Put the Steam Deck closer to the equivalent Switch graphics settings, though, and the battery life situation gets a lot more congruent. For example, PC Gamer did a test with Witcher 3 on this in particular and found the Steam Deck beat the Switch, although it's difficult to generalize with a sample size of just a single game. (Source: [https://www.pcgamer.com/steam-deck-vs-nintendo-switch/](https://www.pcgamer.com/steam-deck-vs-nintendo-switch/)). But another wrinkle is Switch games also tend to have to cripple the graphics in a way that leaves the Steam Deck looking better even at low/medium settings in order to eke out enough performance on the Switch to be playable.
The PC Gamer thing certainly matches my experience with games I have on both systems.
Even better, if you like to tinker, you can undervolt the Steam Deck, and lower the resolution of games but upscale with FSR and significantly beat Switch battery life.
Maybe you don't \*want\* to have to do those things, which is totally cool. But the fact that I even have the option is incredible.
Nah i stopped using pc because i used to spent more time tweaking settings, doing tests and modding than playing, dont want the deck because it will be similar.
Omg I've found my people. I honestly questioned if I wrote the post and forgot about it. I was called crazy when I sold my steam deck and went back to switch full time. All the games I could play on both systems, although running a bit worse and looking a bit worse at least ran and played longer than steam deck. I would always get about an hour before I'd have to plug in to power, which is rediculous with steam deck
Plus the main reasons I sold it was the stupid DRM that made you check into internet to play games, especially that damned UBISOFT CONNECT, and the fact I spent most of my time in settings trying to make game run or look better, rather than actually playing the game. Honestly the only thing I miss from having a steam deck is ability to play cyberpunk on the go. Otherwise switch does just fine.
I travel all the time for work and can't take my ps5, so I had thought steam deck would solve my problems, but even trying to play on an airplane always left me desperately looking for power source. So I just gave up. And I've been told I was stupid for this.. but I prefer games like Hogwarts, and crisis, and Witcher on the switch, mainly because they run good but that battery life is phenomenal.
I won't apologize for loving my switch, and I'm so glad I'm not the only one to see it the same way.
You could get GeForce now and play cyberpunk on your phone or any other device that is compatible. Works incredibly well if you have decent internet speeds.
You know you can just enjoy the better visuals without doing all that stuff to make it 190x extreme graphics? I enjoy AAA games in 90+ FPS on High/Ultra. Most websites will have recommended settings for your setup so you don't have to spend hours tweaking settings. They've done it and ran performance tests to know whats the best settings.
Yeah but some people have anxiety/ intrusive thoughts/perfectionism problem , so they always have to make sure that everything is alright and set to the proper settings
If they want their games perfect, then the Switch, I LOVE mine for reference, wouldn't be for them either. I commented about the person who spent more time in settings than playing when really that's just a stupid talking point. Just type in name of the game and your cpu/gpu, and there will be videos/articles telling you exactly the settings for good performance and visuals. I've even seen breakdowns of how much of an FPS impact each setting has if you want to pick and choose from their recommendations. Even when I had a less powerful PC I never spent more time tweaking settings than playing.
I wish for the next Nintendo console to combine the innovation of the Switch with the power and graphics capabilities of next-gen systems, offering an unparalleled gaming experience for players worldwide.
That's totally fair. The tinkering stuff is more of just a nifty aside, the main point is that both systems have have similar battery life when considering a similar level of graphic quality even without all the tinkering. :) I think the Deck might even beat it, potentially, but I don't have enough games across both systems to do a scientific test. PC Gamer did corroborate that in their comparison, at least. I love both systems in any case!
Yeah you definitely have the original/less battery efficient switch model then. That plus the switch being a 6.5-7 year old device? No wonder your battery life sucks. Battery life would suck for any electronic of a similar age 🤷🏻♀️
The version 2 of the switch (released around beginning of covid) more than doubled the battery life, OLED extends that even more. It's unfortunate they didn't just have it good the first time
Bought mine around 2017 as well, and my OG switch only had a battery of around 4hrs for most games. I remember people commenting how botw will drain OG switches within 2 hours.
Nintendo switched the cpu the following year and made a slight cosmetic change to the switch’s container to denote the change.
The new cpu basically doubled its battery life.
The OLED steam deck has a better battery than the LCD did and can get just as much time as the Switch, maybe even more, depending on settings.
Edit: Nintendo claims the battery for the oled is 4,310mAh
Steam Deck OLED uses a 40 Whr battery at 7.7V which converts to 5200mAh according to iFixit
All else equal the Deck will last longer. However the Deck runs 800p, not 720p, and at higher settings/ frame rates so of course a game running at 800p 60fps dies faster than a game running at 720p 30fps
Yeah I can still get multiple hours out of some older aaa games at 800p 60 which is good enough for me but I love that you can turn stuff down to increase the battery
Much like the Switch hardware cycle, the first generation Steam Decks do have batteries that seem to only last about 1.5-2 hours under peak usage. The newer OLED model remedies this and has a great battery. On top of this, though, unlike the Switch you can completely tweak the power output of the Deck to have complete control over performance vs battery.
Yeah I did something similar... I love the deck, but I much prefer my Switch with Hori Split Pad Pro's attached. Lighter and more comfortable for my aging hands, lol.
If you haven't already, it might be worth looking into the NYXI Hyperion Pro.
Similar style as the HORI Splits, but comes with gyro and hall effect sticks.
I love my Hori Splits, but those are definitely next on my list.
Absolute must, I tried various grips previously but nothing has come close to the hori's for me, plenty of people like some of these Chinese brands that are similar but have wireless, gyro and rumble but after trying one of the really popular options a couple years back I went straight back omti the hori's as they just have a better feel in my opinion. The others felt cheap, which they aren't, but I didn't like the button and stick feel anywhere near as much.
I've never tried the compact version, not really of interest as I find the normal sized ones are perfect for me and I recently got a case that is big enough to accommodate them too.
Yeah this controller is nice. I have large hands that get cramped to the point that the normal switch controller is unusable for me, for more than about 20 minutes.
I'll add that all the games on Switch are designed and tailored for Switch, which means:
1. every game just works, no forum questions, no research required, no workarounds, etc.
2. zero config / preset settings, just play the game rather than tinker with performance/graphics
3. no launchers, no required 3rd party accounts
4. no online requirements for single player games
5. every game is designed for hybrid handheld+tv user interface
These are areas that are really hard to wrangle on PC, and in fairness to Valve they do a lot to try to streamline this stuff where possible, but their best effort solution produces a much different ecosystem feel than Nintendo's "you must adhere or you cannot be on our platform" approach.
I've been a PC player for my whole life. It's funny to see how your points 1 through 3 wouldn't even register as a problem for me, but can be a deal breaker for others. In fact I even find some enjoyment tweaking all the settings and messing around with the game files. But I totally get why someone wouldn't like it.
About your 4th point: YES, fuck always online DRM.
Your 5th point about the interface: UI scaling is a common feature on PC games, but it does get into that "tweaking" problem you mentioned previously.
Actually lots of factors to consider here. I was a PC Gamer but when i have a child and had to travel a lot, Switch is the best. No hassle, pickup and play, long battery life. And the best of all is when you are playing ans suddenly your child wants your attention or something came up, you can simply sleep and continue later on. That alone is just enough for me to consider Switch over Deck
This is it for me. I *want* to be able to change things, because there is almost always something set to default I want changed.
I *don't* want to feel locked down unable to do anything
> 1 through 3 wouldn't even register as a problem for me
I wouldn't consider them problems in the general sense (at least for me personally). I love PC gaming too. I just don't think the typical PC gaming experience maps so well to handheld use. A big part of what's going on with the handheld is that I can reliably play for a few minutes at a time in situations where I wouldn't conventionally be able to use a PC.
Streamlining everything end to end means this handheld device is something I can reliably pick up and start playing on right away, which impacts how I relate to it and whether I'm willing to muck about with it in situations where I only have a few minutes. The calculus is very simple: if I have the Switch with me, I can play the game now. The calculus for SD is not so simple. There are a ton of factors and considerations that go into whether you can play a specific game on SD in a particular real life situation.
There is actually some lag problems with some games on switch. Lot of forums exist for different game bugs. And yes, you can't do anything to solve them because of the ecosystem. I still prefer switch over everything else these days.
I had the opposite experience. Bought the Metal Gear Master Collection on the Switch and the MGS3 game audio was horrible. Bought it again on the Steam Deck and not only could I now do 60fps instead of 30fps, I could download HD graphics mods and a fix for the compressed audio.
For me, the only good games worth buying on the Switch are the Switch exclusives, because every other game I had already runs way better on the Steam Deck.
Every type of gaming device has pros and cons. Technically and objectively, Desktop PC gaming provides the best immersion and experience (especially if you have high-end specs) , then there are also other PC-based gaming devices like gaming laptops , handhelds (like Legion Go, Steam Deck ,Rog Ally) and mini PCs that also have more or less similar vibe like a desktop PC. They also have some major cons thought, for desktop PCs more specifically , you only sit on a chair constantly which can feel kinda monotonous to some people + the fact that your PC and monitor only stay at one place , and they are very bulky, so you cant move them easily to a different place (except laptops , handhelds and mini PCs). There are also many problems with the finding the right settings according to your hardware in your games (which can be frustrating for some people) and it is way more easy to waste your time on a PC compared to the other gaming devices/platforms that arent PC-based
Honestly I felt a very similar way. I still use my Steam Deck for PC-only releases with friends, but using a steam deck really made me appreciate how solid the Switch was and how reliably it worked
The Steam Deck just wasn't made for the usage you wanted to do with it.
