Qualcomm shows off Nintendo Switch rival with Xbox Game Pass support

Qualcomm has announced the Snapdragon G3x Gen 1 platform for mobile gaming devices. This chip is meant to spawn more Nintendo Switch-like devices but with more advanced features; almost on par with the Steam Deck. A developer's kit in collaboration with razer shows Qualcomm's concept of the future Android-based handheld devices that can also do Xbox quality gaming.

Yes, the Snapdragon G3x Gen 1 platform supports the Android OS platform and can be used to stream games from your Xbox console, PC, or utilize the Xbox Game Pass titles via the cloud gaming services. The handheld developer kit made in collaboration with Razer is a proof of concept; manufacturers can go wild with their implementations.

Snapdragon G3x Gen 1 platform built for mobile gaming

Qualcomm hasn't shared many details on the chip itself. All we know that the Snapdragon G3x Gen 1 supports Wi-Fi 6E, 5G connectivity, and low latency connections at home. Although the chip is supposed to power handheld gaming consoles, Qualcomm deems it fit to power smart TVs, smart TV sticks, and micro gaming consoles.

Right now, the Snapdragon G3x Gen 1 is recommended to be used with Android given that most games are available on the Android platform. However, other OS platforms, like Steam OS, can also make use of this chip to power its handheld consoles.

The chip can support up to 144 fps gaming and players can even connect 4K displays for better experiences. There's even support for cameras to aid livestreaming during gaming sessions.

The Handheld Developer kit demonstrated at the event ran on the Snapdragon G3x Gen 1 platform. Qualcomm. It gets all the features of the chip but marries them to a 6.65-inch OLED display with a refresh rate of 120Hz. The device has a USB-C display port and support for Snapdragon Sound, a 1080p webcam, and a 6000mAh battery to power it all.