Key Takeaways
- Improved battery life is required for mobility, aiming for a strong 5 hours of utilization, even with some added weight.
- An OLED display is crucial for visible high quality, making certain colours pop and video games look extra visually interesting.
- Concentrate on a extra snug design catering to arms of all sizes, addressing gripping points and awkward button placement.
Nobody anticipated the Steam Deck’s arrival, a lot much less its huge success upon launch. Valve had beforehand ventured into the {hardware} market with the Steam Machine and Steam Controller, which yielded lower than ideally suited outcomes. Due to this fact, expectations had been understandably average when the information of a brand new handheld machine emerged.
Nevertheless, that wasn’t the case throughout the board, as Steam Decks offered out immediately, and quite a few people had been positioned on ready lists earlier than they may lastly obtain their units. The excessive demand wasn’t with out purpose. The Steam Deck is basically a super-powered Nintendo Switch able to operating (nearly) all of your Steam video games on the go.
Valve Steam Deck
The Steam Deck is a conveyable gaming machine developed by Valve Company that permits customers to play PC video games on the go.
I would be simply as excited as anybody if a Steam Deck 2 had been formally introduced, however there are a couple of options it might must have earlier than I would make investments my cash and not using a second thought.
Why I passed on Steam Deck and bought the Nintendo Switch OLED instead
And the way I discovered to cease worrying concerning the next-generation Change.
1 Higher battery life
No extra power paranoia
All the level of a handheld is to have the ability to take it on the go, proper? Technically, the Steam Deck serves that objective, however not in addition to I would like it to. All of it is dependent upon the sport and settings, however I am unable to depend on my deck to final even 3 hours at most. This example leaves me continuously careworn about conserving battery and planning when and the place I can recharge it.
For a Steam Deck 2, I would like to have the ability to comfortably throw my deck in my bag, pop it out as soon as I get on the aircraft or in a automobile, and simply take pleasure in my recreation with out obsessively glancing on the battery stage. I would be greater than keen to sacrifice a bit of additional weight if it meant I may get a strong 5 hours of life out of it.
2 OLED display or bust
It ought to be normal
That is considerably of a stretch since we technically do have a Steam Deck with an OLED display, however it’s the most recent and most costly model. If I had held out earlier than shopping for a Steam Deck, this would not be an issue, however I did not and might’t justify buying a brand new one only for that candy OLED display alone. It is the identical story with the Change OLED mannequin; it tempts me, however not fairly sufficient with out one thing additional on high.
For the Steam Deck 2, do not even give me the choice to scrimp out on an OLED display. I do know they’re dearer and vulnerable to burn-in, however the stage of high quality and the way it makes colours pop is simply unimaginable. We already know that merely placing a recreation on an OLED display alone, with none technical enhancements, could make video games look as if they’re receiving a graphics increase. It is time to make this the usual.
3 Extra snug design
My little arms cannot take it anymore
Pocket-lint
If there’s one factor a handheld must nail greater than anything, it is consolation in holding. And look, I perceive that it is virtually unimaginable to create a single machine that is snug for each particular person’s hand dimension, however there’s appreciable room for the Steam Deck to enhance on this regard. Simply because I’ve small arms doesn’t suggest I ought to be fumbling and cramping whereas attempting to make use of it.
Having the sticks and buttons clustered close to the highest not solely makes it awkward to steadiness, however I additionally wrestle to achieve the again paddle buttons. I continuously really feel like my Steam Deck would possibly slip out of my grip at any second. Please, Valve, do your finest to make Steam Deck 2 pleasant to arms of all styles and sizes.
4 An official Steam Controller
One controller to do all of it
It is nice that the Steam Deck can pair with nearly any controller I have already got. Nevertheless, what is not nice is that none of them can do every thing the Steam Deck itself can do. This leaves you compromising on controls in a method or one other, irrespective of which controller you pair. Hold that possibility out there for individuals who need it or for video games that do not want many buttons. However let’s eradicate the guesswork from controllers and button mapping by making a devoted Steam Deck controller.
What I am actually asking for is a superior Steam Controller. There was a whole lot of potential within the authentic, however now that Valve has gleaned a lot from the Steam Deck, it appears rather more smart to introduce a brand new model, a brand new mannequin. Make it seamless to pair, mechanically map controls identical to the deck, and simply incorporate these useful group management configuration choices.
5 Full Steam compatibility
Verified on deck
Nothing is worse than buying a recreation on Steam, considering it might be good to your Deck, solely to understand it is not suitable. Admittedly, that listing is small, however this solely makes the frustration sting much more when it does occur. If that is Valve’s official moveable Steam machine, we should not must surprise or sift by spreadsheets to know which video games will work on it.
The Steam Deck is designed to simplify PC gaming, however this one hurdle considerably holds it again. Think about how easy life can be when you by no means needed to query whether or not a recreation in your library would work in your Steam Deck. Make it occur, Valve.
6 Higher inventory at launch
Do not put me on one other waitlist
I perceive that assembly the demand for any product launch is troublesome, but when I hear it should be one other PS5 or authentic Steam Deck state of affairs for the launch of the Steam Deck 2, I am not even going to hassle. Placing cash down and having to attend months on a listing till I lastly get one simply kills all of the enjoyable of getting a brand new product. You perceive how fashionable these at the moment are, so there is not any excuse to not improve your preliminary manufacturing to fulfill demand.
If we won’t all get a Steam Deck 2 instantly, the wait no less than must be shorter. If not, it simply provides scalpers extra purpose to extend costs for folks determined to get their arms on one.
7 Extra Steam Deck colours
Just a bit self-expression
Among the finest components of getting a Gameboy again within the day was selecting which shade you went with. Clearly, atomic purple was one of the best, however you could possibly additionally get a pleasant vary of colours to provide your handheld slightly persona and assist it stand out. A console that simply sits in your house would not want many shade choices, however a handheld is one thing you’re taking out in public. You must wish to present it off.
We solely want to have a look at Nintendo once more to see the potential right here. Folks purchase completely new Switches only for customized colours. Steam Decks in all probability cannot get away with that, however what about even replaceable covers just like the PS5? Let folks combine and match covers, and launch new ones over time so we will add some aptitude to our Decks with out having to purchase an entire new one.
14 free Steam games that won’t cost you a thing to play
Steam’s library of video games is huge, and it hosts a stunning variety of utterly free video games. Listed here are a number of the finest on the market proper now.
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