For transparency, I have a gaming PC. I have a Steam Deck. I love the Steam Deck to death and would never give it up. For many people, it is the closest thing they will see to PC gaming. I can say without a doubt that the Steam Deck is a PC in the same way a chicken is a wild bird. Can you do 90% of PC related tasks with the Steam Deck? Yes, but with a lot more work, and much more required knowledge. It’s not even because of the OS, which is great because it’s just Linux based. It’s because the Steam Deck does not put necessary parts that average PC users need as forward facing concepts.
The Steam Deck is a console first, and a PC in a pinch and I wouldn’t have it any other way. It’s the reason I love the device, but also use it less. A good example is modding Elden Ring for Seamless Co-op. You can do it, and it’s not HARD per se, but you may have to find files in the OS to make sure Steam knows to open them, and because of how the file tree works in Linux vs Windows it isn’t really a simple case of “type the file name in search”.
Look, if they’re gonna use a device running Linux* instead of Windows to represent “PC,” I sure as Hell ain’t gonna complain about it even if it is a handheld!
(* legitimate Linux, as opposed to some bastardized and Tivoized thing like Android or what they put on TVs)
It seems to me like most PC gamers don’t touch mods unless there’s an easy automated way to install them, something like steam workshop or maybe a mod manager if they’re feeling adventurous. It’s true that mods are harder to do on linux/deck right now, but I’m hoping with the rise of official mod managers that support linux it won’t be any harder. Games that use steam workshop or have built in mod support (like BG3 and Deep Rock Galactic) are already just as easy to install mods on deck compared to windows.
I think the Deck is in a nice place where it streamlines the gaming experience for most people, but still gives you the option to do more advanced things if you want.
For transparency, I have a gaming PC. I have a Steam Deck. I love the Steam Deck to death and would never give it up. For many people, it is the closest thing they will see to PC gaming. I can say without a doubt that the Steam Deck is a PC in the same way a chicken is a wild bird. Can you do 90% of PC related tasks with the Steam Deck? Yes, but with a lot more work, and much more required knowledge. It’s not even because of the OS, which is great because it’s just Linux based. It’s because the Steam Deck does not put necessary parts that average PC users need as forward facing concepts.
The Steam Deck is a console first, and a PC in a pinch and I wouldn’t have it any other way. It’s the reason I love the device, but also use it less. A good example is modding Elden Ring for Seamless Co-op. You can do it, and it’s not HARD per se, but you may have to find files in the OS to make sure Steam knows to open them, and because of how the file tree works in Linux vs Windows it isn’t really a simple case of “type the file name in search”.
Look, if they’re gonna use a device running Linux* instead of Windows to represent “PC,” I sure as Hell ain’t gonna complain about it even if it is a handheld!
(* legitimate Linux, as opposed to some bastardized and Tivoized thing like Android or what they put on TVs)
It seems to me like most PC gamers don’t touch mods unless there’s an easy automated way to install them, something like steam workshop or maybe a mod manager if they’re feeling adventurous. It’s true that mods are harder to do on linux/deck right now, but I’m hoping with the rise of official mod managers that support linux it won’t be any harder. Games that use steam workshop or have built in mod support (like BG3 and Deep Rock Galactic) are already just as easy to install mods on deck compared to windows.
I think the Deck is in a nice place where it streamlines the gaming experience for most people, but still gives you the option to do more advanced things if you want.