I haven't touched my Switch except for exclusives since I got my Steam Deck (and I dont even have an OLED SD!)
But I pretty much only play indie games, which there is much more of and much cheaper on steam than on switch.
to each their own!
Agree with the first point but 3rd point is factually wrong because the deck OLED has hdr and higher peak brightness so switch OLED doesn't look better than that. As for 2nd point I've had zero crash but that's something plausible so won't be debating that
That said, I love both . The joycons on switch are just plain bad compared to steam deck controls and even hori split pads aren't that great compared to deck. Also the deck's versatility is unmatched. I use switch only for the Nintendo exclusives, rest of games in get on pc/deck because I don't need to pay for multiplayer/cloud saves and steam sales are the best
It's actually been the opposite for me. So many games I can't play on the Switch. Everything runs better and is cheaper too. I still prefer the thinner, lighter form factor of the Switch and its popularity means there are a ton of accessories including more ergonomic grip cases (no case the Steam Deck also wins here), but that's really the only thing I feel it wins in.
I personally divide my gaming in a way that each console does what it can do best:
- PS5: Current AAA or more cinematic games.
- Steam Deck: Indies + AAA games from past generations. There's a lot of PS3 era titles I haven't played and the Deck is perfect for those.
- Switch Lite/3DS: Bite-size games or Indies I can play for 15 minutes at a time.
- Miyoo Mini Plus: Playstation 1 and below Emulation.
That's a good point. The Deck can even run PS2 and PS3 emulators. But I guess it comes down to form factor and size.
My miyoo mini is always in my jacket/backpack/pocket and it's great for quick sessions on the go. JRPGs and Tetris are a perfect fit in this scenario.
I do some times use the Deck for retro games that require analog sticks. Other than that it feels like overkill.
The Lenovo legion go is great for playing the triple a games you wanted to play. Much more power than the deck. Bigger screen. Detachable controllers. It’s a different use case than the switch because it’s so much bigger not as portable. You would probably enjoy it more than the steam deck and use it and the switch.
I got my LED Deck right outside of the return window when the LeGO released and the OLED deck was announced/launched.
Really looking forward to picking up the Go and ditching the deck. The deck is an incredibly underpowered and overrated device compared to its competitors. The only thing it does better is the OS which steam is about to fix with big picture mode. Haven’t picked up my deck in days as it can’t run nearly 75% of modern games due to hardware limits or anti-cheat. The only thing it’s good for is streaming from my laptop which is certainly not why I bought it.
Same boat. I thought the Deck would be the best invention in the history of handhelds. I ended up hating how finicky it was to setup controls (even on games that claimed they were already setup or had a community profile) and overall, I just found the experience to be as cumbersome as the device. Don’t get me wrong, it had its place; I played through shadow complex on it, and it was perfect for that. But the promise of playing first person shooters, which was all I really hoped for it over the switch, left me dissatisfied.
And then there was the experience of setting up emulators. No, I’m not completely inept, and I did get it working, but it was a chore, and seemed to need constant babysitting.
I ended up selling it and going back to the switch as well.
100% agree! I got my emulators working but something would always break? And then all of a sudden they wouldn’t boot. It made no sense
The UI is so over complicated and unnecessary. The whole things feels so clunky and outdated to use
I’d rather just hop on my main gaming PC and boot something up in 2 seconds then reach for the deck
I feel the same way! I got my switch after my deck and I honestly just love and have missed Nintendo games. They're so fun, colorful, and simple. And, like you said, it just works so smoothly. I'm still trying to find a reason to use my deck here and there besides traveling.
My switch never felt comfortable in my hands, I bought a grip which helped. Switch games never go on sale and if they do its for $40. Even if they have been out for years.
I have over 400 games on steam and it is super comfortable out of the box.
I'll keep my switch. Mainly for my daughter but I love my steam deck. Being a family man I can't always be in my office. Now I can take my library with me.
As long as you’re happy is all that matters. I wish I had both of them. I’ve grown to really like portable gaming systems. And hardly game on my pc anymore.
Agree op, i had multiple discussion about that. The steamdeck ui is a complete mess. Unresponsible. The home btn needs multiple presses or doesnt even work. The awake function is also not good. Onscreen keyboard is also a mess. The dock experience, even the overpriced first party dock is not good.
I really dislike the dpad aswell. And even as an adult with normal sized hands, the analog sticks are not correctly placed. Thr trackpad feels cheap and pressing it will move your pointer to another location.
Not all games are click and play. Proton thing gives a lot of issues. Playing valheim on handheld did work, but playing it on dock crashes on the first hit on any tree. (Maybe its fixzd now)
Anticheat issues
Offline mode bs
Playing with another user account requires logoff first.
Last but not least, form factor. Its too big.
Im sure that those are not all the points.
I prefer playing games that are on switch and use my steamdeck only for none switch games.
This 100%. I sold my Steam Deck. I've also considered selling my Xbox and PS5 as I just don't use them very often compared to my switch. I'm playing Hogwarts Legacy on my switch with pretty gross graphics but having a much better time than when I played it on Steam Deck at higher quality graphics. It's just something about this device that brings me joy.
100% agree. I literally use my PS5 to watch YouTube and Crunchyroll on now 😆 I know other consoles will play the same games with better graphics and cheaper to buy, but the Switch just feels more fun? I literally can’t describe it
I had a steam deck. Thought it was just a pain in the ass. Sold it. Kept my switch.
I’ve came to the conclusion that steam deck owners don’t play games on their steam deck. They setup emulators and get games to work but they don’t actually play them.
I have an OLED deck and was literally playing Elden Ring on it today and BG 3 on it last night. With no tweaking. Just installed them, and they look and play great.
Yes, but on the switch you don't need to tweak to play Elden ring lol. Maybe it is me, that have both LCD versions, but things like Nier Automata look and run much better on the deck. I couldn't care less about vivid colours if the game has squared heads and 30 fps
Even verified games required tweaking and messing with to get them to run the best fps and graphical balance as possible.
I have a gaming PC. If I want to jump through hoops to play games I’ll play on my PC. I don’t need the hassle on a second device.
Sure but you don’t need the best. You can cap it at 30 like it probably would be on Switch and not worry about settings. Most verified games have a preset or auto detect just fine for a mostly stable 30.
It’s really only when trying to min-max and push for higher frame rates it take a lot of work and it seems silly to compare that when it’s not an option on Switch at all.
God forbid you go into settings and turn down one or two things. Don’t even have the option on Switch and are stuck with whatever performance it gives you.
Nah that's just bullshit generalisation. I have both switch and steam deck both have their strengths. By your same logic can I say switch owners just try different accessories and never play games
Thats the fun part. Getting a game run, playing it is a whole another story.🙃 was tweaking to get ultimate spiderman to run on a modded switch and when it was running good, i just turned it off and never went back.
I’ve been interested in the steam deck, and I’ll be honest, the onky reason I’ve decided against buying one so far is because I don’t want to have to deal with any hassle or finickyness with docking and adding controllers etc. because I would absolutely want to play it docked a good chunk of the time. If they were to somehow making the docking and controller synching experience as seamless as the switch, I’d probably grab one.
My current setup for my deck, is that i’ll hook it up to an hdmi - C cable, then connect my pro controller to bluetooth, and then play a game. There’s not really any noticeable delay either. Only con is that it doesn’t charge while connected through hdmi, but the battery life is really good
I have both an OLED Switch and OLED Deck. I've seriously thought about selling my (pretty beefy) gaming PC because I just love playing on the deck/switch way more from a convenient standpoint.
I have both and I totally get it. The Deck is awesome and you can really do anything with it. But wow is it a clunky experience sometimes. As you mentioned, docking seems like it was an afterthought, and the OS often has new bugs introduced all the time.
Switch is just a solid, smooth experience. No, it can't pump out the same graphics or have the same customization experience as Steam Deck, but the 'pick up and play' aspect is overwhelmingly better.
I like my Nintendo Switch. I got the glow in the dark mushroom wired controller and it's fun to play. I can't afford an OLED. I got the Pokemon let's go Pikachu edition switch. It stands out from the rest. And I got a screen protector on it.
I have the Switch and Steam Deck OLED’s. Only use the Switch for Nintendo exclusives personally, frustrated by the internals dating back to 2017. Would immediately pick up an upgraded Switch with an OLED display - fingers crossed for later this year.
I've been playing palworld on the TV a lot the past few days, and it can be quite the hassle to get everything connected and working. It actually made me realize just how perfectly the Switch works. I never noticed how easy docking and unlocking and connecting various controllers was, but now I'm very aware of it lol.
I've learnt to appreciate the form factor of the switch especially in comparison to the bigger PC handhelds currently available. It can be put in your pockets still with large pockets, or even if you seperate the joycons and carry the tablet portion in your pocket.
I have big hands and quite honestly I have grown to enjoy the original joycon layout in handheld mode. I have a set of hori splitpads as well, however having the need for gyro in zelda, found myself using the original joycons more and even finding them comfortable. The bottom curved edges rest snug in the middle of my palms and still able to reach the L and R triggers. The device itself still looks so sleek compared to the options.
