I think I'll get the new Switch model. But I'll take a look if Sony make another handheld. And I'll certainly see what the next Stead Deck is like.
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Steam Deck OLED - anyone getting one?
- Thread starter thadoggfather
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I think I'll get the new Switch model. But I'll take a look if Sony make another handheld. And I'll certainly see what the next Stead Deck is like.
I have the Steam Deck OLED and upgraded it to a 2TB drive but... I don't use it much.
I tend to pick up the Switch OLED for portable gaming as (with a grip) it's much lighter and comfier in the hand and all the games are designed with portable play in mind and the Switch's (weak) hardware. For my hands the Steam Deck is just a shade to large, making the thumbsticks feel like an uncomfortable stretch. The games also can be a struggle, particularly on-screen text.
The Steam Deck is not up for sale any time soon, but even though it does things just about as well as I could have hoped for, I am hoping more for a Switch 2 than a Steam Deck 2.
I tend to pick up the Switch OLED for portable gaming as (with a grip) it's much lighter and comfier in the hand and all the games are designed with portable play in mind and the Switch's (weak) hardware. For my hands the Steam Deck is just a shade to large, making the thumbsticks feel like an uncomfortable stretch. The games also can be a struggle, particularly on-screen text.
The Steam Deck is not up for sale any time soon, but even though it does things just about as well as I could have hoped for, I am hoping more for a Switch 2 than a Steam Deck 2.
Sony totally whiffed with whatever 'remote play' thing they put out in recent years ... I still have and occasionally use my PS Vita, which was such a sweet device that Sony really failed.
I know I'm different than many, but I have no interest in 'TV gaming', and was happy to move on from laptop to Steam Deck & Switch.
I had the Vita twice but again meh, didn’t hold onto it. Yet I still have my launch PSP which I think is awesome, but I prefer to emulate its games on my iPhone or iPad these days as the screens are bigger and my PSP is very old now and squeaks a bit when the disk drive is in use. I play my Switch Lite a lot though. My PS5 handles big screen games when I can find the time.
For me a big attraction of the Vita is the backwards compatibility to PSP ... I tend to be an early adopter - so I had the launch PSP, PSP-2000, PSP-3000, and PSP-Go ... but sadly sold them each off to help finance my penchant for gadgets
Agreed that the screen size that was fine a decade ago feels tiny now - but using it for games you have already played somehow feels differently because you are revisiting something.
Also I have never found 'virtual controls' to be even 10% as good as REAL controls ..
For me a big attraction of the Vita is the backwards compatibility to PSP ... I tend to be an early adopter - so I had the launch PSP, PSP-2000, PSP-3000, and PSP-Go ... but sadly sold them each off to help finance my penchant for gadgets
Agreed that the screen size that was fine a decade ago feels tiny now - but using it for games you have already played somehow feels differently because you are revisiting something.
Also I have never found 'virtual controls' to be even 10% as good as REAL controls ..
I should have mentioned I have been using a Dual Shock controller from my PS4, I would never use the on screen controls on the emulators. Been thinking of the Backbone One for my iPhone too. Only time I use on screen controls is when it’s a mobile game built to use them, Mario Kart or Diablo Immortal work fine with them.
Personally, I don't think its worth it. I upgraded my steamdeck to either 512gb or 1TB of storage, can't remember and its still going strong.
Well, I've ended up with another Steam Deck OLED. The Mac ran the games really really well, but when I saw Crossover wanted either a yearly subscription, or a lifetime subscription that cost more then an OLED Steam Deck I wasn't as confident in them. I don't mind as much as I did miss it a bit since selling it. It is a brilliant device, I'll just have to get my hands used to it more and work out how to use it's controls better.
You can also connect a bluetooth mouse & keyboard to it - I used one for some of the old Gold Box games before getting my controls settled on the device.
I do already have a keyboard for it. And I can use my mouse. But I want to try and get the built in controls working really.
I got Black Smyth Wukong for the deck but have requested a refund. I’ve played just under 2 hours and it’s alright, and it looks ok too, but it does drop frames and the sound glitches too. Still one to get once it’s had a few patches and it’s massively impressive it runs in the deck at all! Think I’ll get Star Wars Outlaws but on PS5.
For an odd reason the Steam Deck has fitted into my life style way better then any other console. I have finished Bioshock 1 in it and am now playing through Bioshock 2. It's fantastic.
IMO so far this gen both Valve and the Steam Deck has been the best company and console by far.
IMO so far this gen both Valve and the Steam Deck has been the best company and console by far.
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I've been enjoying my Steam Deck, but I am interested in adding the Legion Go 2 to my collection later this year, anyone else interested in it? It'll be expensive but will have an 8.8" OLED screen, and fingers crossed Steam OS will come out and support it.
Personally I found all of the 'Steam Deck knockoffs' to be lacking and inferior in many ways - overheating, lacking controls, running WINDOZE, and so on.
If there are not double paddles on the back and twin trackpads on the front that allow for playing games in every genre all the way back to the 80s ... it is a complete non-starter for me. And of course running SteamOS.
Haha yes, Steam OS will be important. Of course if rumours of the Steam Deck 2 start coming out and indicate it will be a far more powerful device then it'll be worth waiting for that, cause you can always dual boot Windows on it for Game Pass games.
Could be interesting. Certainly help with its sales but I think Valve is more about the gaming experience.
Hmm I just posted in the PS5 thread, picked up Star Wars Outlaws in the Steam sale, and the Deck just could not run it, I got it working, but every single setting on low, resolution set low, and FG had to be used and it just about managed 40FPS but didn’t feel smooth at all. I tried the NVIDIA DLSS hack and it worked better but then would also stutter a lot in some places, plus the controls are a mess, I had to manually assign them, but one to get Jax to do something would not work and another control I use could not get to map.
