|OT| Valve's Steam Deck (OLED)- coming to Straya in Nov 2024

Phawx

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I've now gone through the two Linus videos, the Gamers Nexus video and the one by Phawx. All great coverage and, interestingly enough, all of you cover similar ground but also play to your strengths. Good to see considering the embargo is currently still pretty strict about what you can and cannot cover.

If any of you haven't yet, I'd recommend watching them all.


I'm willing to bet it's already in a very good state. While I don't really have much of an interest in emulation, I hope the Steam Deck is the Switch Pro that Nintendo fans wished Nintendo had released.

All I want to do at this point is fire my Steam Deck up and play some Tetris Effect.
Thanks! And yea, seems like we all had something to offer.
 

Minsc

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Aug 7, 2021
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I'm willing to bet it's already in a very good state. While I don't really have much of an interest in emulation, I hope the Steam Deck is the Switch Pro that Nintendo fans wished Nintendo had released.

All I want to do at this point is fire my Steam Deck up and play some Tetris Effect.
I have a PSP, Vita, Switch and 3DS (among other systems), I am looking forward to retiring at least the Sony systems permanently (the 3DS I'll keep around due to its gimmick 3D effect being fun), it's become a hassle to recharge them every other month. If I can play Wii and Switch games perfectly on it too that'll be nice for me as well. I definitely intend to have it function as an emulation device as well as a gaming PC for anything that doesn't really need the big screen.
 
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Le Pertti

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I'm really glad about the performance! While I have always said that I was expecting performance pretty close to next gen consoles adjusted for the resolution and seems we got pretty close! My plan to have a Mac / xbox / deck as my setup without feeling too left out is going to be great!
 
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undu

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Mar 17, 2019
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Going through GamersNexus indepth review. Something pretty cool, he has Ghostrunner with RT on! That is kinda a big deal since RT is still not that well supporterd on opensource drivers.
I don't think RT was actually enabled, even though the game settings say they are. I have the same problem with an RDNA2 GPU on the Ascension.

From the comments in the proton community it looks like RT doesn't work on RDNA2 without 2 environment variables changed with a current version of the vulkan driver.

All this makes me doubt these results and I think a proper in-depth verification is needed to validate the RT performance on the deck, are there any volunteers? ;)
 

Ge0force

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Thanks! And yea, seems like we all had something to offer.
I really enjoyed your video, great job m8! 👍

Have you tried any Bluetooth headphones? Was there any delay compared to the internal speakers or wired headphones? Which Bluetooth headphones can you recommend?
 
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Aaron D.

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I understand why they stress test the devices and make it run demanding games but I have to wonder how many people are getting this thing for the purpose of running the lattest great AAA graphic intensive game. I know for a fact I won't be in that group.

Yeah, "you can do it" is a fun novelty to have in your back pocket, but it feels like there's too many compromises inherent with the specs and form factor to make AAA a primary draw for the hardware. Getting beyond the tech limitations, the sheer screen size feels like it would be suboptimal for the spectacle-games experience.

I'm not really interested in pushing the hardware to its limits in this manner where you have to dial down settings to compensate and then game in a small-screen environment. Doesn't feel like the best use of my time when I have better options to experience this type of content.

I'm looking forward to mid-tier and indies as the real sweet spot for me. Simulation & strategy genres. Stuff like Subnautica, XCOM 2, Dyson Sphere Program, Euro Truck, Divinity: OS2, Disco Elysium and such.

Feels like that breed is a better fit for the hardware environment with less concessions in play.
 
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C-Dub

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What's going to be fantastic is that because everyone has the same hardware, it should be easy to find optimal settings for every game.
I wonder, as part of their battery of tests and PC performance guides, if Digital Foundry will be giving optimal settings for Deck versions.

Or maybe Valve will outsource to the community optimal settings per game (like they do with Steam Input) and let you download a Deck profile that alters the settings files, similar to how the GeForce Experience software works.

Could be good for people who want higher framerates, or a game profile that prioritises better battery life, for example, all curated by the community.
 

TheTrain

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Phawx Your coverage was really informative, thank you
Just a quick question, how is the wifi antenna? It works as good as any other device with good stability and such?
 
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Le Pertti

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I wonder, as part of their battery of tests and PC performance guides, if Digital Foundry will be giving optimal settings for Deck versions.

Or maybe Valve will outsource to the community optimal settings per game (like they do with Steam Input) and let you download a Deck profile that alters the settings files, similar to how the GeForce Experience software works.

Could be good for people who want higher framerates, or a game profile that prioritises better battery life, for example, all curated by the community.
Yeah that would be the best, community driven like for the steam controller. I really liked that aspect.

i think problem with game settings is that it’s little more complicated than controller settings with no standard way they are implemented.
 
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Durante

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Jumping on the comparison bandwagon, here's an extremely bad phone photo of the Deck compared to a Switch with the 3D printed handles I've been using for a while (to actually make it possible for me to play comfortably for any length of time):



I was surprised at just how close they were once I put them next to each other.
 

kio

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Yeah, "you can do it" is a fun novelty to have in your back pocket, but it feels like there's too many compromises inherent with the specs and form factor to make AAA a primary draw for the hardware. Getting beyond the tech limitations, the sheer screen size feels like it would be suboptimal for the spectacle-games experience.

