Is it a smartphone? Is it a handheld console? Actually, the upcoming PGS (which stands for Portable Gaming System) is both. And it claims to do both very well. The more powerful of the two versions that will be available (named the “Hardcore” version) will be a full smartphone comparable with some current flagship handsets. It will come equipped with a 5.7-inch 2560 x 1440 AMOLED display, an Intel Atom X7 quad-core CPU, 8 GB of RAM and 128 GB of onboard storage, all of which will be powered by a massive 6,120 mAh battery. The Lite version will include a 5.5-inch 1280 x 720 IPS display, 4 GB of RAM, 64 GB of onboard storage and a 4080 mAh battery. They will both run Android 6.0 Marshmallow, and will have the ability to do everything a typical smartphone can do, including voice calls.
On the PC end, these devices will run a full desktop version of Windows 10, which will be capable of running Windows 10 desktop applications, including desktop grade games. While the hardware may not be powerful enough to support more demanding games at higher settings, according to the developers it will be able to handle games like Batman: Arkham City, Mirror’s Edge and Dark Souls 2 (though settings will need to be lowered for optimum performance). The PGS can also be connected to external devices such as a keyboard and mouse, giving you essentially a full-fledged desktop PC in your pocket. The device is configured to dual boot Windows and Android, so the two operating systems work independently of each other. In other words, you won’t be able to access Android applications while running Windows and vice versa. However if the high-end goal of $400,000 is reached, the developer will include calling and texting capabilities from within Windows, allowing you to answer calls without interrupting your gaming.
At the time of this writing, the Kickstarter funding for this project has reached almost $250,000, which exceeds their minimum goal of $100,000 by a large margin. Backers that pledge $230 will be rewarded with a Lite version of the PGS, while those that pledge a minimum of $280 will receive the Hardcore version. It remains to be seen whether the PGS will be able to compete with desktops and handheld consoles in terms of gaming performance, but this is certainly an interesting idea that could help to bridge the gap between mobile and desktop gaming.