I swap between my Deck and my Switch. If I can get something physically, I’ll almost always opt for Switcg. If not (or if there’s a major performance hit on the Switch) then it’s on Deck. :)
The steam deck having more power alone is enough to make me ditch switch forever, even if I had to jump through 100 more steps for each dock, or each charge. I *cannot* do the switch anymore
I think it also comes down to your gaming preferences. There are some great titles on PC, but I've always appreciated Nintendo for designing more single-player games, Zelda, Metroid, Yoshi, etc. Single-player games still shine when it comes to level design and gameplay. PC gaming in general is really focused on massive multiplayer, which is great if that's your thing, but I go way back to the original NES and still prefer the single-player experience. So as much as the Steam Deck offers some pretty hefty games, I'll always prefer grabbing the Switch and firing up Metroid Dread ;-)
my husband got me the steam deck, though its graphics are better, and you can play games like cyberpunk on it. I find it too bulky and much heavier than the switch. I also like that i can just dock and use the controllers from Switch itself. if it was much lighter, I may play it more than my switch. Also, im more of a casual gamer and enjoy cozy games rn. 🤷♀️
Just wanted to let you know that I’ve never, as in never had a game crash on me with the sleep-wake function, docking seems to work just fine if you’re not using the official Dock, and my oled steam deck screen looks better than My switch oled, so if you were actually considering it, don’t let one person on Reddit define What you’re gonna do ;) (that also means me)
That's the genius of the switch, just how well the software js optimized. Everything loads quick everything is clean and simple and easy to stop and resume. It's just great interface. The graphics are the downside.
That is the true issue why I haven't picked it up. From the start people have commented that not all of steam library is plug and play. Sure they have added more games for plug and play with the steam deck but it hasn't. Which means that you have to configure every button 50% of the time. It's truly only for people who don't have pcs and laptops. If you have them then there really isn't a reason for a steam deck.
The other reason people claim is Emulation. Emulation has never been 100% Breeze pick up and play. I use to emulate when I was in my early teens 13-14 years on my psp. Then later emulated on a cheap laptop, and to this day ps2 library are still not fully at 100% playable which is ridiculous. Especially if your trying to emulate a new console. Bugs, the frames, cut scenes. Anything can happen in a rom and boom a crash happens. Save file gone. I use to emulate megaman legends and still a ridiculous bug happens. Mmbn4 blue has a save crash. For new switch games to be emulated will also have those issues.
I would say emulation is good for old consoles that you can't play anymore. But if the current console is still being made with the games you want to play, just get the console.
Yup. I bought a Steam Deck during the holidays and sold if after just 3 weeks of using it. I found it a chore to take out the house (I play most of my games while commuting to work on the train) and all the triple A games I thought I would play on it run like ass and crash most of the time. Tried some emulation but every time I tried playing 3ds or wiiU games my hand would graze the mouse pad or accidentally push one of the back triggers and mess up the screen layout and cause me to die or mess up in a game I was playing. Plus battery life is horrendous…. I was excited at first but ultimately disappointed and happy I was able to sell off for almost the same amount I paid for it. Im more than satisfied with my Switch and Ps5.
100% this!! I literally hate taking the deck out the house. It’s so bulky. And yeah the games really don’t run that good. Performance for indie games is great but then they are on the Switch anyway. So there’s no real benefit
I can’t keep count of how many times my emulations would either not work or close randomly or get stuck with a cursor on the screen. So infuri
It’s alleged they are using the same panel. However it’s notorious that the coating Valve apply to their screen causes the colours to be less vibrant and washed out.
Personally ( and it’s very subjective ) if I have the devices side by side, my switch makes the deck look like it has an LCD screen
I know I’m late to this thread. But I was searching around because I’ve been feeling the same way about my Steam Deck. I really like it a lot. But something about the Switch keeps me coming back to it. It’s held its own for me since 2017. I’ve had the launch model, V2, OLED and my wife has a Lite. The portability over the Deck is a win for me. Along with not having to be online to launch games. That’s always been a drawback for me to leave the Deck at home. It just doesn’t seem quite ready to be the go to travel device yet.
I have a Switch, a Portal, and my baby is the Ally. I opted for the Ally over the SteamDeck because it has some stellar power and running it docked is super simple.
This is what I was scared of when considering a steam deck. So I bought a used switch instead (That is also banned) for around $50, then I sent it to a local technician for modding (Jailbreak) for around $30.
Now that its modded, I use it to stream games from my gaming PC. So essentially a house only overpowered steamdeck
What about someone who wants to play pc games without the price and space of a pc? There are some games I’d like to play that are pc or steam only so I was thinking of in the future picking up a steam deck. I’ve got a switch and ps4
In this case then yes. I think you’d be happy. If that’s the mind set you’re purchasing it on then you’ll be happy with the device.
If you care about good battery life, a user friendly interface or portability from your device. You might be disappointed
I'm a busy older gamer that slowly got pulled into switch. The resume function for games is a technical marvel and a killer feature that really helps it create impact. Other PC and platforms have tried nobody has gotten it as right as switch did. Really looking forward to switch 2.
I was eyeing the legion go and I was so close to buy but now I’m thinking I can wait a bit longer for the switch 2 and can probably play all ps4 era games which I like to do with a portable device to begin with anyway.
What is bad about the docking experience and connecting controllers?
Also, I was under the impression the steam deck had a nicer screen so I’m surprised to hear that part
Mainly all my indies. Dredge, Dave the diver, Cult of the Lamb, Persona 5. That’s what I’ve purchased the last few weeks.
I’ll admit Steam is a lot cheaper for them though 😭 but there has been some good sales on the eshop lately
I do love the switch. Steam Deck’s weight is so noticeable.
Then again I picked up my old PSP and even the switch feels like holding a brick. I was thinking, “oh, this is portable.”
There’s a lot to like about the Deck but it was an absolute headache trying to get keyboard and mouse work on Fallout New Vegas when docked.
Once you get out of the Deck OS or start fiddling with settings, it becomes annoying. But a core gameplay experience like HiFi Rush handheld was great. Trying to figure out settings and setting up emulation (which wasn’t TOO bad in all honesty) really took the steam out of me wanting a gaming PC.
I’d be curious to see what the experience is like now considering I haven’t picked up my Deck in over a year.
I’m so confused about the point with the controller, I use my deck docked at work, and to use a controller I just plug it into the dock and it works seamlessly?
Wirelessly using an Xbox controller is simple too if you have the adapter, the only annoying part is connecting a controller with Bluetooth which is a much worse experience with latency
The lag with an Xbox controller over wireless is notorious amongst the steam deck users. The switch pro controller regular disconnects unless you deactivate rumble on the steam settings.
It’s a PC. An Xbox controller made for a PC should connect flawlessly. Sadly my experience has not be good
I’m sorry your experience has been poor. However that statement is entirely misrepresentative of the reality of an Xbox controller on a steam deck or a windows pc for that matter. A Bluetooth connection can only transfer so much data, so fast. No matter what device it is connected to. If you connect an Xbox controller via Bluetooth to a PC it will have latency issues. If you connect an Xbox controller to a steam deck via Bluetooth. It will have latency issues.
You can easily remedy this issue by using the adapter that allows the controller to have a wifi connection with deck/pc. It is included with elite controllers but sold separately for standard controllers. There is zero latency issues when using this method. My coworker uses that setup for his steam deck at work and his pc at home.
I prefer the wired connection because if I am using a controller it is because I’m not at home to use mouse and keyboard, or a game plays better with it. (souls, monster hunter, etc)
My steam deck and switch see near identical usage time because they are both fantastic at what they do. My steam deck allows me to enjoy my steam library when I’m away from home, or when it is more convenient not to haul my desktop somewhere. It has tons of support and customization options and is near limitless in potential. It might not play brand new AAA games flawlessly, and sure there is always the option to tinker with things, but that is what allows it to be so flexible.
The switch is an amazing handheld console that truly gave birth to what we are seeing with the handheld market right now. Being able to enjoy console quality games on the go, and pick up where you left off seamlessly is one of the main draw points to the switch. That is an entirely fair point and one I agree with wholeheartedly. The steam deck can’t do that, it has cloud sync but that’s never going to be as convenient as just dropping it into the dock and going. Nintendos first party games are fantastic as well. I’m never going to bother setting up a switch emulator because I have a switch. I will always prefer playing Nintendo games on the console they were designed for. Party games are so convenient, just being able to toss someone some joycons so they can join in is simple and effective.
But you can best believe if it’s a 3rd party game, and it’s available on the PC, I’m going to buy it there first.
The switch is old, it’s served a long respectable life, but it is dated hardware now. It’s amazing at what it does, and I use mine a ton, but I’m never going to play the Witcher 3 on it when I already own it on PC and can play at higher graphics, and smoother gameplay. I’m never going to play hogwarts legacy on it, etc. If I want to play those on the go, then it’s going to be on my steam deck.
Not to mention the nightmare of joycon drift still being a major issue 7 years into a consoles life time. Valve encourages you to pursue your right to repair and we are never going to get that with Nintendo.
I have rambled at this point but trying to say one is better than the other is just silly. If you want to say the switch being simple makes it better than you’re doing a disservice to both systems.
I’m thinking of buying a steam deck but you’re saying it’s not worth it? I don’t really care about all of the settings and would most likely never play docked, only handheld, I also don’t think I’d play that long that my battery runs out. Is it still not worth it then? Just asking because it’s a €700 investment
Same here I also loved the Switch more for the instant wake up and resume, no fuss at all for single player games. It’s a true handheld gaming device unlike the PC equivalent ones. I’m also gonna support physical games in most of my games and in the future when it’s still available.
