How To Get Steam On Nintendo Switch

Ever since the Steam Deck was but a wee rumor, information technology'due south been inseparable from the Nintendo Switch. It was initially hailed as a "Switch killer" well before it was announced and that distinction only heated up when Valve revealed the device's impressive specs. Now that it's finally getting into more players' easily — and with Valve promising to ramp up production — Steam Deck vs. Nintendo Switch debates are reaching a fever pitch.

At that place'south a lot to unpack in the heated conversations popping up on social media. It's a war between ride-or-die Nintendo fans, who are over-eager to defend the company'southward honour, and PC loyalists, who are historically loud near touting the power of PC over consoles. It'southward also a mutation of a long-running frustration of Nintendo's hardware shortcomings, which has left players begging for a 4K capable Switch Pro. Mix in all those combustible elements and you get a lot of impassioned arguing.

It's all a petty silly. Every bit someone who owns and uses both regularly, it'south clear that both devices fill different niches. My Steam Deck and Nintendo Switch aren't competing for my attention; they're living together in perfect harmony.

How I employ my Steam Deck

The Steam Deck laying on a laptop. — Jacob Roach / Digital Trends

When I first got my Steam Deck, I wasn't sure how it would fit into my gaming rotation. At that point, my habits were pretty set in stone. I played consoles at home and used my Switch exclusively in handheld mode. Since both my habitation and on-the-go niches were filled, information technology only felt like I'd caused some other big gaming device I'd hardly use.

There were a few hurdles that initially led me to keep my Steam Deck packed abroad. As a portable device, it's not terribly portable. Its battery life is notably low when playing demanding AAA games, its screen doesn't look nearly as practiced as my Switch OLED, it has a somewhat noisy fan, and the device itself is clunky. While information technology isn't heavy, the Steam Deck has a massive course factor that makes information technology hard to hold comfortably for long stretches of time. When I play, I commonly have to rest information technology on my lap to avoid strain. Considering of that, I couldn't come across why I'd toss it in my bag when I left the house over my Switch. And why would I employ it at habitation when I have a PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X?

As the months went on, I started naturally finding my groove, though information technology wasn't with power-hungry AAA games. Anytime a new indie game would release that was merely bachelor on PC, I would kick upwardly my Steam Deck before my PC, checking its compatibility. I started using information technology to play games like Rogue Legacy 2, Patrick'southward Parabox, and Vampire Survivors. All of those games could theoretically run on a Switch — but they don't still. Now I don't need to look for a port if I want convenience. Emulation has been a big plus too, every bit I'm able to access every bit many old favorites as I want every bit long as I'm willing to wrestle with Linux.

While it'south more than of an indie and retro machine than annihilation else for me, it'due south comforting to know I could run more powerful games on it if I needed to. I struggled to get Elden Ring running on my PC, just I tin boot it up on my Steam Deck just fine. It'due south not the mode I want to play that game and I'd cull panel over portable any day for it, merely I don't feel like I'grand totally locked out of any game anymore, even ones that are PC sectional.

Emulator collection on Steam Deck. — Jacob Roach/Digital Trends

The biggest surprise has been that I inappreciably utilize information technology as a truthful portable. I've taken information technology on flights and the subway, but information technology's not my preferred way of playing it. Instead, it mostly taught me how much I dislike playing a game on PC. I'm much happier when I can lay on my couch and casually pick at something than fumble with a keyboard. The fact that I tin can choose to play something similar Teardown in bed is a small-scale, but of import change.

My Steam Deck feels similar less of a revelation and more like finally digging a corner piece out of a jigsaw puzzle box. It'due south a foundational slice of my gaming rotation, i that assures me I'll always have some level of flexibility no matter the game. It's not flashy, but information technology's something I've been craving more since the Switch launched.

How I utilize my Nintendo Switch

While I apply my Steam Deck a lot these days, it hasn't replaced my Nintendo Switch OLED. I however find that Nintendo's hybrid console functions ameliorate as a portable. A lot of that comes down to its ingenious pattern, which doesn't get equally much credit as it deserves. When I'yard at dwelling, I honey that I can popular open its kickstand, undock the joy-cons, and set it down on a table when my wrists start getting tired. It's however an applied science curiosity that I have yet to fall out of love with.

If I have a choice between buying a game on Switch and Steam Deck, I'one thousand e'er going to run to the eShop start, even if I'm risking a operation dip or paying a few extra bucks. I like belongings the matter more than and I know I'm going to go a reliable feel, which isn't always the case with Steam Deck. When I got Soundfall for PC, I was disappointed to find that the game hadn't been properly optimized for the device withal. I didn't see any of its cutscenes because they were replaced with TV color confined.

That's another reason why the Steam Deck functions more like a home console for me. I've encounter situations where I happily downloaded a game, packed my Steam Deck for a trip, and booted it upward only to learn that the game didn't run. I always need my PC nearby equally a safety net.

In that location are also specific types of games that I simply would rather play on a Switch. If I plan on playing a long RPG, one which I'll by and large be tackling portably, I want my Switch. I'thou not going to spend 90 hours playing Persona 5 on a panel that starts to strain my wrists afterwards 90 minutes. I'one thousand still excited when I run across games like Nier Automata coming to Switch. Even if I tin can already play them on Steam Deck, I don't really want to play them in that location.

A Steam Deck sits next to a Switch OLED.

It goes without proverb that the Switch'due south ace in the hole is still its offset-party exclusives. The main reason I haven't abandoned my Switch is that I normally have plenty of large first-party releases to dig. From Pokémon Legends: Arceus to Fire Emblem Warriors: Three Hopes, I haven't needed an excuse to kicking upwards my Switch in 2022. As long every bit that continues, only Nintendo itself can replace it.

In the current gaming mural, there's a weird pressure to pick favorites. That'due south always been the case cheers to the never-ending "panel wars," but information technology seems to be getting worse the more than our options aggrandize. There's no sense in pitting the Steam Deck and Nintendo Switch against one some other because both devices serve unlike purposes. They're both imperfect consoles that complement one another.

Like a dad with also many kids, I beloved my Switch and Steam Deck equally. Each has its own utilize case that broadens my gaming options, allowing me to play in a way that suits my constantly changing life. Tin't we all but go along?

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