Will anything dethrone the Steam Deck? Probably not

The Steam Deck is really awesome device. I'm not playing on anything else till I got it. Currently it's being used as kind of console connected to TV and the tools like Decky loader available for it are awesome.

Only thing I would like to see currently is upstream the drivers for Steam Deck to mainline Linux kernel. Otherwise it's really great device that gives you as much freedom with it as possible.

I was thinking that maybe they artificially push it to the top sellers to advertise it...

It seems like every day, I see a new Steam user deciding to try desktop Linux for the first time. It has really done wonders for Linux as a whole.I would never buy another handheld no matter how many "AI" rebrandings they do.

I like the exhaust vent too.

Although I still like my Steam Deck and use it a few times a week, after the initial honeymoon period wore off (which admittedly took a good year) my Arch Desktop PC has certainly dethroned it. There's something that is just so much nicer for those long 8hr+ gaming sessions on a Desktop versus my Steam Deck. For short bursts the Steam Deck is nice but when I want to play a game I don't reach for my Steam Deck by default anymore.

Plus being able to tab out of my game and use Discord on one of my other screens is nicer than grabbing my phone to do the same. At this point I am too used to my 4-monitor setup and multitasking that the Steam Deck ends up feeling restrictive after some time.

When it's warm though it is nice to grab my Steam Deck and stream from my PC to a TV in a cooler room. It's easier to put a controller down and grab my phone than to put my Steam Deck down and grab my phone.

But although I do like my Steam Deck, to me it's an accessory more than anything else. Like a phone or a laptop, nothing can replace my everything-PC for my use-cases.

Actually at time of writing, I haven't charged my Steam Deck in over a week...


Last edited by sonic2kk on 2 July 2024 at 12:42 pm UTC

Plus being able to tab out of my game and use Discord on one of my other screens is nicer than grabbing my phone to do the same. At this point I am too used to my 4-monitor setup and multitasking that the Steam Deck ends up feeling restrictive after some time.

You can run multiple applications at the same time while in game mode. I do it all the time. You just hit the steam button and switch to the Discord window.

You can run multiple applications at the same time while in game mode. I do it all the time. You just hit the steam button and switch to the Discord window.

You can for sure. But for me it's not as convenient or as nice of an experience as tabbing into a window on another display. Plus Firefox doesn't work so good in GameScope (I will never use the Discord "app"), and typing messages and replies on a virtual keyboard (even a phone keyboard) isn't as nice as using my mechanical one on my PC. Even my laptop keyboard is mildly frustrating to use. Sure, I can hook up my keyboard, or even get some Bluetooth adapter, but then you lose the portability aspect of the Steam Deck, and I try to avoid using Bluetooth where possible because I also find it quite frustrating.

You also can't keep an eye on your game this way. You can use multiple displays in Desktop Mode but then you don't get the performance controls, and GameScope embedded doesn't support multiple displays at the moment so you can't do it from Game Mode. Plus the Steam Deck is still using X11 so adjusting the overscan is not as convenient as it is on Wayland, which would be necessary if I wanted to use a TV instead of one of my PC monitors.

I think that's overall my thing with the Steam Deck, it's great for the pick-up-and-play, but everything else feels like a lesser experience compared to my Desktop.

For what it's worth, I have the same gripes with laptops, my phone, tablets, and other consoles.

I'm not saying the Steam Deck is bad, I'm saying for me and how I use a computer, it's an accessory. For people on the go a lot it's absolutely a game-changer and I'd rather game on my Steam Deck over my laptop (I don't use an external mouse with my laptop, and KB/M controls work a trackpad aren't as good as the Steam Deck, but the Steam Deck just isn't as good for me as a keyboard and dedicated mouse). But when I want to play a game, like really sit down and experience something, I boot up my PC before I reach for my Steam Deck.


Last edited by sonic2kk on 2 July 2024 at 1:21 pm UTC

Running apps in gaming mode always felt really wonky to me and some would just outright crash...