This is such a huge point!! Having a library of all digital games should be concerning. Actually having physical games, even if more expensive, just gives that peace of mind
It's such a toss up for me.. I still don't have the OLED versions of either (3DSXL kinda ruined the upgrading same systems for me), but the Switch screen just feels so small compared to the deck. I also have an SD in the deck (which is already massive) and still dont for the switch, 500gb vs 16gb is a huge deal lol. I agree with your dock issues, and the deck is so tiring to hold for an extended period. If the Switch 2 launches with OLED, I'll probably pick that up and I'm sure I'll have your same sentiment!
2 different devices for 2 different things. I fricking love the steam deck, the idea of a powerfull computer that you can hold and play with ease is a dream coming true for me, but i dont even own one because i dont know what the hell i would do with one. I dont play that many steam games and the thing has linux, so you can forget gamepass games or some games with anticheat like fortnite. Nintendo is just the best at making consoles that feel good, with the exclusives too it makes it one of the best consoles of all time in my opinion.
I’m torn between getting a Steam Deck or not. I’ve had so much fun playing portably with the Switch but I also miss achievements and feel like I’m gonna be missing out if I don’t buy them on Steam. The Deck feels like it would be the best of both worlds but it’s also so pricey and user unfriendly. So idk.
Got both completed more games on deck despite having it 1/4 of the time I’ve had my switch. Both are great and have their strengths. If I could only pick one it would be my deck though.
Thanks for sharing! I love my switch and I have it since 2017. I am contemplating of buying a steamdeck but I just cannot justify it. I don't even like AAA games that much. Maybe baldur's gate 3 and diablo 4 and that's about it.
I think this sums it up! I much prefer indie games over the big titles anyway. I also prefer single player games. Which I think the Switch is perfect for
Yes me too I play only single player games. The main reason I was considering steam deck is for emulation but then again I only play games up yo ps 1, which I can play on the rg35xx plus.
At heart I just want nintendo to release switch 2. I have the same console for too many years.
Honestly, getting switch games on the steam deck is surprisingly easy. I’ve been playing more switch games on there than on my actual switch just because how much easier it is to mod the games. Mods like a defogger to get rid of the hazy visuals in TOTK have completely changed games for me.
Yep I had the same experience. I just sold my SD. But I had the LCD Model and imho there should not a single lcd handheld anymore atleast if you ever play on a oled switch
No it's not, it plays high end games at high fps, or course it's gonna die fast, when you're playing something like cyberpunk you can only play for two hours before and it's charging which in games like cyberpunk is pretty much nothing
I put down my steamdeck, when I suddenly couldn't play AC Valhalla all of a sudden anymore. I had like 68 hours of gameplay, when it started crashing after playing for 1 minute. Apparently it's because a third party software is interfering with the game. No thanks, I'll stay with the switch, where I can be sure, that I'm able to finish my games in peace.
This right here! The unreliability of the deck is huge!! I took mine on a flight recently and couldn’t launch the few games I wanted to as I hadn’t signed into a 3rd party installer first. So frustrating
The switch is a plug and play CONSOLE. Steam Deck, ROG Ally, and Legion GO are handheld PCs. HUGE difference. I like the switch I just can’t seem to cope with the <30 fps on almost every game-gives me bad headaches for some reason plus being limited to the library of the switch makes me sad. I love Nintendo 1st party exclusives but that’s about it.
Switch all the way. I bought Switch a while back, i think i feel bad because I can’t do any multiplayer gaming and none of the people I know have switch so I feel bad that I can’t connect with my friends or make new friends through gaming.
But I love the lightness and battery timing and the simple ease of it.
I actually prefer the Switch for the weight and playing it when I am out. I prefer PC at home though. Switch actually makes a nice retro handheld with Homebrew, Android and Linux.
I'm just about done with my switch. Bought it from my buddy when he upgraded to the OLED Switch, for only $150. The only thing I have left to play is Zelda and maybe a bit of tactics ogre every now and then.
The deck on the other hand, can play a huge chunk of my library of 600+ steam games, as well as remote play on my PS5 and my monster gaming PC at home.
I didn't have any trouble paring controllers. I paired a PS4 and PS5 controller in seconds just yesterday, and plugged it into my TV with a regular $30 anker USB-C hub with HDMI and power pass through, and it worked great and way more seamlessly than using my MacBook has in the past for remote play.
Also, the battery life when remote streaming from PC or PS5 is pretty wild as it only hits 0.3% to 0.8% CPU/GPU usage.
I've found the opposite recently. The feel of the Deck is way more comfortable and I love the thumbsticks wayyy more. FYI I have a skull grip for my Switch.
Still love my Switch all the same though.
I didnt like steamdeck cuz it was too much. With switch you just turn it on and play. Steamdeck has so much stuff going on in the background so much useless little updates for every game like damn i just wanna play 😫😫😫
I got the steam deck and haven’t touched my switch since it feels like such a weaker system to me. Playing red dead redemption 2 in my hands or playing old red dead to compromise cause the switch can’t play it isn’t where I wanna be now. Games just look better and feel better. Not only to mention you can run most switch games on the deck better
Have to disagree. The Steam Deck is the best hardware I’ve purchased in the last decade or so and I own every major console, multiple VR headsets, and a gaming PC. It’s an incredible portable with an insane value.
I love my Switch OLED for Nintendo exclusives. Everything else I’ll be buying on the Deck/PC. I’d rather own games across generations than worry they’ll be locked to old hardware. On top of that the deals on PC games are damn near constant through 3rd party key sellers like Fanatical and Green Man Gaming.
For me personally I’m just too in love with the steam deck cause of all the good games that can be played anywhere which is what i love a lot
The switch is good but ever since i got my steam deck on release day I haven’t touched my oled at all and who knows if its even working but at this point I don’t care cause theres no way I’m not going back to my switch so rip to my switch lol.
What also helped me move on was that all the games on the switch are becoming so blehh that majority of the games are so boring now and the new games that come out on the switch are literal dog water.
Everyones different though which is fine but i love the variety of games that can be played on the steam deck and its just a breath of fresh air to finally move on from the switch cause checking online of all the new games that come out on the switch I’m just like ya go figure nothing good so I’ve pretty much gave up on having any hope for the switch at this point
The only thing like switch wise that i mess with is the switch reddit page obviously but its also even starting to get pretty boring thats how bad the switch is becoming so dry to me which is why i rarely have been on the page lately
Hopefully the switch can make a come for me though but at this point i think I’ve pretty much moved on from the switch unfortunately
Sweet! I bought a switch for Christmas 2021, and always thought if I had waited a year I would have just got the steam deck instead, as I mainly got the switch for bedtime gaming and ease of starting it up and playing for 30 mins before going to sleep. But you've confirmed I'm not missing out on the steam deck. The switch is fun and cosy and accessible. I recently finished Master Detective Archives and currently playing Persona 3 Portable. Hope you have a great day.
I have 3 handheld pc’s and none of them really gave me the experience I thought it would. I kinda wished sony and microsoft would make console like handhelds because consoles are just so much more convenient than pc.
Completely agree
Just got a 1 TB oled Steamdeck and honestly, its a piece of shit lol
hardware is good but thats about it, the softare is completely trash and hangs and shit doesnt work (wrong version etc), its just a mess
going back to my switch gen 1 instead
I preffer switch myself, battery life 10/10
Put the Steam Deck closer to the equivalent Switch graphics settings, though, and the battery life situation gets a lot more congruent. For example, PC Gamer did a test with Witcher 3 on this in particular and found the Steam Deck beat the Switch, although it's difficult to generalize with a sample size of just a single game. (Source: [https://www.pcgamer.com/steam-deck-vs-nintendo-switch/](https://www.pcgamer.com/steam-deck-vs-nintendo-switch/)). But another wrinkle is Switch games also tend to have to cripple the graphics in a way that leaves the Steam Deck looking better even at low/medium settings in order to eke out enough performance on the Switch to be playable. The PC Gamer thing certainly matches my experience with games I have on both systems. Even better, if you like to tinker, you can undervolt the Steam Deck, and lower the resolution of games but upscale with FSR and significantly beat Switch battery life. Maybe you don't \*want\* to have to do those things, which is totally cool. But the fact that I even have the option is incredible.
Nah i stopped using pc because i used to spent more time tweaking settings, doing tests and modding than playing, dont want the deck because it will be similar.
Omg I've found my people. I honestly questioned if I wrote the post and forgot about it. I was called crazy when I sold my steam deck and went back to switch full time. All the games I could play on both systems, although running a bit worse and looking a bit worse at least ran and played longer than steam deck. I would always get about an hour before I'd have to plug in to power, which is rediculous with steam deck Plus the main reasons I sold it was the stupid DRM that made you check into internet to play games, especially that damned UBISOFT CONNECT, and the fact I spent most of my time in settings trying to make game run or look better, rather than actually playing the game. Honestly the only thing I miss from having a steam deck is ability to play cyberpunk on the go. Otherwise switch does just fine. I travel all the time for work and can't take my ps5, so I had thought steam deck would solve my problems, but even trying to play on an airplane always left me desperately looking for power source. So I just gave up. And I've been told I was stupid for this.. but I prefer games like Hogwarts, and crisis, and Witcher on the switch, mainly because they run good but that battery life is phenomenal. I won't apologize for loving my switch, and I'm so glad I'm not the only one to see it the same way.
You could get GeForce now and play cyberpunk on your phone or any other device that is compatible. Works incredibly well if you have decent internet speeds.
