A new handheld gaming device is coming to town.
Valve’s recent announcement—that its new baby, the Steam Deck, is due in December 2021—has gotten some gamers excited. Others are shrugging their shoulders, sceptical or indifferent. If you already own a decent gaming PC or a Nintendo Switch, do you really need a handheld gaming computer?
I’m in the excited camp. While I have a Switch, I don’t have a decent gaming PC. Here’s why I’d like to have a Steam Deck but also why I won’t jump at the opportunity either.
Great for Indies and Old Classics
The Deck might be perfect for folks like me, whose primary diet is small indie games and old classics.
Most of my PC games come from Steam, because of its extensive library and frequent generous sales. It also helps that Steam games are cheaper in my region than in the US. I’ve bought more games from Steam than the Nintendo eShop because of the price difference, especially during sales. (Note: Ars Technica has a good article and stats explaining this price difference.) Take, for example, the hit indie RPG Undertale. In the US, it’s $10 on Steam and $15 on Nintendo eShop.
Or, a more extreme example: the classic RPG Baldur’s Gate. On Steam, it’s often 50% off (costing $10 instead of $20) and I’ve seen it at 70% off. But on eShop, it’s sold as a $50 bundle with Baldur’s Gate 2 and expansions.
Yet, despite the fact that Switch games are sometimes more expensive, I spend far more time playing on the Switch than the PC.
You see, there are several “hurdles” to playing on the PC. I haven’t had a permanent safe place to set up my laptop (since the advent of my first child, who is still a grabby toddler). It takes much longer to boot up a game on the laptop than on the Switch. And I’d rather play on the couch, bed, or floor than sit at a desk. Lastly, my laptop’s measly specs won’t support games with higher requirements. It runs Hades but not Overcooked 2.
So I’ve got a queue of Steam games waiting forlornly, half of them virtually untouched. If I could play them handheld, though, they’ll see the light of day.
I’d love to finish Hades, where I’m still languishing in the fiery archipelago of Asphodel. I want to get started on Signs of the Sojourner and roguelike deck builders. In between, I hope to revisit old gems like Baldur’s Gate, Curse of Monkey Island, and—who knows—maybe the upcoming pixel remaster of Final Fantasy VI.
Decked Out, At a Price
But hold up. There are several factors to weigh before forking out $399 for the cheapest Steam Deck model. Yes, “weigh” is the right word here. It’s hardly lightweight at roughly 670 grams, versus the Switch’s 400 grams.
Sure, the Deck can be docked for TV display (though the dock is sold separately). It’s also Bluetooth capable for connecting to PS4, Xbox, and Switch Pro controllers, plus other wireless peripherals. But I’m not a huge fan of playing on the TV. And the point of the Deck is portability, isn’t it? On the bright side, at least Sean Hollister from The Verge reported that the Deck is “comfortable to hold,” maybe even more than the Switch.
As for controls, satisfaction may depend on what game you’re playing. Can I switch to a controller scheme instead of mouse-and-keyboard? Only if the game has controller support.
We can expect impressive things from the Deck’s trackpads and gyro function. If it’s like the older Steam Controller, trackpads won’t merely simulate mouse control. They can also be mapped to different kinds of input and keys, even customizable radial menus.
My total Steam library is relatively small, totalling only 64GB. This happens to be the max internal storage for the cheapest Deck ($399 for 64GB, $529 for 256GB, and $649 for 512GB). It’s adequate for me but measly for other gamers. MicroSD cards can be used for extra storage, which means extra cost.
The Deck’s battery life is claimed to be a max of several hours if you’re only surfing the Web or playing low-spec games. That will probably drop to 2-4 hours for more taxing games. Sounds reasonable.
Moving from hardware to software, two of the Deck’s features appealed to me. First, access to Epic Games Store, Steam’s rival, is pretty neat. It means free weekly games! Second, support for mods. I’d like to add a little Star Wars flavour into Stardew Valley: turn my farm pet into BB-8 and date the Mandalorian (bye-bye, Shane).
Eventually, though, it all boils down to the dollar sign for me. $399 for a handheld gaming PC is a fair asking price, but I’ve already invested in a Switch. Not sure I’m ready to pawn off the PS4.
