Roundup: Here are our first “hands-on” impressions of Valve’s steam deck

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Photo: valve

When Valve revealed the Steam Deck last month, the system was compared a lot to the Switch. It got to the point where Valve responded – showing how he is “chasing” an entirely different audience.

What do critics think of Valve’s new system though? A number of media outlets have now started working with the system (as you may have already seen), so we’ve rounded up some early impressions – many of them filled with comparisons to Nintendo hybrids.

Sean Hollister of The Verge noted how the Steam Deck was more comfortable to hold and mentioned how his fingers “just melted” into its grip and grooves:

What I didn’t necessarily imagine when I walked into Valve’s lobby: just what a giant Steam Deck looks like next to a Nintendo Switch—however, how comfortable it is to hold it. While it barely fits in a cargo pant’s deep pocket (if you can name the “bulges in every direction” appropriate), I now think Valve when you say the surface is sculpted for long gaming sessions.

The first time I picked it up, I felt like my fingers had just melted into its grip and grooves, putting every control within easy reach — including the meatier joysticks and a deeper, softer throw for its triggers than the harsh, clicky controls I’ve come to expect from Switch competitors and Switch-like PC.

The weight of the system was immediately noticeable but wasn’t a problem:

While I immediately noticed an extra half pound of weight compared to the Switch, it didn’t bother me during my short session. The deck may be heavier, but these prototypes feel light for their size, with a slightly hollow feel that—think about it—may be polarizing. I wonder if Valve will keep it that way and if the screen expires and the plastics might improve.

PC Gamer’s Wes Fenlon said the Steam Deck was “much bigger” than expected – especially on the Nintendo Switch side, and highlighted how it favors system analog sticks on Switch hardware:

It took me 10 seconds with the analog sticks to make sure I pretty much prefer them on my Nintendo Switch controllers. It’s advantageous that it’s much larger, with smooth rotation and a design that I’d compare to the Xbox analog stick. They’re not exactly the same, but Steam Deck sticks have a slightly bulging edge and a flat, concave top for you to stick your thumb in. Unless they end up having any sudden issues after heavy use, I think they’ll pretty much satisfy everyone.

While the PC Gamer wouldn’t consider Steam Deck as a “one-to-one alternative” to Nintendo, the system appears to have the potential to become the best portable device for playing games the Switch might not have the power for:

After spending a few very short hours with the Steam Deck, I’m not sure if I would consider it a solo replacement for the Nintendo Switch. Its larger size is not ideal for tossing in a backpack and playing on the go. But as a portable gaming device for PC, it’s really impressive: It’s ergonomic, feels comfortable to hold, and seems to have the power to play games like Death Stranding at decent settings. If SteamOS can truly deliver the compatibility that Valve is aiming for, Steam Deck will become my go-to system for playing games I wish I could play on the Switch, lying on my couch, not having the muscle. for. I am convinced it will be the best simulator ever made.

Andrew E. Freedman of Tom’s Hardware said the “dream” of playing PC games on the go is on track thanks to Valve’s efforts:

My first impressions are that this can work, and I’m looking forward to playing PC games in bed and on airplanes. Games will not look as beautiful as they appear on your desktop. But for those who dream of portability like Switch and the ability to play with PC games, it feels like Valve is on the right track.

Like many other impressions, Friedman was also surprised by the overall size of the system – noting how Switch users would definitely feel the difference:

Steam Deck is much bigger than I expected. It is long and wide. It feels surprisingly natural in the hands. Don’t get me wrong. You can feel that 1.47-pound weight, but it’s evenly distributed on both sides of the system. If you’ve played most of your mobile games lately on the Nintendo Switch, you’ll feel the difference. Steam Deck is much heavier, but that’s the trade-off for its capabilities.

The standard 7-inch screen on certain Steam Deck models (it’s the same size as the screen on the Switch OLED model) had some reflectivity, but no more than other devices.

While I spent most of my time with the etched, anti-glare glass screen, Valve had a glossy model. You can’t get around it: the anti-glare screen is even nicer. Of course, they happened to be next to each other. I’m not sure if that makes me regret booking the 256GB model with the standard screen, but there was a bit of jealousy. Either way, they are both 7-inch screens with a resolution of 1280 x 800 and an aspect ratio of 16:10… I can see my reflection more on the standard screen, but no worse than on a Nintendo Switch or even my smartphone.

GamesRadar+ editor-in-chief Rachel Weber summed up the Steam Deck as a “more serious” gaming device compared to the Nintendo system:

Compared to my Nintendo Switch, it definitely feels like a more serious gaming machine with extra controls and a larger screen, and it’ll be interesting to compare the new OLED Switch and Steam Deck later this year.

If you want to know how the Switch has received OLED so far, you can read practical impressions on this topic in the following post:

So here you go, some early impressions of Valve’s Steam Deck – of course, you can read them all on their respective websites. What are your thoughts on the Steam Deck so far? Thinking about it more than saying the Switch OLED upgrade? As usual, leave your thoughts below.

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