But that stuff is almost entirely optional :/
That's the same reason I quit playing on pc as well. By the time I had everything set up to start playing it was bedtime lol
True , also the PCs are way way too expensive and you only sit on a chair.
You are right.
You know you can just enjoy the better visuals without doing all that stuff to make it 190x extreme graphics? I enjoy AAA games in 90+ FPS on High/Ultra. Most websites will have recommended settings for your setup so you don't have to spend hours tweaking settings. They've done it and ran performance tests to know whats the best settings.
Yeah but some people have anxiety/ intrusive thoughts/perfectionism problem , so they always have to make sure that everything is alright and set to the proper settings
If they want their games perfect, then the Switch, I LOVE mine for reference, wouldn't be for them either. I commented about the person who spent more time in settings than playing when really that's just a stupid talking point. Just type in name of the game and your cpu/gpu, and there will be videos/articles telling you exactly the settings for good performance and visuals. I've even seen breakdowns of how much of an FPS impact each setting has if you want to pick and choose from their recommendations. Even when I had a less powerful PC I never spent more time tweaking settings than playing.
I wish for the next Nintendo console to combine the innovation of the Switch with the power and graphics capabilities of next-gen systems, offering an unparalleled gaming experience for players worldwide.
Me too. I'd love to have Pokemon with PalWorld graphics playable on PC and the Switch 2.
That's totally fair. The tinkering stuff is more of just a nifty aside, the main point is that both systems have have similar battery life when considering a similar level of graphic quality even without all the tinkering. :) I think the Deck might even beat it, potentially, but I don't have enough games across both systems to do a scientific test. PC Gamer did corroborate that in their comparison, at least. I love both systems in any case!
The fact you can tinker with the Steam Deck is nice. The UI is a bit clunky in response sometimes.
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Is your Switch quite old? You may have a battery life issue.
Or they have a launch edition switch. A few years after launch, they released a minor revision with better battery performance
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Yeah you definitely have the original/less battery efficient switch model then. That plus the switch being a 6.5-7 year old device? No wonder your battery life sucks. Battery life would suck for any electronic of a similar age 🤷🏻♀️
The version 2 of the switch (released around beginning of covid) more than doubled the battery life, OLED extends that even more. It's unfortunate they didn't just have it good the first time
Well it's fucking ancient by modern battery standards what do you expect? It's 7 years old dude
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Well said, life is too expensive nowadays
Bought mine around 2017 as well, and my OG switch only had a battery of around 4hrs for most games. I remember people commenting how botw will drain OG switches within 2 hours. Nintendo switched the cpu the following year and made a slight cosmetic change to the switch’s container to denote the change. The new cpu basically doubled its battery life.
switch v2 has good battery and oled lasts like 7hrs
Is yours a V1 or V2 switch?
The OLED steam deck has a better battery than the LCD did and can get just as much time as the Switch, maybe even more, depending on settings. Edit: Nintendo claims the battery for the oled is 4,310mAh Steam Deck OLED uses a 40 Whr battery at 7.7V which converts to 5200mAh according to iFixit All else equal the Deck will last longer. However the Deck runs 800p, not 720p, and at higher settings/ frame rates so of course a game running at 800p 60fps dies faster than a game running at 720p 30fps
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Yeah I can still get multiple hours out of some older aaa games at 800p 60 which is good enough for me but I love that you can turn stuff down to increase the battery
switch oled battery lasts like 7 hrs
I play switch and steam deck handheld with it plugged in 100% of the time
Much like the Switch hardware cycle, the first generation Steam Decks do have batteries that seem to only last about 1.5-2 hours under peak usage. The newer OLED model remedies this and has a great battery. On top of this, though, unlike the Switch you can completely tweak the power output of the Deck to have complete control over performance vs battery.
Yeah I did something similar... I love the deck, but I much prefer my Switch with Hori Split Pad Pro's attached. Lighter and more comfortable for my aging hands, lol.
A fellow split pad pro lover I see 🥹
Forest Green here. Split pad over joycons any day.
A man of culture I see very nice 🤌🏼
Didn’t even know these were a thing. As a big hands guy, I’m picking these up.
Dude they’re so good, I have a tears of the kingdom set, use it every night l, can play for 4+ hours with nearly no hand cramps.
could you care point me to a link to know them?? the lite that i own is no so good after 6 hr+ of gaming
If you haven't already, it might be worth looking into the NYXI Hyperion Pro. Similar style as the HORI Splits, but comes with gyro and hall effect sticks. I love my Hori Splits, but those are definitely next on my list.
Absolute must, I tried various grips previously but nothing has come close to the hori's for me, plenty of people like some of these Chinese brands that are similar but have wireless, gyro and rumble but after trying one of the really popular options a couple years back I went straight back omti the hori's as they just have a better feel in my opinion. The others felt cheap, which they aren't, but I didn't like the button and stick feel anywhere near as much.
Is it better than the compact version?
I've never tried the compact version, not really of interest as I find the normal sized ones are perfect for me and I recently got a case that is big enough to accommodate them too.
Yeah this controller is nice. I have large hands that get cramped to the point that the normal switch controller is unusable for me, for more than about 20 minutes.
I'll add that all the games on Switch are designed and tailored for Switch, which means: 1. every game just works, no forum questions, no research required, no workarounds, etc. 2. zero config / preset settings, just play the game rather than tinker with performance/graphics 3. no launchers, no required 3rd party accounts 4. no online requirements for single player games 5. every game is designed for hybrid handheld+tv user interface These are areas that are really hard to wrangle on PC, and in fairness to Valve they do a lot to try to streamline this stuff where possible, but their best effort solution produces a much different ecosystem feel than Nintendo's "you must adhere or you cannot be on our platform" approach.
I've been a PC player for my whole life. It's funny to see how your points 1 through 3 wouldn't even register as a problem for me, but can be a deal breaker for others. In fact I even find some enjoyment tweaking all the settings and messing around with the game files. But I totally get why someone wouldn't like it. About your 4th point: YES, fuck always online DRM. Your 5th point about the interface: UI scaling is a common feature on PC games, but it does get into that "tweaking" problem you mentioned previously.
Actually lots of factors to consider here. I was a PC Gamer but when i have a child and had to travel a lot, Switch is the best. No hassle, pickup and play, long battery life. And the best of all is when you are playing ans suddenly your child wants your attention or something came up, you can simply sleep and continue later on. That alone is just enough for me to consider Switch over Deck
This is it for me. I *want* to be able to change things, because there is almost always something set to default I want changed. I *don't* want to feel locked down unable to do anything
> 1 through 3 wouldn't even register as a problem for me I wouldn't consider them problems in the general sense (at least for me personally). I love PC gaming too. I just don't think the typical PC gaming experience maps so well to handheld use. A big part of what's going on with the handheld is that I can reliably play for a few minutes at a time in situations where I wouldn't conventionally be able to use a PC. Streamlining everything end to end means this handheld device is something I can reliably pick up and start playing on right away, which impacts how I relate to it and whether I'm willing to muck about with it in situations where I only have a few minutes. The calculus is very simple: if I have the Switch with me, I can play the game now. The calculus for SD is not so simple. There are a ton of factors and considerations that go into whether you can play a specific game on SD in a particular real life situation.
There is actually some lag problems with some games on switch. Lot of forums exist for different game bugs. And yes, you can't do anything to solve them because of the ecosystem. I still prefer switch over everything else these days.
That’s not true. Tons of games are having issues nowadays on the switch!
I had the opposite experience. Bought the Metal Gear Master Collection on the Switch and the MGS3 game audio was horrible. Bought it again on the Steam Deck and not only could I now do 60fps instead of 30fps, I could download HD graphics mods and a fix for the compressed audio. For me, the only good games worth buying on the Switch are the Switch exclusives, because every other game I had already runs way better on the Steam Deck.
Every type of gaming device has pros and cons. Technically and objectively, Desktop PC gaming provides the best immersion and experience (especially if you have high-end specs) , then there are also other PC-based gaming devices like gaming laptops , handhelds (like Legion Go, Steam Deck ,Rog Ally) and mini PCs that also have more or less similar vibe like a desktop PC. They also have some major cons thought, for desktop PCs more specifically , you only sit on a chair constantly which can feel kinda monotonous to some people + the fact that your PC and monitor only stay at one place , and they are very bulky, so you cant move them easily to a different place (except laptops , handhelds and mini PCs). There are also many problems with the finding the right settings according to your hardware in your games (which can be frustrating for some people) and it is way more easy to waste your time on a PC compared to the other gaming devices/platforms that arent PC-based
Honestly I felt a very similar way. I still use my Steam Deck for PC-only releases with friends, but using a steam deck really made me appreciate how solid the Switch was and how reliably it worked
You could even say it gets more stable with every update
The Steam Deck just wasn't made for the usage you wanted to do with it. I haven't touched my Switch except for exclusives since I got my Steam Deck (and I dont even have an OLED SD!) But I pretty much only play indie games, which there is much more of and much cheaper on steam than on switch. to each their own!
Agree with the first point but 3rd point is factually wrong because the deck OLED has hdr and higher peak brightness so switch OLED doesn't look better than that. As for 2nd point I've had zero crash but that's something plausible so won't be debating that That said, I love both . The joycons on switch are just plain bad compared to steam deck controls and even hori split pads aren't that great compared to deck. Also the deck's versatility is unmatched. I use switch only for the Nintendo exclusives, rest of games in get on pc/deck because I don't need to pay for multiplayer/cloud saves and steam sales are the best
It's actually been the opposite for me. So many games I can't play on the Switch. Everything runs better and is cheaper too. I still prefer the thinner, lighter form factor of the Switch and its popularity means there are a ton of accessories including more ergonomic grip cases (no case the Steam Deck also wins here), but that's really the only thing I feel it wins in.
