The best thing about a Steam Deck is the fact that with Emudeck, you can make your deck a much better Switch. The only thing you’ll be missing is lack of Internet features and the GUI.
I’m also always happy to try and convince anyone and everyone not to buy from Sintendo and buy hardware that isn’t inferior because I swear Sintendo hardware has absolutely been inferior compared to the competition since at at least n64.
Honestly, I think we need to stop worrying about console power. It’s not contributing to games getting any better.
If anything, the absolutely insane graphical targets of modern games are causing fewer games being made.
I do get the impression that Nintendo has consistently had worse hardware for a long time… And I appreciate it. Instead of cranking up the hardware, they make games that are fun and run on weaker hardware, often with neat stylization.
While I agree that not chasing further hardware demands is refreshing, it’s also really frustrating to buy a nearly decade old tablet to play games. Many smart phones could run switch games at this point and seeing PCs emulate the switch better than the switch can run natively is exceptionally frustrating.
Those are fair points, I actually bought the switch pretty early on after seeing praise for Odyssey and BotW. I play on PC otherwise, but I enjoyed the experience, playing docked with joycons with motion controls.
I’m not personally frustrated, while the games definitely seem overpriced, I always felt like Nintendo is just sitting in their niche doing their thing, not trying to one-up others and instead providing various gimmicks with their devices. They’re selling consoles and games for a certain price, and it feels like if you think the deal is bad or unfair, you can just pass on it.
I don’t think I really have a point here, just saying my thoughts. I have my issues with Nintendo, but I do feel like their consoles and games provide value that is hard to get elsewhere.
Its less crazy when you remember the system is near 8 years old and the sequel system is coming out
The only thing you’ll be missing is lack of Internet features and the GUI.
You can even run the Switch UI in Suyu (or other forks of Yuzu): https://youtube.com/watch?v=rOLoVZ_br9M
And both Ryujinx, as well as Yuzu (and Forks) offer local/online multiplayer:
https://github.com/Ryujinx/Ryujinx/wiki/Multiplayer-(LDN-Local-Wireless)-Guide
https://yuzu-mirror.github.io/help/feature/multiplayer/Both of them offering online features is true, but as far as I’m aware, you ain’t connecting to any official servers.
No, you can’t connect to official servers. But there is some online functionality and you can play together locally or over the internet.
But I like Nintendo consoles for their couch-multiplayer games. Like Wii-sport, Boom-blox, Just Dance, Mario party, Mario kart…
A Steam-deck is good for single players games.
You can play multiplayer with emulators, just hook up multiple controllers
Great for games like Vampire Survivor and Gauntlet Dark Legacy.
Ah… I really need to transfer over the CD image. Someone really needs to make a new Gauntlet.
With an USB-C dock/hub you can plug the deck into your TV and multiple controllers. Lots of wireless controllers are also supported OOTB, including joy cons.
And doing it this way you can actually play Switch games at true 1080p 60 fps most of the time
I use my Switch to exclusively play Smash Bros with my friends using GameCube controllers with the switch adapter.
My Switch has been having lots of issues lately though. Anyway to replicate that with the Steam Deck?
If you’re playing offline with friends, Emudeck has Ryujinx available. All you’d need is to either dump your cartridge if you can (which I don’t know how to do) or get a copy and make sure you got a dock to hook up your deck to the TV. I don’t know what kind of port the GameCube controllers use or if they’ll work, though. I don’t have one, so I couldn’t tell you. I know the 3rd party wired pro controller I have works fantastically, though. Only other thing you gotta worry about it having enough ports to plug in to depending on the number of players and dock you got.
As for whether the game will be as smooth on Ryujinx as it is on switch, that’s something I don’t know considering I’ve never tried it on my deck.
This reddit post leads me to believe that it is doable. I have the official Nintendo USB GameCube adapter and a Steam Deck, and I’d be happy to help you troubleshoot if needed :)
It seems like it should work great! 👍
You talk about convincing people into emulation, but can you even do that on moderated websites? I mean, helping them get ROMs without going into “wink wink nudge nudge” communication or risking Nintendo’s lawyers invading that site.
Speaking plainly, I still buy games and hardware the normal way because I don’t want that complication. It’s not worth the effort and hassle just to risk putting viruses on my computer.
