Cloud gaming is not just another trend heading into 2026. According to Globant’s new Game On Report, it sits inside a bigger shift toward access that follows you from screen to screen. The report explains how the industry is moving away from fixed hardware thinking and toward ecosystems that span Smart TVs, PCs, handheld devices, cloud platforms and cross-device systems like Nintendo Switch 2. It is notable to see a major tech and gaming partner like Globant outline this direction so clearly.
The report highlights how gaming is becoming more about continuity and less about a single device. “Smart TVs are turning into gaming entry points, cloud services are reaching more screens as shown in Xbox’s recent focus on expanding cloud play across TVs, handhelds and everyday devices, and more studios are designing with multi-device access in mind, including portable-friendly and cloud-enabled platforms like GeForce NOW, Amazon Luna and hybrid hardware ecosystems such as Nintendo Switch 2. That lines up with what we have seen across 2025 as more publishers support unified profiles, cross-screen progression and flexible access across hardware.
Portable systems are growing at the same time. The rise of handheld PCs and hybrid systems, backed by strong momentum around devices like Nintendo Switch 2 and early industry discussions around a portable-capable PlayStation 6, is reshaping expectations around where and how you can play. Globant’s findings show that gamers are responding to this flexibility, and studios supporting both portable and cloud-friendly setups are seeing strong engagement.
With cloud gaming, portability and multi-device access shaping so much of the conversation, the Game On Report offers a clear look at what 2026 could feel like. Here is how Globant sees the next year taking shape for cloud-first and portable-first gamers.
Cloud Gaming Becomes a Core Platform Shift
Globant’s Game On Report places cloud gaming inside a much larger shift happening across the industry. Instead of tying playtime to a single device, cloud access makes it possible for your games to follow you across whatever compatible screen you have available. That includes Smart TVs, PCs, mobile devices and cloud-supported platforms tied to ecosystems like Amazon Luna and NVIDIA GeForce NOW. The report points to this device-agnostic approach as a meaningful part of how gaming is evolving heading into 2026.
The way Globant discusses these platforms positions cloud gaming as a serious alternative to relying only on local hardware. Smart TVs, mobile devices and desktop PCs are becoming legitimate places to play because streamed access reduces the need for high-end local components. It shifts attention from hardware specs to availability, something cloud supporters have been pushing toward for years.
The report also calls out Amazon Luna and GeForce NOW as examples of how cloud services are expanding across more devices and regions. For anyone already using these platforms, it feels normal to sit down, sign in and start a session without thinking about what is inside the box under the TV.
Globant points to a trend of studios adopting platform-agnostic development pipelines that support continuous access across devices. As more games are designed with cloud workflows and cross-device continuity in mind, the entire ecosystem becomes smoother. You pick a game, load your profile and continue wherever it makes sense in the moment, similar to how media streaming already works.
Game On frames the broader platform shift toward portables and cloud-optimized gaming as one of the five major forces shaping the direction of the industry in 2026.
Handheld and Portable Gaming Surges in Parallel
Globant’s Game On Report pairs cloud growth with another major trend: the rise of portable and handheld gaming. The report highlights multiple examples, including the strong early performance of Nintendo Switch 2, the growing footprint of handheld PCs like the ROG Xbox Ally X, and industry conversations around a future PlayStation 6 that could include both traditional and portable versions.
The numbers show how quickly this space is growing. Handheld consoles generated USD 8.7 billion in 2024, with Globant citing a projected 7.9% CAGR through 2033. That reflects how much interest there is in gaming that fits into short breaks, travel time or relaxed evenings at home. You just pick up a handheld, load your progress and keep going.
Hybrid systems and handheld PCs are changing design expectations too. When gamers move between a handheld device and a larger display, the experience now needs to stay consistent. The report frames this as part of a wider transition. Gaming is being rebuilt for multi-device continuity, not a single-screen lifecycle.
Cloud access and handheld growth also fit together naturally. Globant reports that:
- cloud gaming revenue is projected to reach USD 14 billion by 2027
- the market is moving at an extraordinary 64% CAGR
- cloud gaming users could exceed 500 million by 2030
Both cloud and handhelds are driven by the same thing: convenience. For anyone who moves between portable platforms like Nintendo Switch 2, handheld PCs, Smart TVs or cloud services, 2026 is shaping up to feel even more seamless than today.
Gaming Ecosystems Expand Beyond Traditional Hardware
One of the clearest signals in Globant’s report is that gaming ecosystems are now more important than individual boxes. Cloud platforms, handhelds and cross-device systems are expanding the definition of what a “primary gaming device” even means. The report specifically references Nintendo Switch 2, Amazon Luna, GeForce NOW and multi-platform ecosystems built around Fortnite, Minecraft and Roblox, three games that dominate discovery, content creation and cross-device play.
The report also highlights how studios are adopting cloud-enabled development practices that allow them to test and deliver experiences across multiple devices. Instead of building strictly for a console-first audience, more games are being planned with TV screens, PCs, portable hardware and cloud access all in mind from day one.
Globant makes it clear that the next era of gaming will not be defined by where people connect, but by how seamlessly they can continue playing across multiple screens. For cloud-focused gamers, and for anyone who jumps between portable and living-room hardware, this aligns closely with how gaming already works in 2025.
Cloud and Portable Gaming Will Shape 2026
Globant’s Game On Report pulls together trends that cloud gamers and portable fans have been feeling all year. Cloud platforms like GeForce NOW and Amazon Luna are reaching more screens, handheld systems like Nintendo Switch 2 are growing fast, and developers are planning for games that move between devices without slowing you down. When you put those pieces together, you get a clearer picture of how people will play in 2026.
The report makes one thing obvious. The next phase of gaming will not revolve around a single device. It will revolve around access. Smart TVs, PCs, handhelds and cloud platforms are part of the same ecosystem now, and Globant expects that idea to keep gaining momentum. It also helps that some of the biggest games in the world, like Fortnite, Roblox and Minecraft, already operate across that mix of hardware. Gamers are used to jumping between devices, and the industry is adapting to that reality instead of fighting it.
Cloud and Portable Trends Converge Heading Into 2026
Cloud gaming sits right in the middle of this shift. The report shows how streaming is becoming a normal option instead of a side feature, especially as performance improves and more screens support direct cloud play on Smart TVs. Portable systems reinforce the same idea by letting you pick up a session whenever you have a few minutes to spare. Both trends support each other, and Globant expects them to keep growing together.
For anyone who already uses cloud services or splits time between portable devices and home setups, the takeaway is simple. Gaming is becoming easier to access, easier to continue and easier to fit into everyday life. It feels like the industry is finally building toward the way people actually play now. Cloud Dosage will keep an eye on how these trends develop, especially as 2026 pushes cloud and portable gaming even closer together.
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