Then I cosy back up with it and carry on. I do feel a slight bit of hand ache but that goes away after a 5 minute break. I say mostly because after 2 hours I do start to feel the weight. Getting around 2 hours in without a break and it’s still mostly comfortable. Not just because I have to keep holding onto the Deck but also I have to move fingers and thumbs around constantly. My right hand has a bone with a nice big circular hole in it (that was a fun MRI), one that can get quite painful and so this has been a serious test of just how comfortable it would be for longer gaming sessions. The Switch is just too thin with your hands clamped awkwardly around the sides, this is the direct opposite.Īnother unique point for my testing is due to a permanent injury. I think the Switch is actually completely terrible to hold. How does it compare to a Nintendo Switch? Since I own one I can safely tell you that, without a doubt, I vastly prefer holding the Steam Deck. As soon as I grip the sides, it’s a bit like my hands melt into the unit and it’s genuinely comfortable right away.įor reference, the hands of a 10 year old: The actual feel of the weight in-hand was probably the biggest surprise as it’s not just lighter than expected but the weight distribution feels nicely even too. Then I picked it up and it’s a bit like - oh, there’s really not much to it. It’s so big that it was something of a shock when opening the box for the first time. That’s being kind it’s an absolute beast of a unit. I have truly tiny hands for an adult and the Steam Deck is…hilariously chunky at first glance. I have a confession to make and one that worried me about the Steam Deck. Let’s get into that and allow me to explain why. How does it feel then? That’s what you all want to know, right? Well, I have a slightly different perspective and focus than other reviewers I think for two reasons. Gives you an interesting perspective on the size vs portability discussion that a lot of people have been having.Įven better - here's the Original Switch (top), OLED Switch and Steam Deck: We expect results on all kinds of tests to be up and down for a while.įor scale, here's an ASUS Vivobook S15 (15.6" laptop). ![]() Expect to see rapid changes to all parts of it, so you could see some differences in our videos / pictures. This still very much feels like the Deck’s Achilles’ heel.ĭisclaimer: much like regular Steam, Valve works on the software a lot - and often pretty quickly too. And don’t expect Fortnite to ever be compatible. Although they support Linux and Proton with the Steam Deck, developers still need to manually enable them. One big problem that remains are games which use Easy Anti-Cheat and BattlEye. You might find a lot of games “just work”. It just means it hasn’t yet been through official testing. Info: just because a game is not listed as either Verified or Playable, doesn’t mean it won’t work. In the mix are native Linux games, and lots of Windows games that run through the Proton compatibility layer - which is seriously impressive. Those numbers will change over time too, and we fully expect compatibility to continue improving quite quickly. It is a little different here, though, as there’s a few categories of compatibility unlike traditional consoles. I’m much closer to your average consumer, so this is just my honest lowbrow experience and initial thoughts.Ĭlearly the best launch lineup of any “console-like” platform ever isn’t it? There might never again be a launch that’s as good as this, except perhaps a future Valve system. To get something clear: I'm just a massive Linux nerd with a glorified blog, I don’t have the kind of vast resources of LinusTechTips and other well-known stars. ![]() Valve did not give any requirements or have any expectations to follow, it’s all me. So this is the result of my initial time with it and I’ll have plenty more to say across future articles and videos. The Steam Deck comes in three different models:įor testing it myself, the challenge was pretty simple: from the time I received it until the release of this article - every possible bit of gaming (where it made sense) would be done on it to ensure thorough testing. Most article images can be made bigger, give ‘em a click! Valve will be sending out weekly purchasing invites for those who put in a reservation. What is it? If you somehow don’t know already: the Steam Deck is a brand new Linux-powered handheld gaming PC from Valve Corporation that was released officially today, February 25th, with the first deliveries going out around February 28. ![]() You're witnessing history in the making, Valve's secret weapon to not be attached to Windows. See also: desktop mode, Discord and the Epic Store. The Steam Deck has arrived and Valve were kind enough to ship GamingOnLinux a review unit - here’s my own initial thoughts after spending a couple weeks with it.
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