Remember the Smach Z, the Playstation Vita-style handheld gaming PC formerly known as the SteamBoy Machine? The team behind it announces the machine is set to make a Kickstarter comeback after Gamescom 2016 (17-21 August).

The handheld devices already made an appearance on the crowdfunding site back in December 2015... only the campaign was cancelled just 2 days post-launch. Now the Smach Z team insists it is ready to try again, since backing from Spanish investor IMASD Technologia allowed it to build a fully cased prototype.

As it stands the machine features a 5-inch OLED touchscreen, an AMD Falcon SoC with Radeon graphics, 4/8GB RAM and 64/128GB storage (expandable via SD card). Connectivity comes through wifi, USB-C, HDMI and Bluetooth, while the battery promises 5 hours of use on a single charge.

The OS of choice is Steam OS, but the makers say Windows 10 and Android support will be offered as crowdfunding stretch goals together with 4G connectivity.

On the control side of things the Smach Z remains similar to the Steam controller, with 2 touchpads, a control stick, 4 buttons on the back and 2 shoulder buttons.

The Smach Z prototype should make an appearance at Gamescom 2017 before the launch of the aforementioned Kickstarter preorder campaign.

Go Smach Z