Fair enough Steam dies state the game is not supported on the Deck, on the PS5 it is a total world of difference fast and smooth.
So as the Decks lack of power was showing, I am beginning to think I may upgrade to the MSI Claw 8 AI+ in the year if it’s price drops. Doesn’t look like a Deck 2 is coming anytime soon. I wouldn’t mind an 8” screen either and access to Game Pass games.
EDIT: never mind although the Claw is nice, I think I'll just wait for the Legion Go 2 and Steam Deck 2 and see what they are like. At present it may be best to wait for SD2 as it should have a proper next gen boost when it's out.
Although this latest episode reminded me why consoles exist and why I have one...
Fair enough Steam dies state the game is not supported on the Deck, on the PS5 it is a total world of difference fast and smooth.
So as the Decks lack of power was showing, I am beginning to think I may upgrade to the MSI Claw 8 AI+ in the year if it’s price drops. Doesn’t look like a Deck 2 is coming anytime soon. I wouldn’t mind an 8” screen either and access to Game Pass games.
EDIT: never mind although the Claw is nice, I think I'll just wait for the Legion Go 2 and Steam Deck 2 and see what they are like. At present it may be best to wait for SD2 as it should have a proper next gen boost when it's out.
Although this latest episode reminded me why consoles exist and why I have one...
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Hi, I'm reading the thread and see that the reviews are very different. I can say the same thing about YouTube reviews. Still, I'd like to hear your opinion: is it worth buying this console or is it better to buy a laptop (possibly used) for gaming at an equivalent price?
A console is the best value for money for gaming. The only exception is there are Pc only titles that you would like to play or travel between locations.
I bought the Steam Deck OLED 512GB a couple of weeks ago and also bought a bunch of games to go with it. Valve should be pretty happy with me.
And I am really happy with this machine!
So I was never much of a gamer, just GTA and maybe two or three other titles that I played, along with some racing, on my Xbox. But the last couple of years I only played GTA V once every five months, so I ended up selling my Xbox. However I found myself becoming tired of just watching movies and TV and figured I could pivot to gaming series like Red Dead Redemption, Skyrim, Assassin's Creed, Cyberpunk 2077, No Man's Sky and The Witcher, just to name a few that I now got. More interactive and fun.
I love how Steam Deck runs so many types of games. And it boots to Linux and could run emulators as well. So it can just be the only system I own for gaming, no need for more for the sake of platform exclusives (if you're fine waiting a couple of years for PC launch, which I am). And it works anywhere, it's especially neat on a train.
The graphics might not be impressive (especially on a TV, on the Deck itself it's not too bad I think) but since I don't have a second system to compare to and care more about the gameplay I'm fine with this. It's like.. lo-fi gaming.
And I am really happy with this machine!
So I was never much of a gamer, just GTA and maybe two or three other titles that I played, along with some racing, on my Xbox. But the last couple of years I only played GTA V once every five months, so I ended up selling my Xbox. However I found myself becoming tired of just watching movies and TV and figured I could pivot to gaming series like Red Dead Redemption, Skyrim, Assassin's Creed, Cyberpunk 2077, No Man's Sky and The Witcher, just to name a few that I now got. More interactive and fun.
I love how Steam Deck runs so many types of games. And it boots to Linux and could run emulators as well. So it can just be the only system I own for gaming, no need for more for the sake of platform exclusives (if you're fine waiting a couple of years for PC launch, which I am). And it works anywhere, it's especially neat on a train.
The graphics might not be impressive (especially on a TV, on the Deck itself it's not too bad I think) but since I don't have a second system to compare to and care more about the gameplay I'm fine with this. It's like.. lo-fi gaming.
I've been on-board with the Steam Deck since literally day one (first batch of shipments) ... and got the 1TB OLED also on first day.
And since 2022 it has made up 90%+ of my gaming each year, with the rest being Switch and Mac. I actually gave my gaming laptop to my younger son's (now ex) fiancé later in 2022, and have not missed it. But I also have Mac, iPad, and even a MS Surface Pro (which I haven't used since last year) and so on.
So for me the Steam Deck is the ONLY essential gaming device I own - I have been on Steam literally since launch (was already using Direct2Drive and other digital game stores so of course I jumped on right away) and have thousands of games.
Are there games I cannot play on the Deck I would like to? Sure, but only a couple - STALKER 2 is one where I played the originals when they came out and would have played the sequel (and still might if there are more performance tweaks), but not much else.
Thank you so much for the detailed response! I’ve been considering the Steam Deck as well, especially since most of my games are on Steam. Lately, I’ve been traveling a lot, so a desktop PC isn't even an option for me. I do want to game, but all I have right now is a laptop, which is pretty much only good for web surfing.
I really appreciate you sharing your experience with the Steam Deck. After hearing your thoughts, I’m definitely going to get one for myself as well! Thanks again for the insight!☺️
If anyone is interested Atomfall runs really well on the Deck. I did get it but refunded it as I just felt it was a game for the TV so am going to buy it on my PS5, but it runs very smoothly on the Steam Deck. Valve even refunded me for Star Wars Outlaws despite just being outside the 2 week window. Thank goodness as it just does not work on the Deck.
Many digital store fronts add good with refunds. One reason is that payment gateways sometimes charge $5-20 for a dispute. As a result it’s cheaper to refund a customer than trigger a dispute that will cost way more than what the digital good is worth.