Yes, You Can Still Love the Steam Deck And Be Excited For The Nintendo Switch 2

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The world of handhelds is constantly growing now, with the emerging market filled with devices geared for different purposes. We have Android handhelds that are cheaper and great for emulation and mobile games, handheld PCs for more high-end gaming and Desktop work, cloud-based handhelds for streaming games when you have a constant internet connection, and then we have the Nintendo Switch. The Switch is in a class of its own because of Nintendo, and with the Switch 2 announcement, excitement is at an all-time high.

Unfortunately, this also invites comparisons. There's a lot of speculation about exactly what the Switch 2 is capable of since Nintendo only gave us a teaser of the looks and possible features. Because of this, I have seen many people share other leaks to speculate what the power could be or what features it has from its internal hardware, and in the end, start comparing it to the Steam Deck. I have also seen some trying to sway others away from the Switch 2, talking about the Deck's power and why it's a better device to get. However, I disagree with this, and I think it will be awesome to have both a Steam Deck and Switch 2.

Both of these handhelds have their pros and cons, and neither one of them cancels the other out. The Switch 2 is in a unique position where there aren't any other handhelds like it, and it appeals to a different subset of gamers thanks to its features, software, and is the only way to play the newest Nintendo games. Knowing Nintendo, the UI will be easy to navigate and tight, with a snappy feeling that you just can't get anywhere else. There's no better feeling than sliding the Joycons back on the Switch, and I am sure the magnets for the Switch 2 Joycons will feel great and make a wonderful sound.

Everything works with the Switch without needing any tweaking, which is something that we are used to doing on the Steam Deck. Detaching the joycons makes each one into a separate controller with ease, and it’s easy to just get into a game and play. Docking the Switch to a TV or monitor is also fluid and easy, which I appreciate. Not all games are optimized well, and some Switch titles aren’t great to play, but you don’t have to worry about changing settings or framerate and just enjoy the game. Then there’s the exclusive Nintendo games, which are truly wonderful to experience.

However, the Switch is an underpowered device, and the Switch 2 will most likely be the same. It will be more powerful than the original Switch, but Nintendo has a habit of using older parts and finding ways to get the most out of them. They also have a closed ecosystem, so games cost a bit more there, and it’s hard to find really good deals. There are sales on the system, but for the titles that are worth experiencing on the Switch, they don’t go on sale by much. You also can’t do much outside of it, being a video game console and nothing else.

On the other hand, we have the Steam Deck, which has very different benefits. The Deck has more power and exists in the PC Ecosystem. This means we get more access to games across the spectrum, including titles from PlayStation and Xbox, and being able to find them for cheaper. Because it’s a PC, we can look at third-party stores that may sell keys for cheaper than the actual DRM storefronts and still get the full game. There are also many more sales that bring PC games down even cheaper.

The Steam Deck is also a full PC that utilizes the Steam Client. So, we can use it like a regular work computer to get things done in desktop mode or use Game Mode for a console-like UI to navigate your Steam library. With Steam, we get access to a plethora of unique features like the Steam Workshop (mods), guides, discussions, forums, and Steam Input to modify controls and make games without controller support work decently with a gamepad. We can also access non-Steam games, so we aren’t locked to one store. This also extends to how you can play the games. Since it’s on Steam, your game library can be used on any computer with cloud saves, so it truly is a buy once and play your purchased game on any device.

However, it isn’t all perfect. The Deck may be more powerful, but it isn’t powerful enough to run the newest games. There’s no fully accurate system in place to determine which games work and which don’t, so you may need to go into game settings and change things up to ensure they are running decently. On top of that, we run into problems with it being a PC and using an OS that is constantly being developed, like random crashes and parts of the device just not working randomly. Valve’s support has been great so far, but I’ve run into more hardware issues with it than the Switch.

Both handhelds have pros and cons and appeal to different people, but there’s no shame in being fans of each. I love using my Steam Deck to play a majority of my games. Still, I use my Nintendo Switch frequently to play great games with my wife, like Mario Kart, Super Mario Party Jamboree, and Mario Golf, and I dabble in Xenoblade and Breath of the Wild. It’s just an easier experience overall to use the Switch, and while I can’t play my Steam library on it, I can still enjoy some of the greatest games ever made.

I can’t wait for a Switch 2. I’m excited to see what kind of hardware the device will utilize and if it has DLSS compatibility, but I’m even more excited for the next generation of Nintendo titles. More powerful hardware means bigger experiences for them. It will be a great companion for my Steam Deck to play incredible first-party titles and wonderful party games with my family. Any advancements in the handheld space should be celebrated, and I plan to do so for both Nintendo and Valve.

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