Steam Deck, at the moment, is arguably the most perfect combination of hardware and software in the handheld computing market. It's as easy to use as a console, but also allows power users to open the hood and do whatever they want without restriction. Not to mention that Steam OS/Linux is vastly superior to Windows on a handheld platform.

Although I still like my Steam Deck and use it a few times a week, after the initial honeymoon period wore off (which admittedly took a good year) my Arch Desktop PC has certainly dethroned it. There's something that is just so much nicer for those long 8hr+ gaming sessions on a Desktop versus my Steam Deck. For short bursts the Steam Deck is nice but when I want to play a game I don't reach for my Steam Deck by default anymore.

Plus being able to tab out of my game and use Discord on one of my other screens is nicer than grabbing my phone to do the same. At this point I am too used to my 4-monitor setup and multitasking that the Steam Deck ends up feeling restrictive after some time.

When it's warm though it is nice to grab my Steam Deck and stream from my PC to a TV in a cooler room. It's easier to put a controller down and grab my phone than to put my Steam Deck down and grab my phone.

But although I do like my Steam Deck, to me it's an accessory more than anything else. Like a phone or a laptop, nothing can replace my everything-PC for my use-cases.

Actually at time of writing, I haven't charged my Steam Deck in over a week...

I'm the exact opposite here. Although I'm talking about the GPD Win Mini 2024 running CachyOS and not the Deck. After I got the Win Mini, I've almost stopped playing on my desktop, becuase the Win Mini allows me to comfortably game from my bed and couch, which I prefer over sitting on a chair. Like, I work in IT, and after a full day of sitting in front of a PC at work, I really do not have the energy or motivation to do it again at home. I used to back when I was still young, but not any more - to the point that I just hate the thought of having to sit in a chair in front of the PC, it just feels so... laborious, as if I'm at work again. I hate that feeling. Anyways, my Win Mini can handle pretty much every game I throw at it, and unlike the Deck, it's physical keyboard comes in real handy for playing certain games or when messing around with Linuxy stuff. And it's performance is way, way better than the Deck (especially on CachyOS with Zen4).

The only time I actually use my desktop is when I'm playing multiplayer games and I need to be my best and take it seriously (which would imply getting up from bed and actually assuming a proper posture and use proper gaming gear), which I do so once every weekend. Otherwise, rest of the time I'm playing on my Win Mini and it's been an awesome experience so far running CachyOS Handheld Edition optimised for Zen 4 CPUs.

The Win Mini actually made be buy more Steam games this Summer Sale and actually brought me back into regular gaming, just like how the Switch brought me back into gaming when it first came out. So props to Valve and all these handheld device makers for bringing PC gaming to the couch.

becuase the Win Mini allows me to comfortably game from my bed and couch, which I prefer over sitting on a chair. Like, I work in IT, and after a full day of sitting in front of a PC at work, I really do not have the energy or motivation to do it again at home

I also work in IT, and when I play on my Steam Deck, I do it in my chair usually. The same chair that is right beside my PC I used to play my Steam Deck in bed but that had a major negative impact on my mood. Gaming in bed is something I was looking forward to doing with my Steam Deck and then I realised I just ended up spending my whole day in bed instead of on my PC!

I also tried taking my Steam Deck out with me a few times, but I don't have any commutes longer than 15-20 minutes, and using my Steam Deck outside felt about as good as using a laptop outside. It was an inconvenience to lug around. That said, I have some bigger travel plans coming, and I plan on taking my laptop and Steam Deck, and I could see it fitting in well there, but I still count that as an accessory.

To me, with respect to the screen thing, the Steam Deck is the same as using a PC or a laptop, the screen location and dimensions are just different if that makes sense.