I’d like to think Lemmy is still small enough that talking about piracy of their games and stuff is flying under their radar for now, which is why I don’t care. Also, fuck Sintendo. I ain’t afraid of their corporate stasi.
Also, on Steam Deck, Emudeck takes away the vast majority of complications regarding getting multiple emulators set up by having pre-configured configurations for each emulator you install to try and make sure game compatibility and running them is as smooth as can be for most games.
The emulators are generally easy to get. The struggle is in getting the games themselves.
Even if you’re unafraid of Nintendo’s stasi, you aren’t the one assuming risk. Takedown notices tend to go to the hosting / discussing sites, not individual users. It’s not very brave to order Lemmy hosts to battle those notices in court on your behalf.
The db0 instance probably wouldn’t care
I legit cannot remember the last time I got a virus pirating a game. Probably in the Limewire days, ~20+ years ago.
So, anytime people say this, I’m compelled to remind them: Unlike movie depictions, malware is generally incentivized to not be apparent.
You install something, they infect, and then they do their best to ensure you don’t know that for the next few months, if ever. Meanwhile, anything as subtle as key logging or checking wifi-connected devices can give them info for some other attack.
So, I can only say I hope I don’t have a virus right now - but I don’t really know. And I’m pretty sure those pirating groups have profit incentives beyond littering their sites with ads.
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“Sintendo” lol!!!
I’m gunna start using that haha.
Still waiting for a good deal on the OLED model to convince myself to upgrade from the LCD. I’m hoping the holiday sale this year might bring some deals.
I upgraded to the OLED model when it came out. The screen looks much nicer, has a faster refresh and longer battery life. I definitely recommend it over the original, but it is a steep price when you already have one that works fine.
Man there aren’t many things I would upgrade from one gen to the next but the OLED is such a massive improvement in every single way (other than still having a single USB port).
You might be better off waiting for a steam deck 2, possibly out next year?
Last I heard was that the steam deck wasn’t getting a version 2 update until there was next gen hardware to match it. Gaben isn’t a big fan of regular sub five percent hardware refreshes that other companies are happy with.
Might be a name thing though. They did the OLED update, but it’s not called the steam deck 2.
If they want Steam Deck to be a legitimate platform to target for developers - which seems to be the case and which seems to be working - they practically need to make sure they’re not refreshing it every 2-3 years with a spec bump. I’d personally be very surprised if Valve releases the next generation Steam Deck before 2026.
I can see a Steamdeck 2 happening, but definitely not a 3.
Steam Deck: Alyx
I’m not sure about that. Index fans are still waiting for the sequel to their hardware.
I wonder if Gabe/Valve is content with the OLED model as is and doesn’t find a reason to make another so soon.
God, if this ends up with the steam deck 2 powering a standalone index 2 with redesigned knuckles 2 that can be used standalone as a Steam Controller 2…
It’s a fantasy, absolutely. The controller part especially probably wouldn’t work. But… I can dream.
Is this… is this the mythical PC 2?
No, that was IBM, not valve.
If they want to keep the Deck’s reputation of being able to run “most” PC games, they’ll have to make a new model sooner rather than later. I’m guessing they’re waiting for AMDs beefier RDNA 3.5 iGPUs. Pair that with more and faster memory and they should be good to go.
Imagine they pull a half-life on us and release a steam deck 2 decades later.
Based on what indications?
I’m not even mad that I just paid full price. I don’t think I’ve been happier with any other purchase I’ve ever made!
Damn Gabe, u doing guerilla marketing now?.
Jokes aside, I do keep looking… Closely and I do hardly any gaming these days, usually 15 minutes on the phone awaiting an apoinment etc.
I just got a mouse and keyboard and play black ops 3 zombies with my roommate all the time. He uses controller. Everything just works!
Is there a database for listing which games run on Steam Deck at what FPS and what settings?
Protondb has user reports that (usually) include performance stats and settings, as well as any additional setup like launch options or specific preferred proton versions.
I also check Valve’s own “top 100 played on steam deck” list to see what other people are rockin, always surprised to see shit like Fallout 4 on there.
Fallout probably got a boost from the new series, that was quite well received.
It definitely did . So did New Vegas. I know I fired up New Vegas again.
I have yet to run into any game through Steam that really doesn’t work. Even ones listed as incompatible, or having issues.