I'm not really interested in pushing the hardware to its limits in this manner where you have to dial down settings to compensate and then game in a small-screen environment. Doesn't feel like the best use of my time when I have better options to experience this type of content.

I'm looking forward to mid-tier and indies as the real sweet spot for me. Simulation & strategy genres. Stuff like Subnautica, XCOM 2, Dyson Sphere Program, Euro Truck, Divinity: OS2, Disco Elysium and such.

Feels like that breed is a better fit for the hardware environment with less concessions in play.
Yeah, I'm on the same boat as you. I recently bought Factorio and Rimworld specifically because of the Deck's "on the go" factor that'll allow me to game a bit while in bed or during some odd downtime I might have that's enough to game a bit but not enough to sit at the computer and do the usual routine. I also expect my business travels to be a lot less boring.
 
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Mivey

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Jumping on the comparison bandwagon, here's an extremely bad phone photo of the Deck compared to a Switch with the 3D printed handles I've been using for a while (to actually make it possible for me to play comfortably for any length of time):



I was surprised at just how close they were once I put them next to each other.
Kinda shows the talk about the Deck being so incredibly big being a bit silly, at least when compared to the Switch.
I agree of course that already the Switch is fairly big if someone wants to be truly ultra portable with it,Inside a case it already takes up a fair bit of space. On the other hand, the Switch feels like a very compromised experience in terms ergonomics. Doubly so to allow the joycons to be symmetric when used for local co op games. Given that the Deck doesn't allow you to change its controls (like the Switch does with the JoyCons), I'm happy Valve prioritised ergonomics here.

I do think a future Deck iteration could cut on those giant bezels, though. Either get an even bigger screens, or make the device ever so slightly smaller.
 

Durante

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Yeah, I generally feel like there is a bit of a design conflict between the ideal "portable" and the ideal "handheld". The ideal portable is obviously as small as possible, and in particular is very thin. On the other hand (heh... sorry) a handheld needs to be ergonomic to hold for longer periods of time, and for me at least that simply does not work at all with something thin.
 

Alexandros

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Yeah, I generally feel like there is a bit of a design conflict between the ideal "portable" and the ideal "handheld". The ideal portable is obviously as small as possible, and in particular is very thin. On the other hand (heh... sorry) a handheld needs to be ergonomic to hold for longer periods of time, and for me at least that simply does not work at all with something thin.
I think this is what Gabe Newell was alluding to when he said "one look will tell you if it's a device for you" or something to that effect. If you want a tiny gaming device for the road then get one of those retro portables, they're great. Steam Deck clearly prioritizes comfort and versatility.
 
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beep boop

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The market for a lot of things is kind of small. Like VR games outside of the Steam or Oculus environment. But that works out for Epic because there they are the ones taking a cut of the pie, I suppose.
 
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C-Dub

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He just never gives up.
And there we have the real reason they won't be releasing a Linux or Steam Deck specific version of Fortnite. It never takes long for the mask to slip with Sweeney.

That 20-30% pays for stuff like Steam Deck and all the features and support his own store doesn't have. Customers like Steam and Valve continues to invest in their platform because of it.

Plus it's rich for Sweeney to moan about Valve taking a reasonable cut for using their platform and implying it's somehow extortionate when it's been strongly implied Epic ripped off PUBG's gameplay while "supporting" them to get the game working on UE4 and made billions from it. Not to mention all the (predominantly black) people they've culturally appropriated dances from (and not paid a penny for), and the never ending attrition of development staff in the Fortnite sweatshop.

Sweeney always goes on about fair cut this and fair cut that and portrays himself as a David vs the Goliath of [insert his next target here], yet his company is a behemoth of exploitation and not giving the little person their fair share. He's a truly awful, greedy man.
 

Mivey

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Does he think Valve is making lots of profits on the 399$ the base Deck model is selling for? It's such a completely arbitrary line at this point, surprised people still fall for it, especially now that Valve is pretty much shipping its own gaming hardware too.
 
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Knurek

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Does he think Valve is making lots of profits on the 399$ the base Deck model is selling for? It's such a completely arbitrary line at this point, surprised people still fall for it, especially now that Valve is pretty much shipping its own gaming hardware too.
@TimSweeneyEpic: But they are not. The nasty Valve is definitely not shipping its own gaming hardware, they are exploiting the good UPS people to do it. And the hardware is not even their own, from what I'm hearing. The good guys at AMD made it, Valve just stole it.
 

jmga

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What a clown. Looking forward to people playing fortnite in unofficial ways on the Deck, even if that means hacking the anti-cheat system, like with Genshin Impact.
 
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Anteater

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How is the deck as a multimedia device? Can just launch a browser and watch Youtube/Netflix, etc right?
 

ExistentialThought

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How is the deck as a multimedia device? Can just launch a browser and watch Youtube/Netflix, etc right?
Yes, I believe Linus showed some of that off during his visit to Valve, but it may not be ideal compared to your phone. Still nice to maybe look up a walkthrough or something.

