The Console Of Broken Promises
A Great Idea, Abysmal Execution
(Logitech G Cloud Gaming Handheld, Portable Gaming Console In Person Photo Pre Unboxing Taken by Nia🫧)
Hello, my peeps, and may the algorithm bring this piece to you.
Today, we’re getting into my first Game Console review and story time.
I will be reviewing the Logitech G Cloud Gaming Handheld, Portable Gaming Console, explaining why I returned it and why I bought it in the first place.
So, without further ado, let’s get into this.
(Logitech – G CLOUD Gaming Handheld Console Photo, Saved from Best Buy)
“Logitech G CLOUD takes massive libraries of AAA titles and advanced graphics (up to 1080/60 FPS) from the cloud and puts it all in your hands. This lets you play many games from Xbox, NVIDIA GeForce NOW, and Steam Link. Just pick up CLOUD and play anywhere you have WiFi.”- Meet Logitech G Cloud
Best Buy’s advertisements seemed to reinforce Logitech’s promises mentioned here.
Speaking of Best Buy, I only intended initially to buy peripherals for my iPad. I was returning to the register and browsing at some dazzling electronics I’ll probably never afford. And I stumbled across the G Cloud right before the PC parts section.
The device enthralled me; in Best Buy, the display device played a slick promotional video on the device showing how it might look running games like CyberPunk 2077 at the console or even PC-level quality. Of course, when you tried to test the console yourself, there was no way.
That should have been red flag number one for me, but.
Outside of that, my first impressions of the console in-store were quite positive. The console looked like a completely portable Nintendo Switch for more hardcore gamers, and The price tag was what truly sealed the deal.
Best Buy, at the time of writing, is offering the console for $300, $50 off the regular price, not including taxes.
Anyway, I bought the console, and I was ecstatic.
(Initial In Person Unboxing of the G Cloud Gaming Handheld, Photo taken by Nia🫧)
At home, initially, the console didn’t disappoint.
The unboxing experience appeared premium. The console was front and center, and the cables appeared to be easy to access via the box underneath (thankfully, I didn’t need them)
Pulling the console out felt premium until you realize it is deceivingly light, obviously too light for what it’s promising.
Which was red flag number two, but again, I didn’t think much of it then.
Before discussing my problems with the console, I need to explain my expectations outside of Logitech’s promises.
A more expansive library of games than the Nintendo Switch or the Amazon Luna
The ability to record and share footage with myself for my content
The ability to play online
None of these were met for me.
Booting up the console was okay, but this was where it began to show its cracks truly.
The UI is similar to Android systems; this allowed the team to keep the device at $300.
Once you do the usual initial setup, four pre-downloaded apps are available: Xbox & Xbox Cloud Gaming, GeForce Now, and SteamLink.
Outside of these are the Google Play Store, Google Chrome, and YouTube.
(Logitech G Cloud Gaming Handheld Xbox Menu, Photo saved from Xbox)
Still, nothing was out of the ordinary until you took a closer look.
The Xbox and Xbox Cloud Gaming Apps, their being separate was annoying and unnecessary.
Mainly because the Xbox Cloud Gaming games are available in the Xbox app, and the Xbox app is only handy if you have a physical console, which I sadly don’t.
Also, GeForce is a service that only allows you to play certain games you own through designated services you paid for the game through, i.e., Epic Games. While you can play for free, you will sit through long queue wait times and ads, which can be bypassed by $20 a month, which sounds like a good idea but feels quite overpriced.
And finally, as far as SteamLink, it was an excellent experience with Cuphead, the only game I could play. Still, you can only use it while streaming your games from your computer, which seemed counterintuitive, mainly because this device was supposed to be pick up and play, not pick up and boot up steam link, boot up my PC, open Steam, open the game, then play. It just seems like far too many steps.
Outside of the four pre-downloaded apps we just discussed, I did browse the Google Play store and attempt to stream Amazon Luna.
First, The Google Play Store, while not a horrible experience, did remind me why I’m staying an apple girly for probably the rest of my life.
The store sorely lacks games worth playing outside the classics like Angry Birds, as I’ve mentioned in my The State of App Gaming is Horrendous post, but nothing worth testing on a $300 device.
Regarding my Amazon Luna experience, it was ok, but I had many more problems on the device than on others, which was quite puzzling.
Anyway, while I was able to get Luna to boot up through the designated Google Chrome browser, I could not run a more recent release like Skull and Bones or even Fortnite for that matter one of the games promised on their website as well.
The game just refused to start, and when I attempted to add the app via a shortcut to the home screen, it was impossible, because for whatever reason the console didn’t allow PC shortcuts.
After all this, I finally had enough with the device, factory reset it, and returned it the next day to exchange it for probably one of the best devices I’ve ever owned, but that’s a post for another day.
It’s for gamers with a daily driver console that will work ALONGSIDE this one, preferably an Xbox or PC. Also this console is an excellent buy for kids interested in more hardcore games. The price point is acceptable, and the build quality is perfect for little hands. Finally, this console is suitable for those interested in emulation because Android allows that to be easily achievable.
If you don’t fall into any of these groups, I cannot recommend this device to you, there are some better options that we will be discussing as well in the upcoming post.
Thank you so much for the read. And as always, I’ll catch you guys in the next one.
