If you’re a fan of PC gaming you’ll probably already be aware, but Valve has announced the launch of the Steam Deck and the internet is excited. Portable PC Gaming is nothing new, but it’s never fully taken off. PC games are notoriously power-hungry so taking these games on the move is costly and doesn’t really work. Having said that, gaming platforms and consoles that are specifically developed to be mobile (like the Switch which saw a huge rise in popularity over lockdown) have always been fairly successful (depending on the console – let’s not talk about the WiiU) and are much more mainstream. Across the globe, there were 2.8 billion gamers in 2020 and that number is sure to have increased since owing to various lockdowns across the world. So, what is the Steam Deck and what makes it different from traditional portable gaming setups? Is it likely to hoover up many of the 2.8 billion gamers worldwide?
The New Steam Deck
Steam Deck may be a new console, but Steam itself has been around for almost two decades. The platform saw approximately 120 million users in 2020. If even a fraction of its user base show interest in Steam Deck it’s sure to be successful. The thing is, Steam’s members have shown an interest and they’re not the only ones – the console completely sold out at pre-order, with confirmed pre-orders now reselling on eBay for triple the value!
Many online critics have said that they think Valve is attempting to take a slice of Nintendo’s immense success with the Switch with its own brand new console design – the device even looks similar.
Like the Switch, the Steam Deck will have a 7 inch LCD touch screen, analogue joystick controls, a gyroscope for motion detection and Wi-Fi connectivity. It will even have its own dock so that it can be plugged into a TV – that all sounds a little familiar, doesn’t it? In fact, one of the only major differences in terms of hardware is that the Steam Deck will also have touchpad controllers on either side, so at least it has one point of difference with the Switch. It’s fairly clear to see who Valve are trying to compete with.
While on the surface Valve seems to be copying the Switch, there is one major difference. The Switch has cornered the market on incredible games that look great and play well in both modes, but it will only ever be a games console. Valve is pushing Steam Deck as a fully capable handheld PC – like an iPad but better. It’ll give you access to web browsing and streaming video. The most impressive part is that Steam Deck will even allow you to access competitor stores, rather than being locked into only using Steam. This is absolutely the first of its kind and will completely shake up the market after decades of needing to choose if you’re a Nintendo, PlayStation or Xbox kind of person.
Further pushing the “handheld computer” mentality the touchpads are meant to be used as a mouse, but if you want to plug a mouse into the console you can. You can even plug an Ethernet cable into the dock.
Is The Steam Deck Different From The Nintendo Switch?
So, is the Steam Deck actually different from a Nintendo Switch? Yes and no. It’s definitely taken “inspiration” from Nintendo’s runaway success, but allowing access to the web, streaming sites and even productivity apps like Microsoft Word makes it so much more useful, providing everything works as Valve are intending. It’s a little bit like a Nintendo Switch for tech addicts.
The Popularity of iGaming
The popularity of gaming online either via betting websites or portable consoles is on the rise. It had been on the rise before 2020 but with more people than ever stuck at home, people started to look at new ways to be entertained. As such, the opening of betting accounts and the purchasing of games consoles increased. This also means that those in the industry of offering iGaming had to ensure that they offered enough to keep everyone suitably entertained too. You can find out more about the leading iGaming sites at www.gamblingdeals.com where you’ll see that there are easily enough games and gambling deals to keep everyone happy. Not only that but if you keep an eye on the site you’ll see that what is on offer is always changing, to help keep up with customer demand and ensure that sites stay ahead of the ever-growing levels of competition.
Are Portable PCs New?
Portable PCs aren’t new, but Valve is still revolutionizing the market. PC gamers will be able to take their favorite titles and make progress on the move that they can continue with at home. There have been some questions raised that certain games won’t work on the portable device and that the battery life won’t be great when playing more detailed games, but that’s something that you’ll have to wait and see about for now.
Getting back to the Nintendo Switch comparison the Steam Deck comes with a base level of storage, although unlike with the Switch you can buy models with more storage rather than Nintendo’s standard 32 GB. You can then add additional storage by way of a Micro SD card, as with the switch. While you may be wondering why you would spend more for bigger storage capacity instead of buying a Micro SD, it appears that the Steam Deck will have more of an iPhone model of pricing. There will be entry-level, mid-range and high-end versions with upgrades to the hardware at each price point.
There’s no doubt that with 120 million active Steam users and pre-orders sold out everywhere that Steam Deck will be successful at first – whether it’s able to deliver on its incredibly lofty promises, and whether it can bring more of the almost 3 billion gamers into its ranks remains to be seen.
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Robert Griffith is a content and essay writer. He is collaborating with local magazines and newspapers. Robert is interested in topics such as marketing and history.