Timestamped, shows that you can pin things like Youtube and Netflix.
 

Anteater

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Yes, I believe Linus showed some of that off during his visit to Valve, but it may not be ideal compared to your phone. Still nice to maybe look up a walkthrough or something.

Timestamped, shows that you can pin things like Youtube and Netflix.
Thanks for the timestamp! Didn't really watch the video coverage for the device
 
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Minsc

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Yes, I believe Linus showed some of that off during his visit to Valve, but it may not be ideal compared to your phone. Still nice to maybe look up a walkthrough or something.

Timestamped, shows that you can pin things like Youtube and Netflix.
Yeah, I think it probably would destroy a tablet or phone if docked to a monitor/keyboard/mouse, but fall behind in just normal handheld use, though you will benefit from a more robust system - I can't tell you how many times my phone / tablet browser in the past has lost my tabs from an update or even not keeping the proper position in a page on a guide, always going back to the top, and probably interacting with many apps at once, you shouldn't ever need to reload a web browser from falling out of memory I'd think.
 

madjoki

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How is the deck as a multimedia device? Can just launch a browser and watch Youtube/Netflix, etc right?
Drm could be issue for Netflix and other legal streaming sites, being limited to (low bit rate) 720p on Linux.
 

Parsnip

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Nothing has changed since then, he repeated the same argument during the Epic vs Apple trial.
I think that was the point... now that Valve is making hardware, he should be ok with them getting 30%, but he isnt. :)
Sure, but some of the replies specifically to that old tweet made it seem like people may have not noticed/thought it was a continuation of the previous tweet chain so I was just pointing it out, just in case.

:blobmorning2:
 

Gelf

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Wish I had means to try it out. My history with every portable has been I play a few exclusives but get tired of finding them uncomfortable to use and they end up abandoned. I wonder if this being larger could break the trend.
 

Amzin

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Have any of the videos covered how it handles Steam remote play? I imagine most of the time I'll want to use installed stuff on it, but if I'm at home and can get more battery out of remote play I may as well
 

Mivey

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Have any of the videos covered how it handles Steam remote play? I imagine most of the time I'll want to use installed stuff on it, but if I'm at home and can get more battery out of remote play I may as well
GamerNexus also tested the battery life when streaming, and as expected it hit above 5 hours. I think near 6, but I'd have to look it up again.
 
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Amzin

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Awesome. That's probably more than I need if I'm chilling on the couch for some of the evening but it's great as an option. Especially since it is probably pretty steady regardless of the game.
 

Knurek

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Have any of the videos covered how it handles Steam remote play? I imagine most of the time I'll want to use installed stuff on it, but if I'm at home and can get more battery out of remote play I may as well
If you have an Nvidia gpu in your main rig, I'd suggest trying Moonlight before Steam Remote Play - I get terrible judder with the latter and pitch perfect smooth experience with the former.
YMMV of course...
 

MomoVideo

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If you have an Nvidia gpu in your main rig, I'd suggest trying Moonlight before Steam Remote Play - I get terrible judder with the latter and pitch perfect smooth experience with the former.
YMMV of course...
My experience was the opposite. I tried streaming from my home PC to my office and over Moonlight it was all stuttery while Steam Remote Play had great image quality and latency. Basically less tech-savy people thought that I was running the games locally which you can't normally do because of company policy. But like you said, YMMV.
 

Durante

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In my experience, Parsec is better than either of the other options. At least when you set it up to use h.265 (which I think only works on NV) and your connection is somewhat bandwidth-limited.

We were able to successfully stream 2560x1440 @ 100 FPS over 15 Mbit/s upstream at decent quality with h265 compression using Parsec.

That said, in a home network with basically unlimited bandwidth, and especially with the small target res/hz of the Steam Deck, Steam streaming works perfectly.
 

Amzin

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Parsec is the best for me (I already use remote play of varying types a lot), but sometimes it doesn't work with controllers in certain games for whatever reason. Steam remote play works well like 99.9% of the time for me, every once in a while I'll get a single stutter but otherwise the latency is not noticeable. This is all at home though, I haven't gone out somewhere I'd chill and game since the pandemic started.
 

Knurek

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And to top it off, I had the most terrible experience with Parsec.
In home streaming from my desktop to a tablet, was, like, 5 fps.
 

C-Dub

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I swear by Nvidia GameStream with Moonlight. I find it has the best IQ and you have a bit more control over bitrate, framerate and resolution versus Steam Remote Play which just works, but lacks the kind of customisation I’d like. Plus it won’t pass gamepad input to Playnite.

I haven’t tried Parsec in a while. Last time I did I had to go into Safe Mode to change my resolution back to 4K because it permanently changed my display resolution to my phone’s, which wasn’t supported by my TV. Didn’t exactly endear me to it. Plus there’s no iOS version of the client so it’s pretty much a non-starter for me now.
 

Mor

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So far things are looking great, last night we had a new verification wave and, while there's always 1 unsupported, the rest were both either verified or playable.