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Right this moment marks the third anniversary of the Steam Deck, and it has been a wild journey to date. This handheld, created by Valve, got here out of nowhere and blew away expectations, which additionally ended up making the hand held PC market one which was truly reasonably priced for the overall shopper. As for me personally, the machine fully modified the course of my life. It is loopy to see what the Deck has grow to be and even crazier to see simply how massive it’s on this new market.
A Look At The Previous
Going all the way in which again, handheld PCs actually began to return to gentle round 2016, with the Chinese language firm GPD releasing its GPD WIN. Whereas it had a modest value of $299, it was missing within the gaming division for taking part in greater video games as a result of 4GB RAM and built-in graphics. GPD would go on to launch different handhelds, just like the GPD WIN 2, which had been higher fitted to gaming however nonetheless not fully there but. This additionally noticed costs rise as much as over $700-$800 and begin to alienate the overall shopper.
Quick ahead to 2021 the place AYANEO and One Netbook enter the competitors. Whereas they had been all now beginning to get higher specs to essentially play the large titles, the worth and built-in GPU was not making the minimize. Handheld PCs had been basically for fans greater than most people, and with the choices coming from Chinese language corporations by way of crowdfunding, there wasn’t strong floor simply but to present extra customers sufficient to make the bounce.
The Steam Deck Arrives
Later, in 2021, out of nowhere, Valve introduced their latest machine, the Steam Deck. A handheld PC that may be built-in with Steam, utilizing a brand new Linux OS and a customized APU constructed particularly for the machine. It could be capable of play the most recent video games, showcasing titles like Elden Ring, Management, DOOM Everlasting, Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order, Dying Stranding, and extra. It could even have nice integration with Steam and all its options. However the perfect half was the worth, beginning at $399.
It appeared like the right machine the place we would not need to compromise on efficiency whereas additionally not spending near $1,000. We now had an reasonably priced choice to take our PC gaming library on the go, and it was successful. I keep in mind being in my automotive when reservations began being taken for it, and I used to be hitting refresh and making an attempt to order my mannequin for 3 hours. I used to be elated once I lastly received it, and ever since, it has grow to be my fundamental gaming machine.
The Steam Deck’s Evolution
Since then, the Steam Deck has grow to be increasingly interesting due to the fixed updates and the refresh. In 2023, Valve introduced an OLED model of the Deck, which made a ton of inside adjustments for higher cooling, a much bigger battery, sooner RAM, WiFi 6e assist, and a beautiful OLED display with HDR assist. Though there wasn’t any replace to the APU inside, which meant we had been getting the identical efficiency because the outdated mannequin, it was sufficient to justify getting the up to date model.
Valve has additionally been updating its software program. They created a customized Linux OS for the machine, promptly known as SteamOS, and there have been tons of updates for it to maintain it secure and add a plethora of latest options. Liam from GamingOnLinux listed a whole lot of the large updates for SteamOS, which embrace:
Per-app efficiency profiles.
HDR, VRR and show color settings.
Recreation recording.
A lock display for safety.
Refresh fee switcher.
A window switcher for when video games have a number of home windows (like launchers remaining open).
Evening Mode.
Enabled customization of the efficiency overlay.
An improved Offline Mode (it used to require a reboot).
Main model updates to the KDE Plasma Desktop Mode.
Enhancements for docking the Steam Deck like show interface scaling.
Numerous efficiency enhancements and GPU driver upgrades.
Assist for Bluetooth A2DP and BAP profiles.
Mura Compensation.
Added assist for some HDMI CEC options to their official Dock.
Added overclocking controls on Steam Deck LCD.
GamingOnLinux – Blissful three years to the Steam Deck
It makes it much more superb to see that Valve has performed this all inside the three years the Steam Deck has been obtainable. To not point out the fixed shopper updates, small fixes right here and there to ensure the largest video games can be satisfying on the Deck, and naturally, the Proton updates. Not solely is the Steam Deck a terrific machine in itself, however it additionally has a terrific developer working to iron out all of the kinks as quick as they’ll.
The Competitors Cannot Preserve Up
With the Steam Deck making handheld PCs a brand new, rising market, that additionally means competitors would catch wind. For the reason that Deck’s launch, many corporations worldwide have began to strive getting their toes moist with extra highly effective and distinctive choices. ASUS got here out with the ROG Ally, Lenovo with the Legion Go, MSI with the Claw, and there are nonetheless extra on the horizon with the ZOTAC Zone and Acer Nitro Blaze. And naturally, we nonetheless have corporations like AYANEO, GPD, and One Netbook making their very own handhelds.
