It’s been a year since the Steam Deck went on sale in Japan… Now, a new model of OLED is also on sale, and Valve’s hardware survey shows that the percentage of Linux users on Steam is increasing.
When the Steam Deck had just arrived a year ago, I wrote an article comparing it to the Nintendo Switch and left a rather harsh impression. However, one year later, how much have my thoughts changed since then? I would like to look back on my current impressions after using it for a year without any bias.
Isn’t it better not to go back to your room…?
Deck arrived at the end of December, in the midst of the coronavirus pandemic, and even though pre-sales were held overseas, it still has one year left. Although there was a certain amount of reference and troubleshooting, the support and stability of some Japanese titles left a lot to be desired.
When the Dog and Cat series arrived, it was impossible to play them due to a script error caused by the character code until Proton-8 became compatible with multiple languages, including Japanese. Currently you can play without any problems.
At the time of writing this article in December 2023, the number of compatible titles has increased with the update of SteamOS/Proton, and recently “Monster Hunter Rise” has become cheaper due to the winter sale, making it a perfect candidate to play. .
Apart from the Steam Deck being updated, one of the big events in 2023 was that my playing environment changed. I currently work at a design company, and this idea started when I bought a new Mac and ended up with one extra display for personal use. He usually goes back and forth between his private room and his work room, but since around July he has become so busy that he has shifted to sleeping in his work room, which has increased his reliance on the Steam Deck for gameplay. It’s going to happen. Among the titles I played in 2023, I played “Atelier Ryza 3” and “Detroit: Become Human” until the ending on Steam Deck, and it can be said that their affinity with genres such as ADV remains high. Masu.
Also, since the sleeping place has changed, the use of the computer as a “sub PC” has also increased due to the additional USB hub that replaces the dock. From then on, titles such as “Age Of Empire 3,” which required a keyboard and mouse, and “Factorio,” which had mods, became playable on a main PC, and my evaluation of Steam Deck changed dramatically.
“Dominion” is a popular board game.It’s a great game that can be played on a touch display, so you can play it in the bathroom or even in the bathroom (if you want to). It can be said that the compatibility with Steam Deck is made especially for this game.
If that happens, the frequency of going back to the room will decrease visibly, and it is obvious that the lifestyle will change to playing games on the Steam Deck after work. I also have Discord installed on my work PC, so playing with friends is no problem.
My private main PC has a surround sound system built in, and the chair is a top-of-the-line Ergohuman model, but even with that in mind, my current gameplay environment prioritizes the Steam Deck. As the playing environment has improved, the criteria for choosing a game has changed to whether it can be played on Steam Deck.
As long as the communication environment is stable, “Monster Hunter” multiplayer can be played in a 4G/5G environment even on a bullet train while on a business trip by linking the communication with a smartphone. There was an outlet inside the car, so I was able to literally “go on a hunt” to my destination.
Best for multiplayer style players
After taking it on a business trip and changing the play environment, I realized how flexible and excellent the controller settings are. By assigning operations to the four back buttons and the touch panel below the analog stick, it has a level of comfort that rivals existing controllers.
Recently, it has become commonplace to have the ability to change the official assignments of existing controllers, but I think it’s unique to Steam that you can customize the details on the hardware/client side.
“Armored Core VI Fires of Rubicon” adds assignments to the back keys. Not only does it have benefits such as eliminating accidental operation errors and being able to use boosters immediately, but it also allows you to adjust the press ratio and button presses to suit your play style, so those who are particular about it will be particular about it.
We have adjusted and used the controls for gunners that were published in the Steam community.
Although the function itself can be used with existing controllers as long as Steam is installed, the compatibility is even more remarkable because it is a hardware integrated system.
Hardware that gets used to you the more you use it
There were many events surrounding Steam Deck in 2023 for me, such as meeting someone who said “Steam Deck was their first PC.” It’s clear that my playing time has changed drastically since I got busy, but since June I’ve been playing almost exclusively on Steam Deck, and I’ve been thinking about how to make playing on Steam Deck more comfortable. It has changed to
Even with an external keyboard, virtual keys appear when inputting characters, and this area is still a little negative. This is quite inconvenient for me, who often uploads images for activities.
When I first arrived, I couldn’t imagine not only the detailed settings of the controller, but also the hardware design, which gets used to players the more they use it. If I had to say it, it’s that battery life doesn’t go well with Japanese input, but unless you’re playing a game that requires you to input text a lot, it doesn’t really matter.
An OLED model has also been released, and this machine is expected to have improved specs in the future. For those who want to set up a sub-environment or want a play environment that is not restricted by location, Steam Deck may be a good option again. If you are unsure of your home internet connection, you may be able to connect to the network using 5G communication via your smartphone, depending on your carrier. Now is the time to take out your PC! It may be.
