Jakob Fel

I feel like console add-ons would have been better for everyone. I like the idea of being able to squeeze more life out of an existing console because it means not everyone has to rush to get the new one. Modular upgrading is one of the bigger reasons I’m a PC gamer.

This is exactly why we have these issues like we’re dealing with with the Switch 2. Console gamers are only focused on hardware and exclusivity, they’re not focused on the operating system of the device, the build quality of the product itself (including the ergonomics), nor do they care about the company that produces it beyond their basic fanboy tendencies.

Steam Deck’s competitors might have slightly better hardware or a higher resolution, but none of them are right to repair friendly. None of them have custom software literally designed for the product, and none of them have the sort of ergonomics that the Steam Deck has. Not to mention the fact that Valve is an American company, which might not be important to everybody, but it is important to me. They’re also a company that has proven themselves to be largely consumer-friendly.

While I’m not dissing anybody who does make the choice to go for an Ally or a Legion Go, the problem I have is that those devices are literally just another hardware company jumping on a band wagon. The Steam Deck completely revolutionized the way that we play on PC. Sure, it took inspiration from the original Switch. There’s no question about that. But that doesn’t mean that Valve was just jumping on a band wagon the way that ASUS and Lenovo are doing.

Valve literally spent years working with Linux developers on software that makes Linux gaming truly viable in order to create devices that allow you to run virtually any game on a handheld that you fully own, are allowed to put any game on (including games from other launchers, which they didn’t have to allow) and you’re fully allowed to self-repair it if any issues arise. Meanwhile, companies like ASUS and Lenovo treat their customers more like smartphone suckers customers, not to mention the fact that they went the cheap and easy route of just using Windows, which isn’t optimized for a device like these. And guess what? Lenovo is bending the knee to the Steam Deck supremacy by allowing you to get a version with SteamOS in the future. That alone proves that Valve is one step ahead of their competition.

To summarize all that I said, the reason the Steam Deck is so good is not just the hardware, it’s not just the screen, it’s the fact that it’s a very capable device at the hardware level, combined with very, very good software and a very consumer-friendly company behind it all.

Nintendo keeps shooting themselves in the foot. On one hand, as a PCMRer and massive fan of Valve, I’m glad to see how many are open to moving over here. On the other hand, Nintendo was the last console manufacturer I actually liked (despite their anti-emulation crusade) and so it’s like a death of an era.

The future really is in console-like PCs a la the Steam Deck and Valve’s upcoming Fremont.

Easily. Aside from the first party titles, there’s literally no reason to get a Switch 2. Everything else is objectively better on a PC handheld (especially the Deck).

I haven’t used an Ally and I love Steam but objectively, I’d recommend the Deck. Phenomenal ergonomics, amazing software (Bazzite is good but doesn’t compare), good build quality, right-to-repair friendly, Valve is an American business (not important to everyone but it is to me) and you’d be supporting a company that has done nothing but make PC gaming amazing.

I get that, I just hope they don’t end up disappointed and go back to Winblows.

Terminal usage is inevitable with Linux. It’s not as scary as it seems and can actually create a sense of accomplishment when you use it. Pop is a solid distro for sure but you don’t need a “gaming distro” to game on Linux these days (not that Pop is a gaming distro specifically). There’s actually a Linux Experiment video where he proves this with a thorough test. All major distros work fine for gaming.

I encourage people to not go for SteamOS unless you’re setting up a PC you want to use solely as a home console, or if you’re flashing it to a different handheld.

That, all coming from a big Valve fan. I simply don’t think it’s a good idea for people to get their hopes up over SteamOS somehow being a no-terminal, peak gaming Linux experience. I also don’t think it’s a good idea to hold off until SteamOS gets its full PC release, because most major distros today will work just as well. It’d literally only benefit people to start learning Linux now so that by the full SteamOS launch, they’ll be more informed as to whether it’ll be something they’ll find useful enough to use as a daily driver.

I encourage getting one with or without tariffs. 100% worth the money. I also don’t think they’re going to go up in price, particularly not with Valve. I’m fairly certain people are massively overreacting to the tariff thing.

Yes, and that’s fine: they can compile in their preferred format and if people want a different one, then the “package it yourself” argument makes sense.

I love trying other distros but I can’t afford to regularly be down a few days to a week to restore backups, which is why I want my main system to stick with a distro long-term. Mint is definitely one of my strongest considerations for sure.

My terminal is partially transparent so that definitely doesn’t work for me lol

SteamOS isn’t going to be the “Windows killer” people think it’ll be. I’m a massive Valve and Steam fan but SteamOS isn’t any better than any of the other major distros when it comes to gaming.

There’s also the issue of people who regularly play games with kernel AC, particularly with studios who intentionally refuse Linux support.

Switching to Linux with no intentions of moving back. I’m fed up with MS. I’m not settled on which distro (and I don’t want to distro hop on my main machine) but I know for sure that I’m switching.

I don’t care for this mentality. I understand constant questions must get old for developers/contributors but the mentality that people should compile from the source is not conducive to growing FOSS. It is, however, potentially conducive to laziness from the devs. “Eh, why should I spend time releasing compiled builds? Let the plebs compile themselves.”

I’d also say 2 is worth it. Not as good as 3 but still a load of fun… Ah man, I might have to reinstall, I almost forgot about it until you said this!

Dying Light’s movement is phenomenal, a must play IMO due to its awesome parkour movement systten.

Nice, I once modeled my phone aesthetic after EndeavourOS’ default Plasma look. Some Linux DEs have some very nice aesthetics to them, especially when distros make their own custom default (eg. Garuda Dr460nized).