Utilizing Home windows as a base, these handhelds would attempt to stand out with extra highly effective APUs, distinctive gimmicks like removable controllers or a bigger display, however even with all of that, none of them have been in a position to catch as much as the Steam Deck’s recognition.
Sean Hollister from The Verge notes that the market analysis agency IDC estimated that just below 6 million shipments of all handheld PCs have occurred from 2022 to what they estimate gross sales would appear to be in 2025. Of these shipments, IDC estimated that almost all have been the Steam Deck. All the shipments in 2022 had been the Deck, and round 50% of shipments in 2023 and 2024 have been the Deck. This is able to imply that there can be virtually 4 million Decks offered, although this might have handed the 4 million mark by now.
It is also essential to notice that the 6 million quantity consists of ALL handheld PCs. This implies the two million leftover is a mix of the Ally, Legion Go, and Claw. The numbers do not embrace the Chinese language corporations, however it’s estimated the variety of customers with these handhelds are smaller than the remaining.
The Steam Deck Has Additionally Introduced Linux To The Principal Stage
Whereas the Steam Deck has been crushing its competitors, it has additionally introduced with it extra notoriety to Linux as an working system for gaming. Earlier than the Steam Deck, Linux was not seen as a viable working system for PC gaming. It had been getting progressively higher due to the Proton compatibility layer, which interprets Home windows libraries into Linux suitable ones, however it nonetheless wasn’t a well-liked selection till now.
SteamOS was initially launched with the Steam Machines again in 2013, and it was nowhere close to the place it’s in the present day. There have been a ton of developments with Proton, with main updates making extra video games playable, updating the elements that translate the libraries, and offering vital fixes. Now, with how SteamOS has advanced and Proton has grown, Linux has grow to be a improbable option to play video games on PC, even when there are some outliers that also will not run (taking a look at kernel-level anti-cheat).
Linux as a gaming OS usually has grow to be extra common, however it’s due to the Steam Deck that it has grown in recognition. It has pushed the event of Proton greater than earlier than and made Linux and Proton extra widespread for basic customers to strive. With the shortage of bloatware and extra in-depth customizability, it has grow to be a improbable different to Home windows to make use of.
How The Steam Deck Impacted Me
I feel the Steam Deck impacted lots of people in numerous methods. Some received a style of PC gaming for the primary time, some discovered a option to lastly sport once more after having youngsters, and others discovered a terrific companion for his or her desktop PC. For me, I’ve all the time cherished handheld gaming ever since I fell in love with the Recreation Boy Advance. I knew I used to be going to get a Steam Deck as quickly because it was introduced, which might be the right companion to my desktop PC (my fundamental manner of gaming). Nevertheless, it took a flip I might not count on.
About 4 months after I received my Steam Deck, I created SteamDeckHQ. At first, it was simply going to be a web site for reviewing video games to suggest totally different teams of settings from a devoted reviewer who performs by way of the video games. Nevertheless, lower than a month later, we had been getting over one million views a month and have been rising steadily since then. Now, we’re engaged on a number of the largest video games to overview them and consider them earlier than they’re launched.
Earlier than this, I used to be managing a pharmacy, so the Steam Deck fully altered the course of my life. I had absolutely anticipated to work my manner up the company ladder and handle a enterprise, however now, I get to work with my ardour and overview video video games for a residing. I’m additionally a brand new dad, so the Deck has made gaming extra handy for me total, however due to the Steam Deck, I now get to work within the discipline I’m most keen about.
How The Future Seems to be
With the Steam Deck beginning to present its age from an older APU that may’t play a number of the latest AAA launched in the present day, like Monster Hunter Wilds, calls have began to return for the following era handheld to be launched. Valve has persistently said that they’re ready to make a brand new handheld to supply a real generational leap and that they don’t seem to be utilizing the brand new Z2 chips that AMD is releasing. I do speculate that they might be ready to make use of RDNA 4 GPU cores to benefit from hardware-based FSR 4 with AI upscaling, however that is pure hypothesis for now.
Within the meantime, it is nonetheless laborious to not suggest the Steam Deck over different handhelds. The improbable options, lovely display, nice assist, and fantastic steadiness of battery and efficiency nonetheless maintain robust for lots of the latest video games. Sure, the brand new AAA titles can have some bother, however many are optimizing for the Deck to ensure it will probably run on the go. Dynasty Warriors: Origins and Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii are each massive new video games that may run effectively on the Deck, and there’ll most definitely be many extra.
Ultimately, it is laborious to not love the Steam Deck and what it has grow to be. In some methods, it appears like we live within the golden age of an rising market to make gaming extra accessible for many who do not wish to sit down at a pc on a regular basis. It is a welcome change and one I’m overjoyed to be part of.
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