# handheld

Players weighed reports of a $50 billion take-private for EA and warned that leveraged ownership could jeopardize quality and trust. Live-service fatigue, a steep Destiny 2 player drop, and brisk handheld demand underscored how strategy, execution, and access shape loyalty.

Gamers are rewarding practical value and polished releases as a $319 Steam Deck reframes handheld budgets and Sega's Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds earns 98% 'Overwhelmingly Positive' reviews. Meanwhile, studios embrace performance-first caution—an indefinite delay for Borderlands 4 on Switch 2 and auteur-led teasers—while a dismissed 'Live and Learn' lawsuit underscores the stakes of legacy and IP stewardship.