Intel is building a handheld gaming platform including a dedicated chip

Intel is preparing to expand further into gaming hardware with plans for a new platform designed specifically for handheld gaming devices, including a dedicated chip tailored for portable play.

Speaking at CES on Monday, Intel Vice President and General Manager of PC Products Daniel Rogers announced that the upcoming platform will combine both hardware and software. It will be based on Intel's Core Series 3 processors, codenamed Panther Lake, which were unveiled last year and are now beginning to ship across a range of PCs.

According to IGN's reporting, later confirmed, the platform will feature a custom chip designed exclusively for handheld gaming systems, signalling Intel's intent to compete more directly in the fast-growing portable gaming market.

The Panther Lake processors are also notable as Intel's first chips built using its 18A manufacturing process, which entered production in 2025 and represents a significant step forward for the company's semiconductor roadmap.

Intel has long played a central role in gaming, producing chips for gaming PCs since the 1990s. The company increased its focus on gaming hardware in 2022 with the launch of its Intel Arc graphics processors, marking a renewed push into the gaming ecosystem.

A move into handheld gaming would represent a significant shift, as AMD currently dominates the segment. Earlier on Monday, AMD announced its latest gaming processor, the Ryzen 7 9850X3D, along with new ray tracing and graphics technologies, during its own CES keynote.

Rogers said Intel plans to share additional details about its handheld gaming products later this year, suggesting more announcements are forthcoming as the platform takes shape.