Since its release in 2017, the Nintendo Switch has been a runaway success. With its unique handheld/console hybrid design, the Switch has captured the imaginations of gamers all over the world. However, it looks like the Switch’s dominance may be coming to an end.
Recently, Valve, the company behind the popular Steam gaming platform, announced a new device called the Steam Deck. The Steam Deck is a handheld gaming device that allows users to play their favorite Steam games on the go.
In many ways, it’s very similar to the Switch. But does this mean that the Steam Deck is a Nintendo Switch killer? Only time will tell. But for now, let’s take a look at all the factors to see how worried Nintendo should be about Valve’s new handheld device.
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Steam Deck vs Nintendo Switch
Both consoles seek to bring games that have previously been regarded as living room experiences into your hands. Nintendo benefited from its four-year head start and recognized brand name, whereas Valve receives a boost from its cutting-edge technology and big libraries of the Steam client.
Game libraries
Most gamers talk about specs before anything else. However, specs don’t matter if there aren’t any good games to play on the device. So, let’s start there.
Right now, the Nintendo Switch has a strong lineup of first and third-party titles. Super Mario Odyssey, The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, Splatoon 2, Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, and Arms are just some of the great games available on the Switch. People pick the Nintendo Switch because of these games which have branded themselves in the fans’ hearts.
The Steam Deck will have access to the entire Steam library which includes over 3000 games. And while not all of these games will be optimized for the Steam Deck, a large portion of them will be playable (around 700 for now).
That includes popular titles like Counter-Strike, Dota 2, Half-Life 3, Final Fantasy XIV, Elden Ring, God of War, Team Fortress 2, and many more. In addition, there are thousands of other games available on Steam that could potentially come to the Steam Deck. This gives the Steam Deck a significant advantage over the Switch in terms of game selection.
So you can pick a console based on the games you like to play. If you’re more into Nintendo’s first-party games, then the Switch is a better choice. However, if you’re looking for a wider variety of games, then the Steam Deck might be a better fit.
Hardware
When it comes to hardware, the Nintendo Switch is a bit behind the times. The device uses an older Tegra processor and only has 4GB of LPDDR4 RAM. The Steam Deck, on the other hand, uses an AMD APU and has 16 GB of LPDDR5 onboard RAM. This means that the Steam Deck is more powerful than the Switch. The raw power of the Deck is far greater than that of the Switch.
The Switch uses a custom Nvidia GPU which can output graphics at 720p or 1080p when docked. The Steam Deck, however, uses an AMD Radeon GPU which can output graphics at 720p or up to 4K resolution when docked. So, when it comes to graphics, Steam Deck wins again.
Storage
When it comes to internal storage, the Steam Deck has a big advantage over the Nintendo Switch. The Switch comes with 32GB of internal storage. The lower-tier Steam Deck comes with 64GB of internal storage while the top-tier one comes with 512GB of internal storage. This means that you’ll have to delete games often if you want to make room for new ones for both consoles.
The two can be expanded using microSD cards and both of them support up to allow 2TB via extended microSDXC cards. So in this case, they are similar when it comes to storage numbers.
If we count how big an AAA game on Steam Deck is, the Deck’s 2TB doesn’t have many advantages over a Switch’s.
Final Verdict
The Nintendo Switch is a great console with a strong lineup of first and third-party games. However, the Steam Deck has a significant advantage over the Switch in terms of game selection and hardware. So, it depends on the games you love and want to play.