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[Nikodemos]

Why are we discussing Switch sales?
If you're a Nintendo fan who wants to play their games legally, there's literally no other way except buying a Nintendo console. You don't have Mario, Zelda, Pokemon, Metroid, Animal Crossing etc. on any other platform.

The Steam Deck isn't sold anywhere except Valve's own store (and not in all countries). So, in order to obtain it you must either a) discover it on Steam (presuming you know of Steam in the first place) and buy one (if you're interested); b) discover it on Steam, then hit the electronic classifieds for a 2nd hand one. And it's a bit on the pricy side, even if you compensate that afterwards with the massive library.
Same applies to a certain extent to the other handhelds. They have wider availability, but they're even more expensive (notably so, in some cases).

 

[Seomel]

What about a laptop?

I dont need one. I already have steam deck and good desktop pc. Only laptop I take for work is my company surface 9 pro, its not much for gaming tho

 

[Metnut]

Microsoft Series S dominates the consoles with Gamepass market

 

[noob smokes]

Nintendos got the handhelds locked down

 

[onQ123]

Why are we discussing Switch sales?
If you're a Nintendo fan who wants to play their games legally, there's literally no other way except buying a Nintendo console. You don't have Mario, Zelda, Pokemon, Metroid, Animal Crossing etc. on any other platform.

The Steam Deck isn't sold anywhere except Valve's own store (and not in all countries). So, in order to obtain it you must either a) discover it on Steam (presuming you know of Steam in the first place) and buy one (if you're interested); b) discover it on Steam, then hit the electronic classifieds for a 2nd hand one. And it's a bit on the pricy side, even if you compensate that afterwards with the massive library.
Same applies to a certain extent to the other handhelds. They have wider availability, but they're even more expensive (notably so, in some cases).

It might piss people off but it gives a better prospective of how the handheld space is doing.

 

[ShadyAcshuns]

Why are we discussing Switch sales?

Because there's always some fucktwit who wants to compare graphics of SD and Switch, or someone who says dumb stuff like "Switch 2 needs to be like SD if it wants to be legit" etc.

 

[Spitfire098]

I do see a lot of people who think PC handheld gaming is way more popular than it is though. I was kind of shocked when I first found out how much the Steamdeck sold because people make it seem like much more.

It's just the vocal minority constantly harping on about getting steam verified games.

 

[Schnauzer]

I can't wait for a Steam Deak 2 Oled. The Z2 Extreme looks like a disappointment. I assume the next Steam Deck will wait for the Z3 Extreme to have a generational improvement. I would also love Steam Console with Ryzen AI Max+ 395. Make it happen.

 

[FalconPunch]

A for maths D for reading and understanding

F for reading comprehension..... The person I quoted said this.....

6M?! .

I didn't quote the OP......

 

[Nikodemos]

I can't wait for a Steam Deak 2 Oled. The Z2 Extreme looks like a disappointment.

What do you mean? We don't have any non-prototype devices to test and compare. The Legion Go Gen 2 (first one to use it) isn't out yet. Also, as usual, having Windows causes a performance hit compared to SteamOS.

 

[DanielG165]

What do you mean? We don't have any non-prototype devices to test and compare. The Legion Go Gen 2 (first one to use it) isn't out yet. Also, as usual, having Windows causes a performance hit compared to SteamOS.

Right. There’s no basis for a concrete conclusion when the hardware isn’t even out in the wild, and has been properly tested. We can’t at all say how the Z2 Extreme is nor will be right now.

OT: While my Ally Z1E has replaced my Steam Deck for all of my super demanding games on a handheld needs, I still quite love the latter for the ease of use it brings to the table. The Steam Deck is a great console-like handheld PC experience, whereas the Ally most certainly feels like a companion to my full-sized PC.

Both have their places, and both are excellent in their own ways. Valve struck gold with the Deck, for sure. Looking forward to whenever the successor is released.

 

[rodrigolfp]

It might piss people off but it gives a better prospective of how the handheld space is doing.

