I much prefer the Steam Decks approach on handheld gaming. Instead of matching the latest desktop systems in hardware they focus on the console-like experience.
I also like how they try to stay within a certain price range and focus on experience and efficiency, rather than push the latest hardware.
I highly doubt Valve makes a significant profit on Steam Decks, though. Their main win from selling them is that they keep people that have off-desktop gaming needs using their products/games. (Plus, I think Valve just likes advancing gaming even when it doesn’t win them a profit)
Basically, it’s not surprising these other hardware makers don’t have any business model where they can sell a cheap handheld. It’s probably smarter to go for the niche of enthusiasts that want something stronger than the Deck.
It’s also because they want to advance gaming on Linux specifically.
When Windows 8 released, Microsoft was pushing their app store, ARM devices that could only access the Windows store, and Windows Phones. Valve became scared - Microsoft clearly wanted their future to be installing software through the Microsoft store.
They also added an “Xbox” app to windows - a clear indication that MS wanted to bring that business to PC, and have an unfair advantage by having their services pre-installed.
Gabe Newell has worked for Microsoft before and he knows just how ruthless and anti-competitive Microsoft can be. He knew that while Valve was 100% dependent on Windows, Valve was at risk.
So they brought out the Linux client and released Steam Machines, which as we all remember were a flop due to limited game compatibility and poor performance.
So Valve got to work on adapting WINE to create Proton, a Windows compatibility layer integrated into Steam. They put money into Linux development, then, when Proton was good enough, they released the Steam Deck.
Make no mistake, the Steam Deck is ultimately a part of Valve’s overarching plan to reduce dependency on a hostile competitor that controls the entire platform that they operate on.
Agree on both points. It’s nice to have options. I think the real fun will begin when Valve opens SteamOS up for other platforms, so it can be put on these higher-end handhelds, and even desktops.
My bet is that with them being more popular than anyone could have expected, we’ll see the release of a “gaming” version of Windows that better fits these devices.
I don’t expect Microsoft to put time and effort into something like that unless they plan to make an Xbox portable of their own.
That wouldn’t be very surprising either honestly, pretty sure their console sales have never been the best of the big three, they have the resources and could push game pass hard with that…
Wow, finally a handheld with malware-like bloat and a near guarantee of serious design flaws!
Wow! Intel processor AND Windows? The worst of both choices for a handheld!
This thing having 32gb of ram is complete overkill, but I genuinely don’t expect it to have good battery life at all, which is the bigger issue
I’ve seen comparisons of the 32GB vs 16GB GPD Win4 and there’s about a 10-15% uplift in performance at the same TDP in a lot of games with the 32GB model.
So it can give an increase in performance, or at the least let you run at a slightly lower TDP for the same performance and a bit better battery life.
Of course this was the 6800U, hard to say if the effects are similar for Intel’s chipset or not.
This thing is going to have like a minute and a half worth of battery life.
