Tag Archives: Steam Deck

Featured, Mobile & Handhelds

‘Too Big’ For Steam Deck: AAA Games Are Struggling On Valve’s Handheld

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Oliver Mackenzie (Digital Foundry) does his best to run the latest triple-A games on Valve’s handheld. Which games run well? Which games run well and look decent? And which games are indeed simply ‘Too Big’ for Steam Deck? Does a more powerful handheld like the Asus ROG Ally power past the Deck’s problems?

The Valve Steam Deck, aka Gabe Newell’s love letter to PC gamers who secretly wanted a Nintendo Switch but were too proud to admit it. This chonky handheld beast is basically a gaming PC crammed into a device the size of a grilled cheese sandwich on steroids—portable enough to take anywhere, but still big enough to make your wrists question your life choices after an hour of Elden Ring.

What Makes It Special?

  • Runs your entire Steam library—which means you can finally ignore 90% of the games you impulse-bought during a Steam sale… on the go!

  • Has trackpads! Because Valve still believes that trackpads are the future, despite a decade of gamers collectively going, “Ehh…”

  • Customizable as heck—want to install Windows? Emulators? A toaster simulator? Go wild.

  • “Portable,” but in a “you might need a dedicated backpack for it” kind of way.

The Downsides?

  • Battery life is… negotiable. Playing a high-end game? Congrats, you have about 90 minutes before your Deck turns into an expensive paperweight.

  • It’s big. Like, big big. Holding one is like gripping a sci-fi weapon from a movie where The Rock has to save the world.

  • Linux-based OS, which is great if you love tinkering, but if you’re just trying to play games, you’ll occasionally feel like you’ve been thrown into IT Tech Support mode.

Final Verdict?

The Steam Deck is a glorious, slightly impractical marvel—perfect for anyone who wants to game anywhere, anytime, and develop forearms like a Greek statue in the process. It’s the closest thing we have to a true portable gaming PC, and for that, we salute Valve. Now if only they’d make Half-Life 3…

Featured

Modded Steam Deck Review – Awesome for both Retro & Modern Gamers!

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The Valve Steam Deck is what happens when a gaming PC and a Nintendo Switch have a baby, and that baby grows up chugging Mountain Dew and modding Skyrim at age five. It’s a chunky, unapologetically beefy handheld that can run everything from AAA blockbusters to the jankiest, most obscure indie games you found in a bundle eight years ago. With its Linux-based SteamOS, it’s basically a portable gaming goblin that thrives on tinkering. Want to install Windows? Go ahead. Emulate old consoles? Absolutely. Turn it into a weird Frankenstein machine that runs spreadsheets and plays DOOM on a smart fridge? You bet. It’s the kind of device that whispers, “Go on, break me, I dare you,” and then somehow just keeps working anyway.

Now, playing retro games on the Steam Deck is like giving a cyberpunk mech the soul of a Blockbuster Video rental section. Whether it’s SNES classics, PS2 gems, or some long-lost Game Boy Advance title you played in the backseat of a minivan, the Deck handles it like a champ. With emulation software, it transforms into an all-in-one time machine, letting you bounce from Chrono Trigger to Tony Hawk’s Underground without missing a beat. And thanks to those gloriously oversized thumbsticks and trackpads, even finicky old PC games get a new lease on life. It’s like holding every console you ever loved in your hands—except now, you don’t have to blow into a cartridge like a desperate wizard trying to resurrect a fallen warrior.

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How I Play Retro Video Games These Days! MiSTer with RGB to a CRT & Emudeck!

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Lon.Tv shares what he uses to play retro video games, from the original Atari and NES to Sega Saturn, PS2 and even Xbox 360. Lots of good info and solutions from the MiSter project, to emulation on the Steam Deck and connecting to a CRT with a lightgun. Good stuff!

Here are some of the most beloved methods for diving back into the retro video game classics:

1. The Raspberry Pi Shrine

Imagine a small, raspberry-sized computer you can worship for all its retro gaming glory. People pour their heart and soul into decorating their Raspberry Pi cases with LED lights, custom decals, and little totems of Mario or Sonic. You might think it’s overkill for a device that could fit in your pocket, but retro gamers know the joy of transforming a $40 gadget into a virtual time machine. Just don’t forget to bring a magnifying glass to actually play anything.