Handheld PCs =/= handheld consoles, gladly, so the second is irrelevant to the thread.

Also, as usual, having Windows causes a performance hit compared to SteamOS.

Tell us more.

 

[Gameplay Gods Bless]

In 2027 most likely, or late 2026 I'd guess.

They'll wait for UDNA (RDNA5) since AMD APUs are stuck in RDNA3 till UDNA launches. RDNA4 is discrete GPU only.

 

[Plague Doctor]

I just got a hold of one and love it. Solid piece of hardware.

 

[Minsc]

They'll wait for UDNA (RDNA5) since AMD APUs are stuck in RDNA3 till UDNA launches. RDNA4 is discrete GPU only.

So 2028 or later? That's PS6 stuff right?

 

[Nikodemos]

Tell us more.

Several tech reviewers did comparisons between an Ally with Win11 and one with SteamOS. The performance differential ranged from 10 to 15%, with the exception of sleep mode, where SteamOS drew about 3 times less power than Win11.

 

[Cyberpunkd]

I'm sure Acer is good and everything, but I can't imagine you will ever match the features or stability available from an actual gaming company like Valve.

Forget gestures, people want basic QA stuff which is an impossible task for Acer, Asia and similar.

 

[Aguero9320]

The PC handheld thing has been something I never thought I needed, but I absolutely love it. Went from a Steam Deck to an Ally X - both are awesome. Can’t wait for next editions - I find almost all of my play is streaming of some kind, so I’d love a better screen (not that there’s anything wrong with the Ally X screen, I’d just pay for a better one). I still want the power so I can install something for the odd occasion I’m without decent internet.

Been a gaming changer for me.

 

[Beechos]

Despite all the sales I wonder how profitable the steamdeck is for valve? I'm guessing most people who buy a steamdeck already have a pc and a decent sized steam library of games.

 

[Mibu no ookami]

I can't wait for a Steam Deak 2 Oled. The Z2 Extreme looks like a disappointment. I assume the next Steam Deck will wait for the Z3 Extreme to have a generational improvement. I would also love Steam Console with Ryzen AI Max+ 395. Make it happen.

I think we can see why Valve is holding off on a Steam Deck 2 and why they aren't doing something like yearly hardware releases. The market is just entirely too small.

There's a very good chance the Steam Deck 2 comes out and is a complete flop, because the addressable market isn't even ready to upgrade. You largely have to find new users who were holding off from buying the first Deck simply because of power and the price of the new deck is likely to be even higher... Having a smaller addressable market means you'll have to get even more margin out of hardware sales, which means an even higher price...

Competition from a PlayStation and Xbox handheld on top of the Switch 2 certainly won't help either (in terms of market expansion).

I think it's another example to highlight that PC gamers aren't console gamers and that the vast majority of PC players aren't interested in a handheld and it doesn't represent why they are on PC in the first place.

 

[BlackTron]

Just to put things into perspective PS2 still has more lifetime sales than Switch.

If only Switch had a DVD player

 

[BlackTron]

Why are we discussing Switch sales?

Console warriors who jump at every opportunity to compare PC unfavorably to the console market.

That's literally it.

 

[onQ123]

Just to put things into perspective PS2 still has more lifetime sales than Switch.

Not for long

 

[asdasdasdbb]

Despite all the sales I wonder how profitable the steamdeck is for valve? I'm guessing most people who buy a steamdeck already have a pc and a decent sized steam library of games.

I was thinking Emulation.

 

[RetroGamingUK]

The reason is simple

The Windows based handhelds are fucking dogshit.

 

[CrustyBritches]

Despite all the sales I wonder how profitable the steamdeck is for valve? I'm guessing most people who buy a steamdeck already have a pc and a decent sized steam library of games.

I think the main purpose of Steam Deck is to hedge against the monopolistic practices of Microsoft and wrestle control of PC gaming from Windows. Deck is the foundation of that. In that regard it’s invaluable to Valve.