I’m having a lot of fun chilling in the couch playing Civ 6.
then you haven’t tried many lol
Thanks to Humble Monthly I have over 400 games on my Steam account.
In just the last three weeks I’ve played No Man’s Sky, Worms WMD, Civ 6, Bravery and Greed, Darkest Dungeon, Warframe and just today LEGO 2K Drive.
And that’s not counting emulation.
If you’re complaining that some AAA games don’t work, that’s because AAA games have sucked for the past 5 or so years. Starfield, Jedi Survivor, Cyberpunk all still struggle to run nicely on even the best hardware out there. Not a problem with the Deck, but rather the state of the industry.
I’m curious about the emulation on Steam Deck. Which emulator run well enough to play daily? Can it run Switch emulator at 30fps, or specifically Mario Kart 8 Deluxe?
I use Yuzu through EmuDeck. Even with Nintendo having given the crunch on Yuzu it’s still my preferred emu and can run almost anything with little to ko flaws.
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Mariokart 8 Deluxe runs great, flawlessly I’d almost say! Online multiplayer works really well too, if you have friends that are also playing through Yuzu. However… Local multiplayer is hit or miss; there is a prevalent issue starting up a splitscreen match with the controller activation pop-up, as it tends to soft-lock the game.
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The Legend of Zelda Breath of the Wild runs great too, but with occasional framerate instability. However, I noticed framerate on the native Switch wasn’t perfectly stable either when I played my friend’s copy. You’ll certainly notice bad framerate when the game has to render rainy thunderstorms.
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Raymen Legends The Complete Edition is completely flawless!
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Mario Wonder struggles a lot with framedrops. Dunno what it is, but that game is seriously difficult to get a stable framerate on regardless of the Deck or a modestly powerful desktop, even after trying all sorts of settings.
Those are all the Switch games I’ve played, but I’m also playing, and have played other emulated games:
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PCSX2 for PlayStation 2 I don’t think you’re going to have any problems with. I’ve played through some of Rayman 2 and Spyro The Eternal Night and have had no issues.
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RPCS3 for Playstation 3 takes some finangling with the settings to get games to run decently, and you WILL still get imperfect framerates… Buuuuut… I’m currently playing the first Motorstorm and the Ratchet & Clank HD Trilogy and I really can’t complain. Despite the occasional slow-mo lag (especially in Ratchet & Clank for some reason) performance is great.
The two games I’m playing through RPCS3 work best by setting the resolution to 75% native and turning on 50% FSR in the emulator’s graphics settings. It looks better and runs better that way, as opposed to using the native resolution.
Thank you so much.
With the sale going on, the 512GB OLED is almost double the price of the 512GB LCD. Do you think it’s worth the money? Personally what would you recommend?
I bought a certified refurbished 512 GB LCD model. This was shortly before the OLED version came out. You can get a lot of games to run 4 hours on it, longer if the game hardly challenges the Deck.
Other games just juice the Deck like a lemon.
Games like Worms WMD last a very long time on the Deck.
No Man’s Sky lasts 4-ish hours, though perhaps a little under 4 hours.
Civ 6 sucks the battery dry in less than 2 hours, but with tweaking some settings now lasts 4 hours.
Phoenix Point runs well but drinks battery power like an alcoholic, lasting only an hour.
Switch games emulated through Yuzu can last a surprisingly long time. I’ve managed to play Breath of the Wild for nearly 4 hours.
All in all I would say the LCD model is not a bad choice at all. However, if you can afford the OLED model, I’d recommend getting that one; it’s exactly like my model in performance, except better in a few areas. The battery is bigger and lasts much longer. The screen looks gorgeous being an OLED. Valve has made opening the Deck easier, for maintenance and modification purposes.
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Warhammer III
If anyone is on the fence, Steam deck is the coolest gadget I own. Play all the time. Got the OLED but even the 1st gen deck was fantastic
I have a massive desktop with a very good graphics card. Collecting dust
You can still stream many games that might be more intensive to the Deck from that massive desktop.
Yeah I’ve heard about that, I think I tried it once. I’m mostly using the deck outside in a hammock, or at the bar, or on the train, or during lunch break…
I will say that while I love it, as someone with both it and a very capable desktop, I’m in the opposite position. I used it a bunch in the first couple months, but that was because it was a cool new gadget that I wanted to fiddle with. Once the novelty wore off, I do 99% of my gaming at home – the only time I’m using the steam deck at home is if I predict a long poop or I’m sick and don’t want to sit at my desk.