I imagine spending much less by buying from Steam instead eShop. But will it really be “much less,” after crunching the numbers and factoring in irresistible sales?
Well, let’s say I shopped in moderation—based on the amount of free time I actually have for gaming. Suppose I save $10 a month by shopping on Steam instead of eShop, totalling $120 yearly. It would still take 3+ years to recoup the cost of the Deck. In other words, is it worth investing in for the long run?
Should I Buy a Steam Deck?
Thinking through my reasons for wanting a Deck, it comes down to one main reason: Steam sales, spending less than I would on eShop.
There are other reasons, of course. Games I’m interested in often release much earlier on PC. I’d love to review games closer to the launch date, instead of waiting for a Switch port. I can play higher-spec games that my humble laptop won’t run without dreadful stutters. Lastly, I want to finish playing my current Steam library.
None of these reasons are compelling enough on their own. I could simply limit my reviewing to low-spec games or publish “late” reviews. As for saving money and finishing games, maybe I shouldn’t be buying so many games that end up in a lonely corner. And should I really be spending $399 instead of just booting up my laptop, slow as it is? After all, sitting at a desk might be better for posture than lying on my tummy for 30 minutes.
To sum up: I’d be forking out money to (a) save money much later, (b) spend more time playing my current Steam library, (c) review new games sooner. So it’s a question of “Should I pay more for those nice but non-essential benefits?” and “Do I have extra cash lying around?”
It’s like wanting to buy a fancy new appliance: Would be nice to have, but I can make do with the current set-up. Maybe what I should be asking is, “Can I be content with my trusty Switch and humble laptop?”
Or, the question one can ask about any kind of purchase: “Can I be content with my life as it is now? Perhaps spend the money on something else?”
Steam Deck vs Nintendo Switch
The more I think about the Deck, I can’t help but marvel at how the Switch took over my gaming life. In particular, I appreciate its support for third-party indie games. More superficially, I like the clean, simple design and the cheery blue-and-red Joy-Cons (minus that drift problem, though!). They spark joy, as Mari Kondo would say. And that’s no small thing.
I know these are just aesthetics, but the Deck looks a little . . . imposing. Reminds me of the time we drove by a large complex of buildings that was entirely jet-black. My mother shook her head and said, “That looks awfully gloomy. Is this Gotham City or what?”
Looks aside, the Deck would definitely compete with the Switch for my gaming time. It wouldn’t render the Switch redundant, though.
Compare
Will the Deck be a game-changer in the handheld market? Comparing it with the Switch, Valve CEO Gabe Newell asserts that the two devices are aimed at different audiences.
But since many games are available on both platforms, I think the Deck and Switch will compete for a slice of the same consumer market.
If they do, the Switch may have an advantage from arriving earlier on the scene. It’s already won the affection of many new converts, including yours truly. Meanwhile, early orders for the Deck probably won’t arrive at doorsteps until late spring 2022. The first round of reservations wasn’t even open to Australia and Asia. I’m curious to know many gamers will invest in a Deck if they already own a Switch.
Switch Exclusives
In my household at least, the Deck won’t replace the Switch. My husband still wants his Switch-exclusive first-party games—Mario, Zelda, and Co. He has little interest in single-player indie games and isn’t keen on the Deck’s heavier weight.
I’m not naturally interested in first-party Nintendo games, but I’m so grateful for Ring Fit in these lockdown times! And in hindsight, Animal Crossing: New Horizons was so good I could have bought the Switch just for that title.
Nintendo has a strong fan base. The Switch is an accessible, user-friendly device for casual gamers and young families. So it’s doubtful the Deck will impact the Switch’s dominance, particularly in Japan. As Newell said, the Steam Deck caters to the current Steam crowd. But I’m keen to hear if you think otherwise!
PC-based handheld gaming devices already exist, but they haven’t invaded households as the Switch has. Have you heard of the GPD Win 3 or AYA NEO? Both were initially priced at several hundred dollars, which might make casual gamers see the Deck’s price as a pretty good deal after all!
I’ve been thinking about replacing my ipad with a Steam Deck. The ipad is not holding a charge. All I do on it is play iOS games that are mostly inferior to my steam games.
Hey Paris, thanks for your comment. Sorry to hear about your iPad 🙁