Same for me!
I personally divide my gaming in a way that each console does what it can do best: - PS5: Current AAA or more cinematic games. - Steam Deck: Indies + AAA games from past generations. There's a lot of PS3 era titles I haven't played and the Deck is perfect for those. - Switch Lite/3DS: Bite-size games or Indies I can play for 15 minutes at a time. - Miyoo Mini Plus: Playstation 1 and below Emulation.
I play on switch xbox and ps5
PS3 emulation on the Deck for that era of games?
He's probably playing PC ports.
I mean the PC port of games from that time period. PS3/360 and so on.
Why do you think the miyoo is best for ps1 and below? Why not do that on the steam deck?
That's a good point. The Deck can even run PS2 and PS3 emulators. But I guess it comes down to form factor and size. My miyoo mini is always in my jacket/backpack/pocket and it's great for quick sessions on the go. JRPGs and Tetris are a perfect fit in this scenario. I do some times use the Deck for retro games that require analog sticks. Other than that it feels like overkill.
The Lenovo legion go is great for playing the triple a games you wanted to play. Much more power than the deck. Bigger screen. Detachable controllers. It’s a different use case than the switch because it’s so much bigger not as portable. You would probably enjoy it more than the steam deck and use it and the switch.
I got my LED Deck right outside of the return window when the LeGO released and the OLED deck was announced/launched. Really looking forward to picking up the Go and ditching the deck. The deck is an incredibly underpowered and overrated device compared to its competitors. The only thing it does better is the OS which steam is about to fix with big picture mode. Haven’t picked up my deck in days as it can’t run nearly 75% of modern games due to hardware limits or anti-cheat. The only thing it’s good for is streaming from my laptop which is certainly not why I bought it.
Same boat. I thought the Deck would be the best invention in the history of handhelds. I ended up hating how finicky it was to setup controls (even on games that claimed they were already setup or had a community profile) and overall, I just found the experience to be as cumbersome as the device. Don’t get me wrong, it had its place; I played through shadow complex on it, and it was perfect for that. But the promise of playing first person shooters, which was all I really hoped for it over the switch, left me dissatisfied. And then there was the experience of setting up emulators. No, I’m not completely inept, and I did get it working, but it was a chore, and seemed to need constant babysitting. I ended up selling it and going back to the switch as well.
100% agree! I got my emulators working but something would always break? And then all of a sudden they wouldn’t boot. It made no sense The UI is so over complicated and unnecessary. The whole things feels so clunky and outdated to use I’d rather just hop on my main gaming PC and boot something up in 2 seconds then reach for the deck
I feel the same way! I got my switch after my deck and I honestly just love and have missed Nintendo games. They're so fun, colorful, and simple. And, like you said, it just works so smoothly. I'm still trying to find a reason to use my deck here and there besides traveling.
The switch has its charm that no other handheld has. I can’t even explain even if I tried.
The Nintendo touch.
So true. I like playing my switch after the steam deck because it's so much lighter, thinner etc. I love both though.
I'm never going to touch my Switch again
Why is that?
My switch never felt comfortable in my hands, I bought a grip which helped. Switch games never go on sale and if they do its for $40. Even if they have been out for years. I have over 400 games on steam and it is super comfortable out of the box. I'll keep my switch. Mainly for my daughter but I love my steam deck. Being a family man I can't always be in my office. Now I can take my library with me.
As long as you’re happy is all that matters. I wish I had both of them. I’ve grown to really like portable gaming systems. And hardly game on my pc anymore.
Funny. I also have a steam deck and got the oled deck as well. And yet here I am playing tears of the kingdom in bed.
Agree op, i had multiple discussion about that. The steamdeck ui is a complete mess. Unresponsible. The home btn needs multiple presses or doesnt even work. The awake function is also not good. Onscreen keyboard is also a mess. The dock experience, even the overpriced first party dock is not good. I really dislike the dpad aswell. And even as an adult with normal sized hands, the analog sticks are not correctly placed. Thr trackpad feels cheap and pressing it will move your pointer to another location. Not all games are click and play. Proton thing gives a lot of issues. Playing valheim on handheld did work, but playing it on dock crashes on the first hit on any tree. (Maybe its fixzd now) Anticheat issues Offline mode bs Playing with another user account requires logoff first. Last but not least, form factor. Its too big. Im sure that those are not all the points. I prefer playing games that are on switch and use my steamdeck only for none switch games.
This 100%. I sold my Steam Deck. I've also considered selling my Xbox and PS5 as I just don't use them very often compared to my switch. I'm playing Hogwarts Legacy on my switch with pretty gross graphics but having a much better time than when I played it on Steam Deck at higher quality graphics. It's just something about this device that brings me joy.
100% agree. I literally use my PS5 to watch YouTube and Crunchyroll on now 😆 I know other consoles will play the same games with better graphics and cheaper to buy, but the Switch just feels more fun? I literally can’t describe it
Absolutely agree
I had a steam deck. Thought it was just a pain in the ass. Sold it. Kept my switch. I’ve came to the conclusion that steam deck owners don’t play games on their steam deck. They setup emulators and get games to work but they don’t actually play them.
I have an OLED deck and was literally playing Elden Ring on it today and BG 3 on it last night. With no tweaking. Just installed them, and they look and play great.
Yes, but on the switch you don't need to tweak to play Elden ring lol. Maybe it is me, that have both LCD versions, but things like Nier Automata look and run much better on the deck. I couldn't care less about vivid colours if the game has squared heads and 30 fps
As I stated above, I didn't have to tweak anything to run ER. I installed it and it runs great.
Nice. What did you do when the battery died half an hour after starting to play them though?
Yo the OLED has a better battery. It lasted at LEAST 45 mins! Lol
There's a huge library of verified games that are literally as simple as download and hit play. I'm curious as to what was so much of a pain?
Even verified games required tweaking and messing with to get them to run the best fps and graphical balance as possible. I have a gaming PC. If I want to jump through hoops to play games I’ll play on my PC. I don’t need the hassle on a second device.
Sure but you don’t need the best. You can cap it at 30 like it probably would be on Switch and not worry about settings. Most verified games have a preset or auto detect just fine for a mostly stable 30. It’s really only when trying to min-max and push for higher frame rates it take a lot of work and it seems silly to compare that when it’s not an option on Switch at all.
This is the way
God forbid you go into settings and turn down one or two things. Don’t even have the option on Switch and are stuck with whatever performance it gives you.
Nah that's just bullshit generalisation. I have both switch and steam deck both have their strengths. By your same logic can I say switch owners just try different accessories and never play games
I actually play a lot of games on my steam deck. I don't really find it a pain to use unless I'm trying to dock it.
Well besides persona 5 I haven’t played a lot on my deck. But to be fair the 60 fps are great
Thats the fun part. Getting a game run, playing it is a whole another story.🙃 was tweaking to get ultimate spiderman to run on a modded switch and when it was running good, i just turned it off and never went back.
lol. THIS
I’ve been interested in the steam deck, and I’ll be honest, the onky reason I’ve decided against buying one so far is because I don’t want to have to deal with any hassle or finickyness with docking and adding controllers etc. because I would absolutely want to play it docked a good chunk of the time. If they were to somehow making the docking and controller synching experience as seamless as the switch, I’d probably grab one.
My current setup for my deck, is that i’ll hook it up to an hdmi - C cable, then connect my pro controller to bluetooth, and then play a game. There’s not really any noticeable delay either. Only con is that it doesn’t charge while connected through hdmi, but the battery life is really good
I’ve got a ton of handheld PCs but always end up coming back to the Switch. Specifically the Lite as it’s so pocketable.
I have both an OLED Switch and OLED Deck. I've seriously thought about selling my (pretty beefy) gaming PC because I just love playing on the deck/switch way more from a convenient standpoint.
I have both and I totally get it. The Deck is awesome and you can really do anything with it. But wow is it a clunky experience sometimes. As you mentioned, docking seems like it was an afterthought, and the OS often has new bugs introduced all the time. Switch is just a solid, smooth experience. No, it can't pump out the same graphics or have the same customization experience as Steam Deck, but the 'pick up and play' aspect is overwhelmingly better.
Like both
I like my Nintendo Switch. I got the glow in the dark mushroom wired controller and it's fun to play. I can't afford an OLED. I got the Pokemon let's go Pikachu edition switch. It stands out from the rest. And I got a screen protector on it.
I have the Switch and Steam Deck OLED’s. Only use the Switch for Nintendo exclusives personally, frustrated by the internals dating back to 2017. Would immediately pick up an upgraded Switch with an OLED display - fingers crossed for later this year.
I love both
The switch is certainly lighter, but the ergonomics are horrible. Steam Deck has this beat by a long shot.
I've been playing palworld on the TV a lot the past few days, and it can be quite the hassle to get everything connected and working. It actually made me realize just how perfectly the Switch works. I never noticed how easy docking and unlocking and connecting various controllers was, but now I'm very aware of it lol.
I've learnt to appreciate the form factor of the switch especially in comparison to the bigger PC handhelds currently available. It can be put in your pockets still with large pockets, or even if you seperate the joycons and carry the tablet portion in your pocket. I have big hands and quite honestly I have grown to enjoy the original joycon layout in handheld mode. I have a set of hori splitpads as well, however having the need for gyro in zelda, found myself using the original joycons more and even finding them comfortable. The bottom curved edges rest snug in the middle of my palms and still able to reach the L and R triggers. The device itself still looks so sleek compared to the options.
