Will Steam Deck reshape the way we game on PC?
20/7/2021
Translation: Patrik Stainbrook
A portable PC styled in the shape of a Nintendo Switch: Valve’s Steam Deck wants to change the way we think about PC gaming. And if anyone can do it, it’s the company behind the world’s most popular gaming platform.
Steam boasted 120 million active users in 2020. This year, this figure should even increase to around 140 million. That’s significantly more users than either Sony, Microsoft or Nintendo have. On the other hand, console gamers don’t have to deal with Windows and PC hardware. They’ve got their simple dedicated box on which games can be played without any fuss. Now, Valve wants to bridge this gap with the Steam Deck, thus creating a new PC niche.
The versatility of a PC
The Steam Deck is a portable, full-fledged gaming PC in the style of a Nintendo Switch. Its size is more reminiscent of a Wii U’s gamepad, but that’s only because Valve’s handheld PC delivers massively more power than a Switch. The AMD Zen 2 processor included is based on x86 architecture, just like most PCs or laptops. In combination with the AMD RDNA2 graphics chip and 16 gigabytes of LPDDR5-5500 RAM, the Steam Deck is mostly on par with an Xbox One S. A difference being that the Steam Deck only has to display games in 1280 × 800. In addition, M.2-2230 SSD provides up to 512 gigabytes of storage. It might even be replaceable, but Valve advises against this step in its official specifications. Alternatively, you can expand the storage with a microSD card.
According to Valve, you should be able to play Steam games from indie titles to AAA blockbusters using medium to high settings with this hardware. Even mods can be installed on Steam Deck – whether it’s via the Steam Workshop, ModDB or NexusMods. Apparently, however, not every game will be compatible with this new system. The Steam Deck runs on SteamOS. An operating system specially developed for gaming and based on Linux. As games are primarily programmed for Windows, Valve has additionally developed Proton. With this software, a great range of games should run smoothly on the Steam deck. Anti-cheat systems, such as those used in «PUBG», «Apex Legends» or «Destiny 2» is currently causing some problems. However, Valve is working on a solution.
If SteamOS doesn’t appeal to you due to its lack of an Epic Launcher, Xbox Game Pass, or Battle.net, you can easily install Windows. Valve emphasises that the Steam Deck is a real PC, and using it is ultimately up to you. However, SteamOS should offer better performance for games.
And the possibilities don’t just stop with the operating system. A monitor, mouse, keyboard and network cable can be connected via the USB-C port or the optional dock. This allows the Steam Deck to be used just like a normal desktop PC.
The comfort of a console
Die-hard PC gamers will no doubt rub their hands in glee at all these freedoms. Yet on top of that, the Steam Deck can be operated just as easily as a console. Looking for a portable game console without having to tinker with a PC? Steam Deck promises excellent accessibility. Using it doesn’t seem to be much different from a Switch or any other console. By way of cloud storage, you can switch back and forth between your PC and the Steam deck fluidly. Valve has even dreamt up a standby mode. You can turn off your Steam Deck and pick up right where you left off later on. Valve is even working on extending the feature so that you can continue playing on your PC after standby.
And whereas new consoles such as the PS5 or Xbox Series S/X notoriously suffer from a meagre game selection at launch, Steam Deck lets you install thousands of games from day one. Your account is exactly the same as on PC. You won’t have to buy an additional Steam deck version or unlock it for an extra fee.
Not a trailblazer, but still in pole position
Game consoles primarily have one task, gaming. This one-sided focus and the fact that games are developed specifically for such platforms make consoles correspondingly power-efficient. That’s why a PC equivalent to a Gameboy, a 3DS or a PS Vita was unimaginable until now. Even the Switch was a novelty at launch. After all, it was the first console to enable full-fledged TV console gaming on a mobile device.
For a few years now, however, there have been isolated manufacturers who have adapted this concept for the PC. Onexplayer, GPD Win 3 or Aya Neo are just a few examples of Switch-like handheld PCs. However, they aren’t only quite a bit pricier than the Steam Deck. They also all come from rather unknown Chinese companies or started as Indiegogo projects. As a result, none of these devices made big waves.
With Steam Link and the Valve Index in particular, Valve have proven that they can not only develop games, but also high quality and well thought out hardware. Unlike the failed Steam Machines, Valve is no longer limited to simply issuing licences. Moreover, the corporation has blossomed to a billion-dollar company that can afford to throw resources at such a product.
Some stumbling blocks remain
Nonetheless, Steam Deck must still vault some hurdles on its way to mass appeal. The biggest one concerns game compatibility. It is essential for the bulk of games to run smoothly and in decent quality. The form factor, or rather the control, is the next challenge. Steam Deck is on the upper end of portable gaming devices in terms of size. Combined with the unusual arrangement consisting of keys and two touchpads, which are indispensable for many PC games, it remains to be seen how well and how long gaming sessions will last.
Finally, success is also linked to name recognition. Even though Steam attracts more players than PlayStation or the Switch, the latter enjoys a much higher profile. But Valve is also not the only contender when it comes to establishing handheld PCs as a new kind of computer. Could a rabidly successful Steam Deck encourage hardware manufacturers such as Asus, Dell or even Microsoft to jump on the bandwagon? This, in turn, would accelerate the development of suitable chips, and game manufacturers will make sure to test their titles on a new hardware generation such as this one.
What do you think? Will the Steam Deck be a hit, or will it remain a niche product for Steam fanboys and gadget nerds?
Philipp Rüegg
Senior Editor
Philipp.Rueegg@digitecgalaxus.chBeing the game and gadget geek that I am, working at digitec and Galaxus makes me feel like a kid in a candy shop – but it does take its toll on my wallet. I enjoy tinkering with my PC in Tim Taylor fashion and talking about games on my podcast http://www.onemorelevel.ch. To satisfy my need for speed, I get on my full suspension mountain bike and set out to find some nice trails. My thirst for culture is quenched by deep conversations over a couple of cold ones at the mostly frustrating games of FC Winterthur.