2. The “Totally Legit” Desktop Emulator

This setup requires downloading highly legitimate copies of Super Mario World, meticulously organizing every ROM, and downloading the fanciest emulator to get that authentic “my computer is on fire” experience. Between tweaking settings to get the frame rate perfect and dodging ads on those sketchy ROM websites, this is a labor of love that teaches patience. Bonus points if you manage to find one that doesn’t crash every time Mario jumps.

3. The Franken-console Build

There’s an entire subculture of folks who would rather hack old consoles themselves than use a plug-and-play emulator. Dust off an old NES, unscrew some plastic, add a Pi Zero or some hidden SD slot, and voilà – you’ve got a barely-working Frankenstein console that plays everything from Pong to EarthBound. Sometimes it even works. Other times it sparks. Either way, that soldering iron burn on your hand is proof you’re hardcore.

4. The Flash Drive of Mystery

This one’s for the committed and resourceful: they carry a flash drive loaded with emulators and ROMs everywhere. Plug it into any unsuspecting device – your grandma’s old Windows 7 laptop, a friend’s smart fridge, the work computer during a lunch break – and boom, they’re deep in a game of Zelda II before you can say “IT support.” The trick is having a thumb drive so suspiciously loaded with games, you’re ready for any retro gaming challenge that comes your way.

5. The All-in-One Retro Handheld – aka “The Portable Time Machine”

Why settle for modern graphics on the go when you can have a handheld that fits in your hand, overheats, and drains battery in mere minutes? With brands like Anbernic and Retroid pumping out nostalgia-packed handhelds, you’re basically carrying an entire arcade in your pocket. Be prepared to explain to people why you’re “playing Game Boy in the 2020s.” (Just flash a picture of Tetris and say, “Because it’s Tetris!”)

6. The Couch Potato Box – aka the Mini Consoles

Remember the NES and SNES Classic consoles? Gamers rushed to buy these little pre-loaded cuties, sat them next to the TV like trophies, and proceeded to play them once before they became collectors’ items. They’re adorable, they’re simple, and they deliver retro bliss straight to your living room without frying your PC – just try not to cry when that non-expandable game list starts feeling a little stale.

These retro emulation methods prove one universal truth: there’s no wrong way to travel back in time to save a princess or collect a ring – as long as you’re almost breaking your device in the process.

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ROG Ally vs Steam Deck vs Nintendo Switch

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Having spent a bunch of time with both now, I wanted to share my thoughts on how the ROG Ally compares to the Steam Deck, with a couple thoughts thrown in for how they relate to the Nintendo Switch. Looking at comfort in handheld mode, button and sticks layout, battery life, game performance, gameplay while docked, and how the general experience is different for each one.

The ROG Ally, Steam Deck, and Nintendo Switch are all gaming devices that cater to different segments of the gaming community, each with its own set of features and target audience.

The ROG Ally is a product by ASUS under their Republic of Gamers (ROG) brand, primarily focused on high-performance gaming laptops and peripherals. While specific details about the ROG Ally might have emerged after my last knowledge update in September 2021, ASUS often emphasizes powerful hardware components, customizable RGB lighting, and advanced cooling systems in their ROG lineup. The ROG Ally is likely to offer a more traditional gaming laptop experience with a wide range of games from various platforms, making it suitable for gamers seeking a comprehensive gaming and computing solution.

On the other hand, the Steam Deck is Valve’s venture into the handheld gaming market. It runs on a custom AMD APU, blending a quad-core Zen 2 CPU with RDNA 2 graphics architecture, which brings substantial gaming power to a portable device. The Steam Deck is designed to provide a dedicated handheld PC gaming experience, allowing users to access their existing Steam library, as well as other PC platforms like Epic Games Store, GOG, and more. It essentially functions as a portable gaming PC, offering more versatility and potential for productivity tasks compared to traditional gaming consoles.

The Nintendo Switch, released in 2017, pioneered the concept of a hybrid gaming console. It seamlessly transitions between a handheld mode and a TV-connected mode. The Switch’s focus lies in Nintendo’s first-party game lineup, offering exclusive titles like “The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild,” “Super Mario Odyssey,” and “Animal Crossing: New Horizons.” Its unique Joy-Con controllers and family-friendly gaming experience have contributed to its widespread appeal. However, the Switch’s hardware capabilities are more limited compared to the other two devices, making it less suitable for graphically demanding games available on other platforms.