I used to back when I was still young, but not any more

Maybe when I'm not as young my mind will change. I mean the thing that gets me through the work day is getting back to using my Desktop usually. I spent all day in front of a computer long before I ever started working

The only time I actually use my desktop is when I'm playing multiplayer games and I need to be my best and take it seriously

Indeed, I don't do voice calls, so typing messages in real-time on anything but my beloved mechanical keyboard is nigh-impossible. I've gotten pretty quick with the Steam Deck keyboard thanks to some years with the Steam Controller and the typing experience is great when you have to search for things, but it's no replacement for a full Desktop PC keyboard.

just like how the Switch brought me back into gaming when it first came out.

Heh, I actually don't like using the Switch handheld, and most people I know have theirs permanently docked. It was the same when a couple people I knew with Steam Decks but they all sold theirs in the end.

So props to Valve and all these handheld device makers for bringing PC gaming to the couch.

Agreed! It's very nice to be able to show family a game without being tied to my PC. They certainly have uses for many people, and I also have my own uses. But I don't think anything will dethrone my PC. It isn't about performance, it's about having gaming on top of the regular Desktop experience. The Steam Deck is probably the best experience it could be, but for me, nothing tops sitting in front of my PC to play games.

For me, a box in a corner surrounded by screens to me will always beat a handheld in the living room.


Last edited by sonic2kk on 2 July 2024 at 4:32 pm UTC

My cousin bought the Rog Ally and I got to play around with it a bit and the experience was terrible. I started a game from their launcher and ended up thrown back into Windows multiple times to respond to some popups. Eventually I got the game running but the whole experience was just clunky. This is the main reason the Deck sells better; people generally favour smooth experience over smooth fps.

The fact that games are getting officially marked (by the developers) as SteamDeck Verified is and will continue to be a huge plus for the Deck over competitors.

And the fact that Valve is moving slowly, and not releasing new editions left and right is great for devs as they have a stable target, so more games will be released as Verified. And thus the cycle continues.

Valve has their issues at times, but they sure aren't dumb.

You can remote play anything that doesn't run on the steam-deck to itright?

So it would replace an xbox with moonlight app?

I think a big problem with that is Valve's case, it's just not practical at all for quickly playing on the bus. When I was still commuting, I got a backpack that was designed for the Switch, but which also fits the Deck. Just sliding it in and out of the bag is so much more elegant than getting the official SD case out of your bag, unzipping it, putting it away, and then finally turning on the Deck, ugh.

Hmm, I never found the case to be that much of an issue myself. It's more that with any handheld there really isn't any easy way to put it away; I'm not the type to just "throw" something in my backpack. If I need to get something out on the bus, like my phone, it's not practical to hold any handheld in one hand and there isn't anywhere to put it down. Anything bigger than a phone is a challenge to lug around on any form of transport.

I use my Deck docked most of the time and have considered selling it, but I just can't part with SteamOS and its immediate suspend/wake-up. Not sure what I'd replace it with.

Yeah it's a great feature if you need a handheld. Otherwise in my case, I don't miss it so much when I'm on my PC. Case in point, I was playing on my Steam Deck earlier but instead of putting it to sleep with a game running, I turned the game off and picked it up on my PC (I have a game running on my other screen as I type this )

I think a big problem with that is Valve's case, it's just not practical at all for quickly playing on the bus. When I was still commuting, I got a backpack that was designed for the Switch, but which also fits the Deck. Just sliding it in and out of the bag is so much more elegant than getting the official SD case out of your bag, unzipping it, putting it away, and then finally turning on the Deck, ugh.

FYI, there is an ecosystem of accessories for the Deck, much like there is for the Switch. dbrand, for example, have got a slim travel cover for it.

No one can challenge Valve's brand recognition, and I don't think anyone else will even try to manufacture at the same scale. But other devices don't need to 'dethrone' the Steam Deck, they just have to capture their own niche by offering something the Deck doesn't.

I picked up a Miyoo Mini Plus on sale last year purely as an impulse buy, and I ended up spending far more time with it than I ever did with my Deck. My dream is to one day see SteamOS in a similar form factor, something that actually fits in my pocket and can just run my favorite low spec 2D indie games.

