this post was submitted on 21 Jan 2025
89 points (97.8% liked)

Steam Deck

15243 readers
64 users here now

A place to discuss and support all things Steam Deck.

Replacement for r/steamdeck_linux.

As Lemmy doesn't have flairs yet, you can use these prefixes to indicate what type of post you have made, eg:
[Flair] My post title

The following is a list of suggested flairs:
[Discussion] - General discussion.
[Help] - A request for help or support.
[News] - News about the deck.
[PSA] - Sharing important information.
[Game] - News / info about a game on the deck.
[Update] - An update to a previous post.
[Meta] - Discussion about this community.

Some more Steam Deck specific flairs:
[Boot Screen] - Custom boot screens/videos.
[Selling] - If you are selling your deck.

These are not enforced, but they are encouraged.

Rules:

Link to our Matrix Space

founded 3 years ago
MODERATORS
Moxvallix@sopuli.xyz
codus@leby.dev
timi@lemmy.world
RolAIDS05@lemmy.world
Fubarberry@sopuli.xyz
RolAIDS05@sopuli.xyz
89
PC game development surges in Steam Deck handheld era — But don't count Xbox and PlayStation out (www.windowscentral.com)
submitted 1 day ago* (last edited 1 day ago) by Fubarberry@sopuli.xyz to c/steamdeck@sopuli.xyz
15 comments fedilink hide all child comments
 

In last year's survey, 66% of developers reported working on games for PC, while this year's number is significantly higher at 80%. In comparison, 38% of developers said they were working to put their game on PlayStation while 34% said they were developing for Xbox.

Now, GDC clarifies that "Steam Deck" was not specifically listed as a platform option in the survey. However, when answering which platforms they were developing for, 44% of respondents who chose "Other" did mention "the Steam Deck as a platform they’re interested in," which potentially shows a significant focus on Valve's handheld.

top 15 comments
sorted by: hot top controversial new old
[–] MajorHavoc@programming.dev 2 points 15 hours ago* (last edited 1 hour ago)

"... Don't count XBox and PlayStation out"

Article proceeds to list item after item of damning news for Xbox and PlayStation. Lol.

  • 80% of developers target PC vs much smaller numbers targeting anything else
  • SteamDeck puts up substantial numbers, when left off the survey, as a write-in comment option

If Valve re-releases a "Steam Machine" console, Microsoft and Sony can look forward to their next console sitting next to the Atari Jaguar and Nintendo Virtual Boy on museum shelves.

Edit: What Sony could do is release PlayStation hardware that runs Linux and Steam. I would pay a premium for their hardware (including their best in class controllers) running software I already trust.

[–] Dudewitbow@lemmy.zip 20 points 1 day ago (4 children)

the steam deck sits in a pretty decent position long term because the switch 2 has roughly similar performance levels as it. so developers would have double the reason to get a game working at said performance level.

[–] Telorand@reddthat.com 9 points 1 day ago (1 children)

They'll also have potentially more exposure, as many other companies have and will be coming out with SteamOS handhelds of their own. So if anyone had to choose, it might make more sense to skip the Switch 2.

[–] evujumenuk@lemmy.world 7 points 1 day ago (1 children)

Nintendo has moved over 140 million Switch consoles. The Switch 2 might become more, or less successful, but let's just conservatively assume they'll only sell half as many this time around.

Last time I checked, the entire Deck-like category amounted to some seven-digit number of sold devices. The idea that anyone targeting that level of performance is going to skip the Switch 2… is wildly unrealistic.

[–] Telorand@reddthat.com 1 points 1 day ago (1 children)

I mean, I know what you're saying. Nintendo is no slouch when it comes to drawing people in, but they're no longer the only fish in the pond. Couple that with the general customer satisfaction with Deck-likes and the flat deluge of games to which you have access, and there's a real chance of people at least thinking twice before jumping on a Switch 2.

Some people won't care, but Nintendo is going to have to really work to pull others away from all those extras you get by design. Plus, that's not even getting into how stupidly easy it is to set up emulation, which you have to pay a lot for via Nintendo.

[–] TheGrandNagus@lemmy.world 6 points 1 day ago (1 children)

Even a Wii U-level failure would vastly outsell the Deck.

I get what you're saying, but there's just no way on planet earth that the market will ignore the Switch 2 in favour of the Deck 2.

Plenty will, I'm sure. But mostly PC gamer types.

I think if you're expecting the SD2 to sell anywhere near the Switch 2 you're setting yourself up for disappointment.

[–] Telorand@reddthat.com 1 points 1 day ago

I'm not. I'm more hoping for Nintendo to get a wakeup call that improving customer satisfaction and giving them actual value, rather than clawing and squeezing and litigating every dollar possible from their freaking fans, is actually a viable business strategy.

[–] neon_nova@lemmy.dbzer0.com 3 points 1 day ago

Also dedicated gpus are getting expensive and I think PC gamers are going to need to game on integrated gpus as Ai will use all the dedicated ones.

[–] sunzu2@thebrainbin.org 1 points 1 day ago (1 children)

. so developers would have double the reason to get a game working at said performance level.

I don't think this point has merit since deck is x86 and switch is arm?

[–] JohnEdwa@sopuli.xyz 8 points 1 day ago* (last edited 1 day ago)

Graphics are graphics, that's what limits most of the games and devices. Optimize something to run on the Switch 2, and that should work on the Deck too.
That benchmark used to be the PS4, but most developers have dropped support for last gen hardware.

[–] Hiro8811@lemmy.world 1 points 1 day ago

I haven't used either switch but compared to the steam deck smoothness and versatility the software can't be that good

[–] penquin@lemm.ee 6 points 1 day ago (1 children)

I think if/when valve release the SD2, development will pick up even more. And now Lenovo is in the game. I think we are good, folks.

[–] Stampela@startrek.website 1 points 23 hours ago

I wanted to shit on Lenovo because when I bought my laptop last year they had no Linux laptops (anymore) and specifically an article on how to install Linux links to one that just explains what an OS is… but I actually double checked before posting and it’s looking promising! There’s a list of “best laptops for Linux” including the Mr Moneybags version of mine, and a bunch of FAQ that looks very much not Microsoft approved. So that’s a good sign.

[–] thingsiplay@beehaw.org 5 points 1 day ago* (last edited 1 day ago) (1 children)

How many of them are indie developers and how many do AAA? (Edit: The article says "Something to remember here is that the majority of devs are indie developers rather than larger AAA studios.") I think one of the biggest contributors to this is that supporting Steam Deck is much easier thanks to Proton, especially if they already have a Windows version. And the extra exposure they get through the Steam store and various articles and forums by having a Steam Deck version.

[–] smeg@feddit.uk 2 points 21 hours ago

My thoughts exactly, it's much easier and cheaper to make your first game for PC