I saw no GOL links here so far. Great site, it tought me about Reddit 10 years ago
I want one of these, but at the same time I’m not sure if I want it because everyone else wants it, or because I’d actually use it (my Switch is in a storage box because I never turn it on)
It’s an extremely comfortable device. I have larger hands and find the Switch relatively uncomfortable. Also, it’s just really awesome having that whole Steam library in the palms.
Plus emulation. This cannot be overstated.
For me the killer app is actually the trackpads, though. I play a lot of strategy games that are not at all controller friendly, but they’re great on the Deck with right pad as mouse. The scheme mimics what was done with the Steam Controller, and while I did find the pads on that and the haptics slightly better than those in the Deck, it’s a matter of not being able to play such games at all with other portable devices.
I have a gaming laptop so I can already game from the couch just fine… and yet I still want one of these so bad
Can’t play lying on your back with a laptop. It’s glorious. Deck’s so wide too that it feels natural to play like that, holding all the device weight on your albows.
Besides Switch-like form factor (although a bit chunkier) and Steam games on the go Steam Deck offers:
- Insane mount of control custamizability: you can play games that are only for mouse and keyboard from the comfort of your couch, bed, any place really
- Great 3rd party ecosystem: there is a shit ton of stuff for SteamOS that community prepared to be easy to setup like emulators, plugins, non-steam launchers etc. Discovering that can be fun on its own
- Find your own use case, customize hardware and software as much as you like with only sky being the limit.
If that’s not your jam, move on I guess.
I love the concept of it. It’s just the games I enjoy I can’t imagine would translate well to a controller instead of keyboard and mouse. Maybe someone will prove me wrong!
I thought similarly until I tried it out. There’s community control schemes you can copy for games, plus there’s 4 extra buttons in the back you can quick remap them to either keyboard/mouse buttons or controller inputs, along with two click touchpads that can do that and more. Plus you can quick call a touch/navigatable keyboard to the screen. It takes a bit to get used to but once you do, it’s hard going back. I actually ended up preferring using it handheld over using a dock to hook it to a TV with a controller paired to it.
The only games I’d say are hard to use would be like some mmorpg games that are best for keyboard & mouse.
I rarely played my Switch because most of the games I want aren’t on there or they’re too expensive.
I practically live on my Steam Deck. I’ve been playing Fallout 4. I got all the achievements and s ranked all bosses on Cuphead and it loaded everything so much faster than on the switch (though I will say, it was prettier on the OLED).
I’ve been playing 3DS games on my deck, currently going through Return of Samus after just finishing AM2R on the same handheld. It’s nuts that I can even do that.
To me, it feels like I’m living in the future. My Switch didn’t see anywhere close to this much action.
I was in the same situation as you, even worse, my switch is hooked up to our TV, charged and ready to go, but still haven’t gotten much use.
If it weren’t for my wife getting it for me I probably would’ve skipped the Steam Deck and I wouldn’t have been able to game as much as I had since getting it.
I’ve had it since November last year and I’ve finished KH1, KH Re:CoM, KH2, DMC V, and am currently playing Nier Automata. It’s such a fun little device that allows me to squeeze in some gaming between work, taking care of a newborn, and other chores.
If you have a steam backlog you’ve been itching to play, I’d say definitely go for it. Otherwise, if you find yourself wishing you squeezed in a 5 to 10 minute gaming session during idle times, I’d say that’s a good indicator a Steam Deck would be a good purchase for you.
This is my concern as well (+ I’m a cheapskate who usually only buys consoles or computer stuff once they’re pretty much obsolete and <$100 used).
History of every gaming device I’ve bought in adulthood including VR:
- Purchase with some games;
- If soft-modable, soft-mod and customize;
- Play happily for a few months;
- Put it in a box and never look at it again, or give to my kid who follows a similar cycle.
Edit: Though my counterargument here is just how many options the Steam Deck opens up. Want PC games - see: all the shit I’ve never played? Got 'em. Emulators? Got em. Want to use it as a mini pc for minor pc stuff? Doable.
Ok top seller by revenue, that makes a bit more sense because a lot of games will be selling for under $10. But still that’s impressive and bodes well for Linux gaming.
I’ve really been enjoying my SteamDeck. Seeing Proton in action may be what finally pushes me away from Windows which I’ve been wanting to do for years. Yesterday I found myself downloading the Pop!_OS ISO.
Good luck! I made the switch and have gamed exclusively on Linux for about a year now. It’s gotten leaps and bounds better than it used to be in a pretty short time. The same is true on the Deck: if something doesn’t launch the first time, change to Proton Experimental in game properties and likely you’re good.
Your experience may be different depending on your GPU, though. AMD drivers are baked into the Linux kernel now, so It Just Works™. But nvidia can be a pain, mostly because you’re still tied to their proprietary driver and they famously don’t pump a lot of resources into Linux support.
Hope you enjoy! Pop_OS is one of my favorite distros (along with Mint Cinnamon and Steam OS).
I made the full leap 4 years ago (except the work laptop, my employer is still in Microsoft mode) and I’ve never regretted it for a single solitary moment.
I hoped over to Linux a few years ago as well. It’s actually reinvigorated my love for computers. Linux is such a joy to use and I’m having a blast learning about each part of the os and how it works. I love that there is config files for everything and it’s simple text with an explanation of what each setting does.
I got Manjaro working pretty well, what surprised me is how much space the Proton compatibility files take for various games. I will probably reinstall when I can dedicate more space to it. Also I was stubborn and tried to get the Steam game install folders working on Windows and Linux on a dual-boot machine. I succeeded, but it was a lot of trouble and not worth it.
Good luck! I made the switch and have gamed exclusively on Linux for about a year now. It’s gotten leaps and bounds better than it used to be in a pretty short time. The same is true on the Deck: if something doesn’t launch the first time, change to Proton Experimental in game properties and likely you’re good.
Your experience may be different depending on your GPU, though. AMD drivers are baked into the Linux kernel now, so It Just Works™. But nvidia can be a pain, mostly because you’re still tied to their proprietary driver and they famously don’t pump a lot of resources into Linux support.
Before I got a Deck I thought the hype could not be real. It’s over a year later and I still can’t put it down.
Ugh I’m so curious about getting one but I haven’t usually taken well to game consoles
If you’ve got the money for it, absolutely snag one. It doesn’t feel like a console to me (like an Xbox) but it’s got the functionality of one while still very much being a computer. I’ve owned an Xbox and have a gaming desktop and I only touch the desktop when I play VR games. It’s totally changed how I play games.
I used mine as a gaming “desktop” with a USB hub while I was moving and my desktop was in storage for a few months. I could play casual csgo and a few other games without issue.