In summary, the ROG Ally is likely to offer a high-performance gaming laptop experience, the Steam Deck provides a portable PC gaming experience with access to various storefronts, and the Nintendo Switch focuses on exclusive Nintendo titles and versatile hybrid gameplay. The choice between these devices ultimately depends on the user’s preferences, gaming library, and desired gaming experience.

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Can The Steam Deck Run Ratchet & Clank Rift Apart?

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Ratchet and Clank Rift Apart brings one of PlayStation’s best franchises to the PC. Of course it’ll be great to see this run on a powerful PC at 4K with Ray Tracing. But we’re here to see how the Steam Deck handles Ratchet and Clank Rift Apart

The Steam Deck, being a handheld gaming device that aims to provide a PC gaming experience, faces several challenges in achieving optimal performance for PC games. One of the main hurdles is hardware limitations. While the Steam Deck boasts impressive specifications, such as a custom AMD APU, it still falls short of the raw power and capabilities of high-end gaming PCs. This means that some demanding AAA titles might require graphical compromises or lower framerates to run smoothly on the device. Additionally, managing thermal performance in a handheld form factor is challenging, as intense gaming sessions can generate significant heat, potentially impacting overall performance over extended periods. Another obstacle is game optimization; PC games are not always designed with handheld devices in mind, leading to potential compatibility issues or inefficient resource utilization. Furthermore, the wide variety of hardware configurations on PC presents a challenge for game developers to ensure consistent performance across all devices. Despite these challenges, the Steam Deck’s promising hardware and Valve’s dedication to fine-tuning the user experience could lead to significant strides in handheld PC gaming, making it an exciting prospect for gamers seeking a portable gaming solution.

Mobile & Handhelds, PC Games

New EmuDeck is Here! Steam Deck Emulation Guide

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EmuDeck was just updated to v2.1, and here is the official guide to get it up and running! We’ll take a look at the new features, show you how to update an existing installation, and how to set the whole thing up from scratch as well. This is your complete guide to seamless retro game emulation on the Steam Deck! Get EmuDeck here: https://www.emudeck.com/

EmuDeck is a cutting-edge software designed specifically for the Steam Deck gaming device, offering an unparalleled emulation experience for gamers. Seamlessly integrating with the Steam Deck’s hardware capabilities, EmuDeck empowers users to play a vast array of classic and retro games from various platforms, recreating the nostalgia of old-school gaming with remarkable precision. The software boasts a user-friendly interface, making it effortless for players to navigate through their favorite titles and customize settings to suit their preferences. EmuDeck’s optimization ensures smooth performance, eliminating lags and glitches commonly associated with emulation, thus guaranteeing a seamless and immersive gameplay experience. With EmuDeck, Steam Deck owners can unlock a treasure trove of timeless gaming classics, relive their fondest memories, and embark on exciting new adventures in the realm of retro gaming.

Mobile & Handhelds, Metal Jesus Likes

Steam Deck OLED Review – 1 MONTH Later… is it worth it?

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Living with the Steam Deck OLED 3 for 1 month – is it a big upgrade over the Steam Deck, how does it compare to the ROG Ally and Legion Go – and should you buy it?

Valve Software is a renowned American video game developer and digital distribution company celebrated for its groundbreaking titles and innovative approach to gaming. Founded in 1996 by former Microsoft employees Gabe Newell and Mike Harrington, Valve quickly gained recognition for its debut game, “Half-Life,” which revolutionized the first-person shooter genre with its compelling storytelling, immersive gameplay, and advanced graphics for its time. This success paved the way for Valve to establish itself as a trailblazer in the gaming industry.

Beyond its impressive game portfolio, Valve is recognized for Steam, the largest digital distribution platform for PC gaming. Steam revolutionized how games are bought, sold, and played by providing a centralized hub for gamers to purchase titles, connect with friends, and access a vast library of games. Valve’s unique company culture, characterized by a flat organizational structure and emphasis on employee autonomy, has contributed to its reputation for fostering creativity and innovation within the gaming community. With its commitment to pushing boundaries and a loyal fan base, Valve remains an influential force in shaping the gaming landscape.

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PS Vita Emulation On The Steam Deck! World’s First PlayStation Vita Emulator

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Yes, you heard that correctly, A PS Vita emulator running on the Steam Deck! So in this video, we take a look at Vitra3K on the valve Steam deck. Yes, it’s a real emulator that works on windows and Linux but it’s still a bit early they do have a big list of playable PlayStation Vita games now more are always added!

PS Vita Emulation