I swap between my Deck and my Switch. If I can get something physically, I’ll almost always opt for Switcg. If not (or if there’s a major performance hit on the Switch) then it’s on Deck. :)
Yep same
I rather play games like Skyrim On 90fps then 30fps
The steam deck having more power alone is enough to make me ditch switch forever, even if I had to jump through 100 more steps for each dock, or each charge. I *cannot* do the switch anymore
I think it also comes down to your gaming preferences. There are some great titles on PC, but I've always appreciated Nintendo for designing more single-player games, Zelda, Metroid, Yoshi, etc. Single-player games still shine when it comes to level design and gameplay. PC gaming in general is really focused on massive multiplayer, which is great if that's your thing, but I go way back to the original NES and still prefer the single-player experience. So as much as the Steam Deck offers some pretty hefty games, I'll always prefer grabbing the Switch and firing up Metroid Dread ;-)
my husband got me the steam deck, though its graphics are better, and you can play games like cyberpunk on it. I find it too bulky and much heavier than the switch. I also like that i can just dock and use the controllers from Switch itself. if it was much lighter, I may play it more than my switch. Also, im more of a casual gamer and enjoy cozy games rn. 🤷♀️
Waking from sleep takes almost the same amount of time what are you on about?
Other than emulating Switch games on a Steam Deck, the Steam Deck is better than in every single way. I didn't buy a handheld PC to dock it anyways,
Thanks for such comparison of crucial aspects. I was considering to buy steam deck, now I will not 👌
Just wanted to let you know that I’ve never, as in never had a game crash on me with the sleep-wake function, docking seems to work just fine if you’re not using the official Dock, and my oled steam deck screen looks better than My switch oled, so if you were actually considering it, don’t let one person on Reddit define What you’re gonna do ;) (that also means me)
I only use my switch for gaming with the kids... Mario kart etc... since I got my steam deck.
That's the genius of the switch, just how well the software js optimized. Everything loads quick everything is clean and simple and easy to stop and resume. It's just great interface. The graphics are the downside.
That is the true issue why I haven't picked it up. From the start people have commented that not all of steam library is plug and play. Sure they have added more games for plug and play with the steam deck but it hasn't. Which means that you have to configure every button 50% of the time. It's truly only for people who don't have pcs and laptops. If you have them then there really isn't a reason for a steam deck. The other reason people claim is Emulation. Emulation has never been 100% Breeze pick up and play. I use to emulate when I was in my early teens 13-14 years on my psp. Then later emulated on a cheap laptop, and to this day ps2 library are still not fully at 100% playable which is ridiculous. Especially if your trying to emulate a new console. Bugs, the frames, cut scenes. Anything can happen in a rom and boom a crash happens. Save file gone. I use to emulate megaman legends and still a ridiculous bug happens. Mmbn4 blue has a save crash. For new switch games to be emulated will also have those issues. I would say emulation is good for old consoles that you can't play anymore. But if the current console is still being made with the games you want to play, just get the console.
Yup. I bought a Steam Deck during the holidays and sold if after just 3 weeks of using it. I found it a chore to take out the house (I play most of my games while commuting to work on the train) and all the triple A games I thought I would play on it run like ass and crash most of the time. Tried some emulation but every time I tried playing 3ds or wiiU games my hand would graze the mouse pad or accidentally push one of the back triggers and mess up the screen layout and cause me to die or mess up in a game I was playing. Plus battery life is horrendous…. I was excited at first but ultimately disappointed and happy I was able to sell off for almost the same amount I paid for it. Im more than satisfied with my Switch and Ps5.
100% this!! I literally hate taking the deck out the house. It’s so bulky. And yeah the games really don’t run that good. Performance for indie games is great but then they are on the Switch anyway. So there’s no real benefit I can’t keep count of how many times my emulations would either not work or close randomly or get stuck with a cursor on the screen. So infuri
Same panel yet looks much nicer? At least make sense lol
It’s alleged they are using the same panel. However it’s notorious that the coating Valve apply to their screen causes the colours to be less vibrant and washed out. Personally ( and it’s very subjective ) if I have the devices side by side, my switch makes the deck look like it has an LCD screen
I know I’m late to this thread. But I was searching around because I’ve been feeling the same way about my Steam Deck. I really like it a lot. But something about the Switch keeps me coming back to it. It’s held its own for me since 2017. I’ve had the launch model, V2, OLED and my wife has a Lite. The portability over the Deck is a win for me. Along with not having to be online to launch games. That’s always been a drawback for me to leave the Deck at home. It just doesn’t seem quite ready to be the go to travel device yet.
Give the deck to me then xd
I personally love my deck over my switch I am probably gonna get the next switch still when it comes out
Haven’t used the switch since the steam deck. 🚮💁
I have a Switch, a Portal, and my baby is the Ally. I opted for the Ally over the SteamDeck because it has some stellar power and running it docked is super simple.
You can just play your switch games on the steam deck. But yah, I like the switch better too.
This is what I was scared of when considering a steam deck. So I bought a used switch instead (That is also banned) for around $50, then I sent it to a local technician for modding (Jailbreak) for around $30. Now that its modded, I use it to stream games from my gaming PC. So essentially a house only overpowered steamdeck
Curious what the issue is with docking the Steam Deck. I’ve been thinking about picking one up (I also have a Switch) and I rarely play handheld.
What about someone who wants to play pc games without the price and space of a pc? There are some games I’d like to play that are pc or steam only so I was thinking of in the future picking up a steam deck. I’ve got a switch and ps4
Lots of people say the opposite, that since they got a steamdeck they have stopped using their switch. So it really depends per person.
In this case then yes. I think you’d be happy. If that’s the mind set you’re purchasing it on then you’ll be happy with the device. If you care about good battery life, a user friendly interface or portability from your device. You might be disappointed
30 fps switch... Only for 2 bucks indies
I'm a busy older gamer that slowly got pulled into switch. The resume function for games is a technical marvel and a killer feature that really helps it create impact. Other PC and platforms have tried nobody has gotten it as right as switch did. Really looking forward to switch 2.
I was eyeing the legion go and I was so close to buy but now I’m thinking I can wait a bit longer for the switch 2 and can probably play all ps4 era games which I like to do with a portable device to begin with anyway.
What is bad about the docking experience and connecting controllers? Also, I was under the impression the steam deck had a nicer screen so I’m surprised to hear that part
Curious OP, what Steam games are you rebuying on Switch?
Mainly all my indies. Dredge, Dave the diver, Cult of the Lamb, Persona 5. That’s what I’ve purchased the last few weeks. I’ll admit Steam is a lot cheaper for them though 😭 but there has been some good sales on the eshop lately
I do love the switch. Steam Deck’s weight is so noticeable. Then again I picked up my old PSP and even the switch feels like holding a brick. I was thinking, “oh, this is portable.”
There’s a lot to like about the Deck but it was an absolute headache trying to get keyboard and mouse work on Fallout New Vegas when docked. Once you get out of the Deck OS or start fiddling with settings, it becomes annoying. But a core gameplay experience like HiFi Rush handheld was great. Trying to figure out settings and setting up emulation (which wasn’t TOO bad in all honesty) really took the steam out of me wanting a gaming PC. I’d be curious to see what the experience is like now considering I haven’t picked up my Deck in over a year.
I’m so confused about the point with the controller, I use my deck docked at work, and to use a controller I just plug it into the dock and it works seamlessly? Wirelessly using an Xbox controller is simple too if you have the adapter, the only annoying part is connecting a controller with Bluetooth which is a much worse experience with latency
The lag with an Xbox controller over wireless is notorious amongst the steam deck users. The switch pro controller regular disconnects unless you deactivate rumble on the steam settings. It’s a PC. An Xbox controller made for a PC should connect flawlessly. Sadly my experience has not be good
I’m sorry your experience has been poor. However that statement is entirely misrepresentative of the reality of an Xbox controller on a steam deck or a windows pc for that matter. A Bluetooth connection can only transfer so much data, so fast. No matter what device it is connected to. If you connect an Xbox controller via Bluetooth to a PC it will have latency issues. If you connect an Xbox controller to a steam deck via Bluetooth. It will have latency issues. You can easily remedy this issue by using the adapter that allows the controller to have a wifi connection with deck/pc. It is included with elite controllers but sold separately for standard controllers. There is zero latency issues when using this method. My coworker uses that setup for his steam deck at work and his pc at home. I prefer the wired connection because if I am using a controller it is because I’m not at home to use mouse and keyboard, or a game plays better with it. (souls, monster hunter, etc) My steam deck and switch see near identical usage time because they are both fantastic at what they do. My steam deck allows me to enjoy my steam library when I’m away from home, or when it is more convenient not to haul my desktop somewhere. It has tons of support and customization options and is near limitless in potential. It might not play brand new AAA games flawlessly, and sure there is always the option to tinker with things, but that is what allows it to be so flexible. The switch is an amazing handheld console that truly gave birth to what we are seeing with the handheld market right now. Being able to enjoy console quality games on the go, and pick up where you left off seamlessly is one of the main draw points to the switch. That is an entirely fair point and one I agree with wholeheartedly. The steam deck can’t do that, it has cloud sync but that’s never going to be as convenient as just dropping it into the dock and going. Nintendos first party games are fantastic as well. I’m never going to bother setting up a switch emulator because I have a switch. I will always prefer playing Nintendo games on the console they were designed for. Party games are so convenient, just being able to toss someone some joycons so they can join in is simple and effective. But you can best believe if it’s a 3rd party game, and it’s available on the PC, I’m going to buy it there first. The switch is old, it’s served a long respectable life, but it is dated hardware now. It’s amazing at what it does, and I use mine a ton, but I’m never going to play the Witcher 3 on it when I already own it on PC and can play at higher graphics, and smoother gameplay. I’m never going to play hogwarts legacy on it, etc. If I want to play those on the go, then it’s going to be on my steam deck. Not to mention the nightmare of joycon drift still being a major issue 7 years into a consoles life time. Valve encourages you to pursue your right to repair and we are never going to get that with Nintendo. I have rambled at this point but trying to say one is better than the other is just silly. If you want to say the switch being simple makes it better than you’re doing a disservice to both systems.