However, where it absolutely shines is travel. It’s small enough to throw in a carry on or even personal bag, and it’s amazing for a flight, or just any trip where you know you’ll have some downtime. The charge is long enough that you can go a few hours without power, especially if you anticipate it and use some of the power saving features.
It’s also fantastic if a second gaming computer would be good for your situation – maybe you’ve got kids or roommates that share your computer, or you wish you could game in your yard etc.
Basically, it’s not a slam dunk for everyone, but if you regularly have any of the use cases listed above, it’s absolutely worth the money – assuming you have the library for it already. I have tons of games that are excellent for the deck, but not everyone will, and while you can play competitive shooters and complex mouse-driven RPGs with it, it’s really not the ideal experience.
Wish I could buy one through official means here in Brazil 🇧🇷
2
I wish they’d make them officially available in Australia
Yeah. I actually wanted to buy one too. It’s a pity they don’t make steam machines either anymore
Man, I just bought a new gaming notebook, but I really want to get one. And I have almlst no time for gaming nowadays. Why are you tempting me, Gabe???
A good laptop running a stable and gaming-optimized distro like Bazzite with a good controller connected to it should be as good, if not better than the Steam Deck.
Sort of… But the form factor itself completely changes the experience.
Yeah, that’s probably true
It is good enough for gaming with a standard distro as well. But you misunderstand, I WANT a Steam deck, I KNOW that I don’t need one.
That’s understandable
I really like the 'deck’s gamepad integration. And the shitload of buttons.
That’d be great if I could buy one where i live
The title is kinda clickbait-y, 64gb steamdeck is cheaper than oled switch and that’s about it. Standard switch is still cheaper and oled switch is cheaper than other models.
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So glad I have a computer I can play games on so I don’t have to mess around with a smaller computer with a smaller screen and worse performance.
Edit: I pissed off the dad caucus with this comment. Steam decks are only for dads who can’t get more than thirty minutes of game time anymore and have no space for a legit gaming PC.
Imagine not understanding the point of a handheld PC.
Not everyone leaves their house I guess…
Not everyone never leaves their house.
Have fun playing on your PC in the train or on other random places then?
bing bing wahoo moment
Maybe bring a book? Why not save gaming for when you can actually do it well, not on a tiny screen at sub-60fps?
You can see the screen perfectly well at 90 FPS in many, many games. Why do you need to specifically play Tarkov or something on the train?
But what when I wanna play some games that fit perfectly for such trips?
Cult of the lamb is like perfect for such a task and many many other games.
I fucking loved playing Titanfall 2 campaign here and then while on a trip. Fucking satisfying for some reason. Some games are not really enjoyable on the trip. But a Book? Idk. Its personal preference what you want and need.
I guess I will switch to books for now, but the bit younger me didn’t liked books and enjoyed it a lot to play on rides instead of at home, you know.
Well isn’t that just a completely stupid hot take.
I love taking my whole gaming pc setup with me to go visit my parents or take a flight, or just lugging it out to the porch for a nice evening of outdoor gaming.
I guess I’m the only one in this thread that does other things when I’ve got down time away from the computer. When I want to play a video game, I don’t want to play a shittier version of it.
For the kinds of games I play it’s not bad at all. I still have my gaming rig for FPSes, but I end up playing metroidvanias or something most of the time.
Mostly about controls and mood.
lost
I have a steam deck… And a gaming PC! 🤯 I plug the steam deck into my TV with a couple of controllers, and now I have a “console” with all my steam games on it that I can use to play local multiplayer games with my partner. It’s also great to take when visiting family
It’s convenient and controls extremely well for anyone with a busy life, or comfortable life, dad or no.
My 'deck is my best controller. Less fuckiness, too. Steam integration with the controller is fantastic. It is a bit heavy when my wrists are being fucky, tho.
Naw no good PC games.
laughs in Minecraft Java Edition
No thanks.
minecraft, fallout, celeste, half-life, DOOM, portal, what do you mean no games?
He’s very clearly trolling, the vast majority of PC games are playable on Deck, including the vast majority of the most well-reviewed games ever.
Hogwarts is amazing on Steam Deck
No thanks I grew up.
Did you, though?
Yes, I go pee pee standing up.
