While other vendors continually push out new handheld pc models, sticking similar internals into different shell designs and gradually bumping up RAM or the Processor, the Steam Deck just keeps selling like hot tasty cakes.
It’s really funny to see how out of touch those companies are with the portable consoles. They clearly don’t understand what makes the Steam Deck a good console. They focus on the hardware specs and that’s it, minimal work on the software side (ROG Ally is at least trying).
Valve nailed it with the Steam Deck in various aspects: hardware is good, CAD files are available so it’s highly customizable, but the cherry on top is the software integration, it is amazing and it’s always improving.
IMHO software is the real reason for Deck’s success (OS, Proton, compatibility badges, etc).
I bought it specifically because it directly and indirectly supports the Linux community at large. I’m now working on moving away from Windows for gaming, because they’ve made it possible with what they’ve done with tools like Proton and gamescope.
Me too :)
I’m gaming exclusively on Linux for more than 5 years now. The Steam Deck was a blessing for this already amazing Linux gaming ecosystem, so I had to buy one (actually two now, I really wanted the OLED version 😁)
I agree it is just silly and it really shows how far up their own ass a lot of high power business people are, they have no idea what the hell they are doing. The place to compete with steam is the slickness and polish of the software not the raw power of the hardware, that is the stupidest basket to put all your eggs in here as a steam deck competitor.
I think it speaks to a much bigger dysfunction in the video game hardware and software development world, people that get their dream job at a AAA game studio or hardware maker like ROG I think end up developing and testing with dream hardware setups and then totally lose sight of the importance of developing games and hardware that prioritizes accessibility in a cost sense but also in a usability sense.
I think these people pick up a steam deck, try to play Elden Ring at max settings, think “this is intolerably bad performance and graphics compared to my $3000 gaming rig, no one will play this” and don’t realize the kind of betrayal that represents to the rest of us who can’t afford much more than a steamdeck anyways, and have always gamed this way mainly focusing on indie games and extremely crunchy minimal graphics strategy games and playing a cool Battlefield 2 mod like Forgotten Hope 2 while we look at the latest battlefield and think “how much time could they have spent making that game good instead of making it graphically impressive for people that can afford $3000 gaming computer?”.
The fact that it is a open linux device and I can launch in to KDE is the reason I got it. If it was some proprietary OS like other games consoles or Windows, I wouldn’t have bought it. The Steam Deck is such a breath of fresh air compared to how hostile other consumer electronics have become.
Steam deck feels like a product people at Valve would use while the competition is making products they think would sell well. Turns out the product that feels good to use is much better than the product that looks better on paper.
It’s really funny to see how out of touch those companies are with the portable consoles. They clearly don’t understand what makes the Steam Deck a good console. They focus on the hardware specs and that’s it, minimal work on the software side (ROG Ally is at least trying). Valve nailed it with the Steam Deck in various aspects: hardware is good, CAD files are available so it’s highly customizable, but the cherry on top is the software integration, it is amazing and it’s always improving. IMHO software is the real reason for Deck’s success (OS, Proton, compatibility badges, etc).
I bought it specifically because it directly and indirectly supports the Linux community at large. I’m now working on moving away from Windows for gaming, because they’ve made it possible with what they’ve done with tools like Proton and gamescope.
Me too :) I’m gaming exclusively on Linux for more than 5 years now. The Steam Deck was a blessing for this already amazing Linux gaming ecosystem, so I had to buy one (actually two now, I really wanted the OLED version 😁)
I see
I buy
This is so true. Some vendors try with larger screens, 120 hz and other stuff, but the steam deck is loved most for its software.
Yep. I mean, better hardware specs are a really good thing, but that alone does not make me want to buy a device.
I agree it is just silly and it really shows how far up their own ass a lot of high power business people are, they have no idea what the hell they are doing. The place to compete with steam is the slickness and polish of the software not the raw power of the hardware, that is the stupidest basket to put all your eggs in here as a steam deck competitor.
I think it speaks to a much bigger dysfunction in the video game hardware and software development world, people that get their dream job at a AAA game studio or hardware maker like ROG I think end up developing and testing with dream hardware setups and then totally lose sight of the importance of developing games and hardware that prioritizes accessibility in a cost sense but also in a usability sense.
I think these people pick up a steam deck, try to play Elden Ring at max settings, think “this is intolerably bad performance and graphics compared to my $3000 gaming rig, no one will play this” and don’t realize the kind of betrayal that represents to the rest of us who can’t afford much more than a steamdeck anyways, and have always gamed this way mainly focusing on indie games and extremely crunchy minimal graphics strategy games and playing a cool Battlefield 2 mod like Forgotten Hope 2 while we look at the latest battlefield and think “how much time could they have spent making that game good instead of making it graphically impressive for people that can afford $3000 gaming computer?”.
The hardware vendors treat their products as small gaming pc with a controller, unlike steam.
The fact that it is a open linux device and I can launch in to KDE is the reason I got it. If it was some proprietary OS like other games consoles or Windows, I wouldn’t have bought it. The Steam Deck is such a breath of fresh air compared to how hostile other consumer electronics have become.
That’s a good point! Apple, Samsung and others have been destroying the consumer electronics space for years.
Steam deck feels like a product people at Valve would use while the competition is making products they think would sell well. Turns out the product that feels good to use is much better than the product that looks better on paper.
Well said! The people behind the Steam Deck are passionate about gaming and making a device they would use.