I use my Deck docked most of the time and have considered selling it, but I just can't part with SteamOS and its immediate suspend/wake-up. Not sure what I'd replace it with.

Most AMD handhelds, coupled with gaming-oriented Linux distros (Bazzite, ChimeraOS, CachyOS etc) do the immediate suspend/wake-up thing without any issues. I've tested this with a friend's Legion Go briefly and also do this daily on my GPD Win Mini and never ran into issues. So if you're thinking of upgrading, there are plenty of options these days - you no longer need the Deck/SteamOS to get a Deck-like like experience.

Although I still like my Steam Deck and use it a few times a week, after the initial honeymoon period wore off (which admittedly took a good year) my Arch Desktop PC has certainly dethroned it. There's something that is just so much nicer for those long 8hr+ gaming sessions on a Desktop versus my Steam Deck. For short bursts the Steam Deck is nice but when I want to play a game I don't reach for my Steam Deck by default anymore.

Plus being able to tab out of my game and use Discord on one of my other screens is nicer than grabbing my phone to do the same. At this point I am too used to my 4-monitor setup and multitasking that the Steam Deck ends up feeling restrictive after some time.

When it's warm though it is nice to grab my Steam Deck and stream from my PC to a TV in a cooler room. It's easier to put a controller down and grab my phone than to put my Steam Deck down and grab my phone.

But although I do like my Steam Deck, to me it's an accessory more than anything else. Like a phone or a laptop, nothing can replace my everything-PC for my use-cases.

Actually at time of writing, I haven't charged my Steam Deck in over a week...

While I am in a similar position, I have found a fee other usecases for my Deck.
As it's built-in controls are the most comfortable to me, it's my controller for the non-M+KB games I play on my desktop.
As the built in streaming is not fully reliable or flexible, I use the Steam Link Flatpak as a "non-Steam game" in the situations where the built-in streaming does not work.
With the original Steam Controller and a USB-C dongle, I found it to be a great improvised media console too, with full access to the better UI on the full websites compared to Android TV apps.
And finally with a custom Desktop Layout, the device is a great Linux Tablet, for casual webbrowsing and even some chats with the Onscreen Keyboard, with Trigger Clicks enabled.

As it's built-in controls are the most comfortable to me

I also find them to be the most comfortable. It fixes the handful of complaints I had about the original Steam Controller. To be honest, if Valve do end up making that rumoured Joycon-Style Steam Controller 2 that works as VR controllers and joins to become a PC controller, I would probably give up using my Steam Deck! I could have the convenience of the Deck right at my PC.

As the built in streaming is not fully reliable or flexible

I'm not sure about flexible, but I haven't had any reliability issues with In-Home Streaming. I hear it get criticized a lot but it works fine with my usage. I don't use it very often, a few times every few months, but when I do it's for quite extended sessions and it works fine streaming to laptops and my Steam Deck. My PC and laptops all run Arch Linux with Plasma Wayland (I don't remember if I used it on X11 but if I did I don't remember any issues).

And finally with a custom Desktop Layout, the device is a great Linux Tablet, for casual webbrowsing and even some chats with the Onscreen Keyboard, with Trigger Clicks enabled.

I use this same setup and haptic setup with the keyboard too, but it still just isn't the same. I'm not a big fan of tablets either so that might play a role here. Between my phone, my Steam Deck, my laptops, and my Desktop PC, I have all the form factors, and for all of them I keep missing my multi-screen Desktop with big screens. Most GoL users have only a single display (~56%), so going from a single display PC/laptop/tablet to a Steam Deck probably isn't as much of a noticeable downgrade as it is to those few spoiled enough to have four displays.

(I couldn't scroll in far enough to get a mouseover but to the users who have 6 displays, I'm jealous!)


Last edited by sonic2kk on 3 July 2024 at 1:31 am UTC