Acer Nitro Blaze gaming handheld launch plans set ablaze
As you may recall, in November we reported that neither Acer nor ZOTAC have launched the long-overdue gaming handhelds to the market. Neither Acer not ZOTAC have responded to our emails. However we have an update today from the first company that finally confirms their handheld is indefinitely postponed.
Acer brought plenty of hardware to CES 2026, but the Nitro Blaze handheld line was absent again. An Acer PR representative said the category is still on the U.S. roadmap, but local launch plans are undecided due to tariffs and a focus on core products.
This is an emerging product category that remains on Acer’s U.S. roadmap, but our local launch plans are TBD. As we continue to navigate the tariff situation, we’re currently focused on our core products. When products become available in the U.S, we will let you know.”
— Acer to Windows Central
NITRO Blaze 11 & Blaze 8, Source: Acer
Another report cited a similar message from Acer America, with tariffs described as the reason for shifting focus back toward laptops and making manufacturing changes. Acer also said there are no imminent plans to offer the handhelds.
Lisa Emard of Acer America Corporation told The Verge , “When we announced those products it was just ahead of the tariffs situation. We wound up just focusing on our core products, on laptops, because we needed to find manufacturing options outside of China.” Emard added, “We don’t have any imminent plans to offer them.”
— Acer to The Verge
ZOTAC has a similar issue. ZOTAC has shown the Zone Pro concept across multiple 2025 events, including a Gamescom hands-on, with a Ryzen AI 9 HX 370 platform and a Linux configuration. Public details on pricing and regional availability never followed, and ZOTAC’s own posts still stop short of a clear Zone Pro launch announcement. The console was not showcased at this year’s CES 2026 from what we can see.
Acer has at least tied the delay to tariffs in direct comments. ZOTAC has not offered a comparable explanation, and the silence is starting to look like a pattern for late handheld entrants.
Acer’s CES 2025 material listed Nitro Blaze 8 and Nitro Blaze 11 for North America and EMEA in Q2 2025, with EMEA pricing starting at EUR 999 for Nitro Blaze 8 and EUR 1,199 for Nitro Blaze 11. Separate reports also pointed to an October 2025 target for the ZOTAC Zone Pro, but a firm retail rollout still has not been confirmed publicly.
Source: The Verge , Windows Central
