Does the Steam Deck Really Destroy the Nintendo Switch

Hyperbole: people using words that are dramatic to make a point. But sometimes, certain things can be so one-sided that there’s a clear winner. Does the Steam Deck actually destroy the Nintendo Switch, though?

Video compares several key areas: voice chat; ergonomics; and the library.

[GoodGuy09]

No and yes.

No because Nintendo has it's exclusives which are very popular and still sell tons.

Yes in terms of hardware.

[CaptainHenry916]

I like the fact you can play the whole steam library and Microsoft gamepass and download emulators on the steam deck. It doesn't take a genius to install emulators or maybe it does 🤔

[Cosmoplayer84]

The casual gamer gaming on nintendo so it's not the same target with steam deck

[EvertonFC]

Exactly

[Brazz]

But you can play 90% of all switch games on deck, and play better with higher resolution, frame rate and even mods!! Deck's is better, if you know how to make stuff work.

[CaptainHenry916]

Exactly

[XbladeTeddy]

Yes you can play Switch games on it but that's piracy and not something to be shouting about.

[jwillj2k4]

This doesn’t help their pockets or public perception since piracy isn’t the path most paying customers take. Im in the realm of buying a new device, I’m not gonna jump through hoops to pirate games when I can just buy the hardware those games are made for.

[1Victor]

@xblade
Exactly 👍👍

[XxINFERNUSxX]

I have the OLED and I agree, performance is just crap now, Xeno 2 to many FPS drops. I think when Nintendo launches their next system I'll buy a more powerful handheld like the next steam deck or something better and just emulate. Nintendo needs to stop down playing tech. just tired of it.

[RaveTears]

@XbladeTeddy Not really just because you can play Nintendo games on Steam Deck, it doesn't mean that piracy. Anyone can buy an official Nintendo game copy and get the rom from it. I owned a copy of Metroid Dread and Zelda: BOTW so I am playing these two games on my Steam Deck with their roms.

[SPEAKxTHExTRUTH]

Why does one need to destroy the other? Both can coexist just fine. I own both and while I definitely use my deck more than my Switch I don’t see the deck as a replacement for Switch owners. Everybody is not tech savvy enough to install a Switch emulator and roms. When I first got my deck I thought I’d never use my Switch again but I still find myself pulling out my Switch to play some Metroid

[EvertonFC]

Agreed

[EvertonFC]

Can the steam deck play animal crossing, Pokémon, mario, mario kart, splatoon etc (basically NIntendo 1st party) ? If not then NO as that's why Nintendo kids and fans buy Nintendo consoles/handheld.

[TheTony316]

Technically it can via emulation.

[EvertonFC]

Cheers although that's not exactly plug and play which I'm guessing most Nintendo parents wouldn't want for the kids ?

[Espangerish]

Huge fan of the deck here but no it will not destroy the switch in mass market appeal. The idea that it would is just silly.

In the eyes of hardcore or pc gamers then yeah sure it will possibly be a more appealing machine.

[rataranian]

Technically it does. It can literally emulate the Switch, and any other console out there. Its a handheld pc.

[TheColbertinator]

Nope. It is a good alternative for portable gaming however.

[Tetsujin]

Both can exist together for competition reasons.

Here's the short version - one is a dedicated gaming device, the other is a multi-use pc that plays video games.

[MadLad]

The Steam Deck can emulate the Switch and its games as good, or better, than the Switch itself.
Then it also plays your Steam Library.

So I would say yes; and by a large margin.

[brewin]

Id love to buy one just to emulate switch. Its not illegal if you own a copy of the switch game.

[MadLad]

That's what I do.
I know everyone loves to pin PC gamers as pirates, but Steam is a company now so big they're working on multiple hardware projects at one time.
We must be spending money, eh?

I legitimately buy the Switch games I want to play. I just don't feel the need to buy the antiquated hardware I'm supposed to be playing it on.

[anast]

If I were set on getting a handheld I would save for the Deck. The Switch is too expensive for how cheaply it's made.

[XbladeTeddy]

I just love the fact I don't have to pay Nintendo tax on old ports of old games. I got The Witcher and Dying Light on the Switch but won't be buying ports like that again when you can get them so cheap on the Steam Deck.

[rlow1]

So what’s the battery life of both? I didn’t watch the video? If theirs a big difference then that’s one. The other would be price.

[SimpleSlave]

I don't know. Maybe if you throw a Steam Deck hard enough at a Switch it might shatter it into pieces. Maybe both would be destroyed even.

Wait...what are we talking about again?

[northpaws]

If it is more readily available I would have gotten one already, but when I see the delivery date is end of year, it is much easier to control my impulse.

[brewin]

Maybe if it had Nintendo's games enhanced to the capabilities of the SD. The switch hardware is not a powerhouse by any stretch. It is easily outclassed by even last gen consoles and the SD. But it's the games that matter. Its been proven time and time again. Its still crazy to see what Nintendo is squeezing out of the switch. It would be nice to have these amazing Switch games on the new gen consoles and SD, but it's not gonna happen in an official capacity at least. They're just to damn stubborn.

[AnotherGamer]

Nintendo really needs an updated hardware now. Some pixel and 2d games have trouble running on the thing.

[Neonridr]

I own both. they both serve their purposes for me. But I enjoy both and won't be replacing either. I love playing my Steam games or retro games on my Deck. I love playing my exclusives on my Switch. I don't support piracy when it comes to games as I like to support the devs. To each their own though.

[jznrpg]

Maybe in power but not on games I can’t play anywhere else .

[Spenok]

Unequivocally.

[jjb1981]

Nintendo obviously feels threatened when they assign Denuvo the duty to hinder ROM emulation on newer games. It's not gonna help but they supposedly sleep better at night.

[Elronza]

Yes indeed the Steam Deck is vastly superior. I'm a day one Switch owner and I still want a Steam Deck over my switch.

[cthulhucultist]

As an owner of both, my humble opinion is that each one compliments the other.Steam deck has  superior graphics (even gaming at 60 fps in some heavy games in preselected settings), better joysticks, more games (pc games, microsoft games such as forza horizon age of empires 4 and psychonauts, sea of thieves and some sony games such as days gone, spiderman, horizon zero dawn and god of war with uncharted and last of us to follow shortly) and better sales on steam (i bought most high profile games on steam on sales for 9-23 euros max).

Having said that, the battery is far better on switch OLED (I barely max 1 ,5 hour on steam deck on standard settings), is lighter and has a much better screen. Games play seamlessly on switch, whereas on SD require some tweaking some times and some games freeze (god of war, the  shore etc).Downloads on switch are also super fast whereas on SD due to the  file size take much time.

Also, nintendo games are far better suited for my family and I usually enjoy them more (mario party, mario tennis, bowsers fury, luigis mansion 3 etc)

So I ended up playing on switch all indie games and first party nintendo and all high profile AAA games or demanding games from a variety of catalog on SD.

[Nuvem]

lol no

[Demetrius]

Interns of hardware yes of course pc playability but other than that nope

[zahdab]

it did for me... i haven't touched my switch in ages, i play a backup of the switch games i own on steam deck cause it's much easier to have all your games on 1 machine.