Alienware made something of a splash during CES 2020. The computer hardware manufacturer appeared at the tech show with a brand-new prototype - one that looks a heckuva lot like a Nintendo Switch. A Switch that can play PC games, that is. That in itself is a pretty exciting prospect, no?
Before you get too hot and bothered about getting your hands on such a device though, it's clearly very early days for the product. The Concept UFO is, as the name suggests, is simply a concept that Alienware is currently toying with.
Regardless, it's an impressive bit of kit. As you can see for yourself below, it looks like a chunkier, more angular relative of the Switch. The prototype itself is basically a Windows 10 tablet with two attached controllers on either side, that can be slid off, much like the Nintendo Switch Joy-Cons. Also like the Switch, the Concept UFO can be played on a larger screen, as well as on the go.
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While we were unfortunately about as far as it was possible to get from CES 2020 (geographically speaking), a few outlets were able to get some hands-on time with the Concept UFO. CNET, for example, noted that the device "looks and feels finished, with a high degree of polish". They also said that the demanding zombie shooter World War Z was "surprisingly playable" on the machine.
That's all well and good, but it's unclear exactly when - if ever - the Concept UFO will become more than just a concept. Alienware hasn't actually definitively confirmed whether or not the machine could ever be released to the public, so we'll just have to sit tight and see what we see.
Obviously the idea of a Nintendo Switch-inspired machine that can run PC games is an attractive proposition to most die-hard gamers, but there's no way something like the Concept UFO wouldn't come with a hefty price tag. The Switch itself undeniably has a lot more power than people give it credit for, but the reason it doesn't cost an absolute bomb is because Nintendo has made some realistic concessions in the power department.
You also have to wonder how well the Concept UFO would sell if it did go to market. Between the Switch and mobile gaming, I don't know how much demand there is for such a... hardcore portable machine with a mainstream audience. Still, it's an incredibly cool idea, and there's nothing from stopping Alienware from marketing it as a niche, premium product for the most dedicated of PC gamers.
Featured Image Credit: AlienwareTopics: Nintendo Switch, PC
