Looking for a Steam Deck purchase?
Looking for a Steam Deck purchase?
I'm sharing this because it's meant for PC gaming. It relies on a few Linux YouTube channels. SteamOS runs on Arch Linux, and it's supposed to support the full Steam library via Proton. Even with the budget model, it'll be expensive. I haven't planned to buy one yet. Lost and Theft, you understand.
I secured the 256GB version. I’m leaning in the middle of deciding, but I only need to commit after a year and it’s just a $5 fee.
It's tough for me, but I appreciate the concept. Hopefully, it ends up being something practical for others. Just not what I'm used to.
I don’t fully grasp the value of the Steam Deck yet—I feel like I’m alone in that thought. I already own a phone that can mimic almost anything, I have a portable gaming setup and a full desktop for serious play. If I wanted to run AAA games, it wouldn’t look good on a small screen with a controller. Playing Warzone while skydiving sounds possible, but why?
It isn't suitable for everyone and your circumstances might not be ideal. For instance, someone who travels frequently would find it much simpler to use a laptop than a desktop setup. Switching to a portable device like a Steam Deck on an airplane is far more convenient than managing a laptop tray or plugging in a controller. The main point is that there are likely many people for whom this works well, while others might not. I own a desktop and have considered getting one for mobility or as a secondary machine—perhaps my girlfriend could use it.
I focus on older console ports and classic PC games. I prefer not to play newer titles on this system. The Steam Deck isn’t the only option for running RapeLay at home, but it seems most convenient. I can also set up Windows just to access certain console games that don’t work in Proton or Steam Play. There are a few important games I want to try that haven’t been released yet. They lack multiplayer, so no anti-cheat features. Also, they don’t include Internet Explorer—which would be a big drawback. These games aren’t available yet, and I believe the issue stems from how they were originally programmed.
I recently visited BC and would have really liked having a Steam Deck there. I carried a tablet for entertainment during the flight/ferry, a Switch for mobile gaming, a laptop because they’re useful in hotel rooms, and even a Lenovo 'Tiny' SFF PC to connect to non-smart TVs. A Steam Deck could have handled all those tasks effortlessly. It would’ve made gaming or media consumption on the go much simpler (Why does the Switch lack a media player? It’s a powerful nVidia shield after all!) and allowed me to sync it with the TV for playback or even TV gaming. I’d still prefer a laptop since it stays handy at my desk in a hotel, but it would have combined three devices into one. Also, many people focus on AAA titles on the Switch, but there are plenty of classic PC games that will run great on it.
Plus newer titles. It’s not going to have great detail at that resolution, but it’s at least something. I’m assembling an AMD build without a GPU now and everything is near $700 to $800 if I negotiate well. For the same budget I could also make it portable? That works. Of course I’m giving up the ability to add a GPU later, but maybe an external storage solution could work eventually.