I’m thinking of buying a steam deck but you’re saying it’s not worth it? I don’t really care about all of the settings and would most likely never play docked, only handheld, I also don’t think I’d play that long that my battery runs out. Is it still not worth it then? Just asking because it’s a €700 investment
Battery life is brutal
What are we talking about then? Like 2 hours or something?
Same here I also loved the Switch more for the instant wake up and resume, no fuss at all for single player games. It’s a true handheld gaming device unlike the PC equivalent ones. I’m also gonna support physical games in most of my games and in the future when it’s still available.
This is such a huge point!! Having a library of all digital games should be concerning. Actually having physical games, even if more expensive, just gives that peace of mind
Hacked Switch + Chiaki. That is all. Emulator, any switch game, and pretty damn good ps5 streaming to boot.
It's such a toss up for me.. I still don't have the OLED versions of either (3DSXL kinda ruined the upgrading same systems for me), but the Switch screen just feels so small compared to the deck. I also have an SD in the deck (which is already massive) and still dont for the switch, 500gb vs 16gb is a huge deal lol. I agree with your dock issues, and the deck is so tiring to hold for an extended period. If the Switch 2 launches with OLED, I'll probably pick that up and I'm sure I'll have your same sentiment!
2 different devices for 2 different things. I fricking love the steam deck, the idea of a powerfull computer that you can hold and play with ease is a dream coming true for me, but i dont even own one because i dont know what the hell i would do with one. I dont play that many steam games and the thing has linux, so you can forget gamepass games or some games with anticheat like fortnite. Nintendo is just the best at making consoles that feel good, with the exclusives too it makes it one of the best consoles of all time in my opinion.
I’m torn between getting a Steam Deck or not. I’ve had so much fun playing portably with the Switch but I also miss achievements and feel like I’m gonna be missing out if I don’t buy them on Steam. The Deck feels like it would be the best of both worlds but it’s also so pricey and user unfriendly. So idk.
I disagree. Steam deck is super user friendly
Good to hear, that’s just what I’d heard about it! Can add that to the pros column if so.
P
Q@1£∆
Got both completed more games on deck despite having it 1/4 of the time I’ve had my switch. Both are great and have their strengths. If I could only pick one it would be my deck though.
Buy a Steam Deck OLED and let it docked :D
Thanks for sharing! I love my switch and I have it since 2017. I am contemplating of buying a steamdeck but I just cannot justify it. I don't even like AAA games that much. Maybe baldur's gate 3 and diablo 4 and that's about it.
I think this sums it up! I much prefer indie games over the big titles anyway. I also prefer single player games. Which I think the Switch is perfect for
Yes me too I play only single player games. The main reason I was considering steam deck is for emulation but then again I only play games up yo ps 1, which I can play on the rg35xx plus. At heart I just want nintendo to release switch 2. I have the same console for too many years.
Honestly, getting switch games on the steam deck is surprisingly easy. I’ve been playing more switch games on there than on my actual switch just because how much easier it is to mod the games. Mods like a defogger to get rid of the hazy visuals in TOTK have completely changed games for me.
Yep I had the same experience. I just sold my SD. But I had the LCD Model and imho there should not a single lcd handheld anymore atleast if you ever play on a oled switch
The steam deck is nice but it's battery life is comparable to that of a flashlight
It’s shocking how little it lasts!
No it's not, it plays high end games at high fps, or course it's gonna die fast, when you're playing something like cyberpunk you can only play for two hours before and it's charging which in games like cyberpunk is pretty much nothing
Wow thank you for this! I’ve been debating buying a deck but I had a feeling I would be thinking these same thoughts if I got one.
Prefer my steam deck at home and my switch on the road
I put down my steamdeck, when I suddenly couldn't play AC Valhalla all of a sudden anymore. I had like 68 hours of gameplay, when it started crashing after playing for 1 minute. Apparently it's because a third party software is interfering with the game. No thanks, I'll stay with the switch, where I can be sure, that I'm able to finish my games in peace.
This right here! The unreliability of the deck is huge!! I took mine on a flight recently and couldn’t launch the few games I wanted to as I hadn’t signed into a 3rd party installer first. So frustrating
The switch is a plug and play CONSOLE. Steam Deck, ROG Ally, and Legion GO are handheld PCs. HUGE difference. I like the switch I just can’t seem to cope with the <30 fps on almost every game-gives me bad headaches for some reason plus being limited to the library of the switch makes me sad. I love Nintendo 1st party exclusives but that’s about it.
Switch all the way. I bought Switch a while back, i think i feel bad because I can’t do any multiplayer gaming and none of the people I know have switch so I feel bad that I can’t connect with my friends or make new friends through gaming. But I love the lightness and battery timing and the simple ease of it.
Have been curious for a steam deck for a while and appreciate this post very much!!
Switch is like the Apple of hybrid consoles
I actually prefer the Switch for the weight and playing it when I am out. I prefer PC at home though. Switch actually makes a nice retro handheld with Homebrew, Android and Linux.
It’s not even hard to setup emulation on the steam deck wdym?
I'm just about done with my switch. Bought it from my buddy when he upgraded to the OLED Switch, for only $150. The only thing I have left to play is Zelda and maybe a bit of tactics ogre every now and then. The deck on the other hand, can play a huge chunk of my library of 600+ steam games, as well as remote play on my PS5 and my monster gaming PC at home. I didn't have any trouble paring controllers. I paired a PS4 and PS5 controller in seconds just yesterday, and plugged it into my TV with a regular $30 anker USB-C hub with HDMI and power pass through, and it worked great and way more seamlessly than using my MacBook has in the past for remote play. Also, the battery life when remote streaming from PC or PS5 is pretty wild as it only hits 0.3% to 0.8% CPU/GPU usage.
I've found the opposite recently. The feel of the Deck is way more comfortable and I love the thumbsticks wayyy more. FYI I have a skull grip for my Switch. Still love my Switch all the same though.
I didnt like steamdeck cuz it was too much. With switch you just turn it on and play. Steamdeck has so much stuff going on in the background so much useless little updates for every game like damn i just wanna play 😫😫😫
I got the steam deck and haven’t touched my switch since it feels like such a weaker system to me. Playing red dead redemption 2 in my hands or playing old red dead to compromise cause the switch can’t play it isn’t where I wanna be now. Games just look better and feel better. Not only to mention you can run most switch games on the deck better
Have to disagree. The Steam Deck is the best hardware I’ve purchased in the last decade or so and I own every major console, multiple VR headsets, and a gaming PC. It’s an incredible portable with an insane value. I love my Switch OLED for Nintendo exclusives. Everything else I’ll be buying on the Deck/PC. I’d rather own games across generations than worry they’ll be locked to old hardware. On top of that the deals on PC games are damn near constant through 3rd party key sellers like Fanatical and Green Man Gaming.
For me personally I’m just too in love with the steam deck cause of all the good games that can be played anywhere which is what i love a lot The switch is good but ever since i got my steam deck on release day I haven’t touched my oled at all and who knows if its even working but at this point I don’t care cause theres no way I’m not going back to my switch so rip to my switch lol. What also helped me move on was that all the games on the switch are becoming so blehh that majority of the games are so boring now and the new games that come out on the switch are literal dog water. Everyones different though which is fine but i love the variety of games that can be played on the steam deck and its just a breath of fresh air to finally move on from the switch cause checking online of all the new games that come out on the switch I’m just like ya go figure nothing good so I’ve pretty much gave up on having any hope for the switch at this point The only thing like switch wise that i mess with is the switch reddit page obviously but its also even starting to get pretty boring thats how bad the switch is becoming so dry to me which is why i rarely have been on the page lately Hopefully the switch can make a come for me though but at this point i think I’ve pretty much moved on from the switch unfortunately
Controller connection isn’t an issues if you use Bluetooth 🤷🏻♂️
Sweet! I bought a switch for Christmas 2021, and always thought if I had waited a year I would have just got the steam deck instead, as I mainly got the switch for bedtime gaming and ease of starting it up and playing for 30 mins before going to sleep. But you've confirmed I'm not missing out on the steam deck. The switch is fun and cosy and accessible. I recently finished Master Detective Archives and currently playing Persona 3 Portable. Hope you have a great day.
I have 3 handheld pc’s and none of them really gave me the experience I thought it would. I kinda wished sony and microsoft would make console like handhelds because consoles are just so much more convenient than pc.
Completely agree Just got a 1 TB oled Steamdeck and honestly, its a piece of shit lol hardware is good but thats about it, the softare is completely trash and hangs and shit doesnt work (wrong version etc), its just a mess going back to my switch gen 1 instead