activision and is compatible with all “Evercade” cartridges to allow for expansion. The console is set to release from Europe on September 28, 2026 at three price points: £59.99, $69.99, and €69.99.

In addition to a separate handheld console, there are also gaming device that are an add-on to your pre-existing mobile device. In a press release shared on July 7, BitmoLab’s GameBaby Transparent Edition will turn an iPhone 17 Pro Max into a retro-style handheld console. From the back of a phone, retro games will be available to BitmoLab’s official online store. This edition is limited to 500 units worldwide and priced at $24.99.

With a new generation of gamers rising, the tension between digital and physical games continue, but the era of handhelds are not over as new developments and innovations are being done by smaller companies, as contrast to gaming and entertainment leaders Sony and Microsoft.