Yes, many games are built with streaming in mind.
Yes, many games are built with streaming in mind.
The Oblivion Remaster has just been released, and I wanted to test its performance on handheld devices like the Steam Deck. The results were disappointing—even with all settings turned down, the game still ran at less than 30 frames per second. It’s becoming increasingly frustrating to see these high-budget AAA titles only available on cutting-edge hardware. That equipment is already out of reach for most people due to cost or limited stock.
I’m tired of seeing such large games designed exclusively for professional data centers. These systems are built with advanced cooling and can be installed in massive setups, making them impractical for regular users. The current situation means game streaming is only financially viable for data center owners, not for developers or publishers who rely on direct sales.
Because players don’t own the games on their own machines, companies can simply replace them with newer versions and pressure consumers to upgrade. This creates a cycle where older titles are abandoned, and piracy becomes a bigger concern. It seems the industry is prioritizing profit from new releases over supporting older games.
steamdeck runs on very basic specs, and big games usually pack as much flashy content as possible into them, making trailers look impressive. There might also be limited optimization on launch day. These developers likely have a strong financial motive to avoid purchasing expensive GPUs for every update. The more challenging the game is to play, the smaller their profit margins become.
The expectations for the Steam Deck and comparable handheld devices are quite high. Even though it launched more than three years ago, it offered very basic performance. Its main appeal was portability, allowing gaming laptops to be taken anywhere. Achieving high-end titles on it often meant sacrificing graphics quality and settings. It's fair to say that demanding games shouldn't push their limits on such devices, since doing so would slow down overall progress in gaming. Scalability is possible, but pushing too far beyond what older hardware can handle creates significant challenges. The Xbox Series S has already caused developers to face major difficulties, and the Steam Deck falls far short of that experience. The temporary supply issues have mostly subsided worldwide. The 5080 is already making its way into Steam Hardware Survey data. If demand remains strong, it’s possible the 5070 and upcoming updates will be noteworthy. Regarding prices, most models from 5070 down are currently available, with 5070 Ti and 5080 still in stock but near their MSRP. The 5090s seem unlikely to become widely available anytime soon.
Sure thing. Assuming most high-end titles work on Steam Deck is unrealistic. Few actually function well, and it's confusing why people think otherwise.
You make a solid observation. Even with strong hardware, AMD often struggles to match Nvidia’s volume. The “1080ti killer” is a good example—great specs but limited demand. Many complained about high costs and stopped producing them eventually. It’s clear that market dynamics favor Nvidia in this space.
Game streaming isn’t really a hot topic for most users, who tend to avoid it due to issues like DRM, lag, and poor pricing. The “Stadia” case has some relevance but doesn’t pose a significant threat to Steam or console offerings overall.
It's a curious point—given how streaming has become the modern "big screen" experience, do game developers intentionally design challenges that are tough? Maybe as a way to protect their investments? :tinfoilhat:
They use the best equipment available, and since crunch culture exists, they don’t have the chance to really fine-tune their games.