New Delhi-based startup ARC has opened a waitlist for its first handheld gaming device, designed specifically for the Indian market. The waitlist went live on July 4, 2024, offering early access to product updates, launch announcements, exclusive community initiatives, and priority purchase opportunities for those who sign up at playarc.gg.
Co-founded by Jobin Joseph and Kaustubh K. Jadhav, ARC says the device is part of an integrated gaming ecosystem that includes purpose-built hardware, a proprietary gaming operating system, software services, and a community platform. The company hasn't shared any technical specifications — like screen size, processor, or battery — nor has it revealed pricing, availability dates, or launch offers. Those details remain unknown.
What ARC is up against
India currently lacks a locally-supported premium handheld from a major brand. The closest options are imported devices with no official warranty or service. The Nintendo Switch OLED sells for ₹34,999 in India but has dated hardware. The Steam Deck, ASUS ROG Ally, and Lenovo Legion Go can cost ₹60,000 to over ₹90,000 through gray-market imports, and none offer Indian support.
Android-based handhelds like the AYN Odin 2 or Retroid Pocket series provide strong emulation and Android game performance for ₹25,000-₹45,000 via import, but again carry warranty and logistics risks. The Logitech G Cloud is another cloud-focused option but relies on a weaker processor for local tasks.
ARC believes it can fill this gap. "ARC is building an integrated gaming ecosystem: purpose-built hardware, a proprietary gaming operating system, software services, and a community-led platform," the company said via its founders. The specific features of that OS and services haven't been detailed.
Implicit bets on Android and cloud
Given the absence of information about the hardware architecture, it's reasonable to assume the device will run some form of Android or a custom OS based on Android — the most common choice for non-Windows handhelds. That would support the vast library of Android games, plus emulators for retro consoles. A custom OS could also optimize for cloud gaming services like Xbox Cloud Gaming or GeForce Now, which are gaining traction in India despite latency issues.
ARC's ecosystem pitch mirrors what Nintendo and Valve do with their own software layers, but building a proprietary OS from scratch is a multi-year engineering effort. Most existing Chinese handhelds simply use an Android launcher. ARC hasn't confirmed whether its OS is a deep fork or a themed launcher.
Founders Jobin Joseph and Kaustubh K. Jadhav have not publicly detailed their background in gaming hardware or product development, and the startup's funding status is unknown. Hardware manufacturing in India is capital-intensive, requiring supply chain relationships for PCBs, batteries, and screens that small startups find hard to secure.
Analysis
ARC is targeting a real gap — no locally-supported, premium handheld exists for Indian gamers who want dedicated controls for Android games and emulation without importing. But the company is essentially vaporware until it reveals concrete specifications, pricing, funding, and a timeline.
The biggest risk is pricing. If ARC charges under ₹15,000, it will need to cut corners on components and compete with smartphones plus clip-on controllers. If it goes above ₹30,000, it enters the territory of gray-market Steam Decks and ROG Allys, which offer PC-level performance. There is a narrow sweet spot around ₹20,000-₹25,000 where custom Android handhelds like the Odin 2 have found success overseas, but those lack local support. ARC has the chance to offer warranty and service — but only if it can manufacture and distribute at volume.
For now, the waitlist is a demand test, not a product announcement. Enthusiasts should temper expectations until ARC shows it can deliver hardware that competes on performance, build quality, and price with imported alternatives it claims to replace.
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