Meet Acer’s Revolutionary DualPlay Laptop with Pop-Out Controller and 3D Audio

I have to admit, Acer’s new laptop concept, Project DualPlay, is the real showstopper at IFA today. This is a gaming laptop that Acer claims will give you more ways to play on the go, but to be honest, I’m not entirely sure which gamers this design is catering to. The idea is to add a custom gaming controller to the laptop, with the back of the controller doubling as the laptop’s trackpad. A button at the top of the keyboard releases the controller, which can then be detached and used as two separate gamepads, like a Nintendo Switch.

Acer’s press release highlights the ability to play games like Street Fighter 6 with a second player, and even mentions first-person shooters, although that’s only really useful if the game supports split-screen play. Of course, you could always use it for single-player games too.

I’ve got to say, I’m a bit skeptical about this design. Acer didn’t let us get hands-on with the laptop at IFA, so I’ve got a few questions. How’s the controller going to hold up? And what’s the experience like gaming on a laptop with a massive hole where the trackpad used to be? The press photos don’t give us much to go on – they don’t show anyone using the laptop with the controller removed.

On the other hand, plenty of PC games do support controller play, and some gamers might prefer using a controller over a mouse and keyboard. So, having a controller built right into the laptop could be a real plus. It’s just a concept for now, but if Acer can make it work, it might be worth considering.

But the real question is: how much extra would you be willing to pay for a laptop with this unique controller design? Only time will tell if Project DualPlay is a game-changer or just a flash in the pan.