Its targeted by developers like a console is, its a specific hardware that developers can optimize for. And the operating system and user interface is optimized for gaming. That’s the Console portion of it. Steam Deck is a PC hardware in handheld form factor and a Console treatment, which developers can target specifically for, unlike other handheld PCs with Windows.
Steam Deck is not just a PC, and its not just a handheld. Its a console that can be targeted.
the operating system and user interface is optimized for gaming
Most of the “optimizations” are either generic Linux improvements that exist in many distros or are can be easily installed on any PC. Meanwhile the UI is literally just Steam gamepadui, any PC could access it, any PC can launch Steam on boot and set Steam to launch into Steam big picture mode. The only optimizations are just a set of good defaults and software that works well together.
Its a console that can be targeted
Yeah because its a popular piece of hardware running amazing software, thats something Windows handhelds dont have. What people dont understand about SteamOS is it isn’t that optimized, thats because Linux is so optimized as an OS that Valve doesn’t need to do much on top of it.
There is even an API in Steam that directly targets the Steam Deck. Steam Deck can be programmatically identified by its API, just like any other console. This is a key factor.
We are not speaking about any random hardware configuration or tablet, we are speaking about a device with software and hardware specifically designed, build, tested, targeted and marketed as a single unit. Exactly what a console is. However, I’m not disregarding its roots of PC. What I am saying is, that Steam Deck does not represent PC “very well”; its its own thing, even compared to other handheld PCs. If the Steam is marketed as a PC, then it won’t get the support from the developers.
Steam Deck is its own category, besides general PC. Games need to have different Spec Recommendations for PC and one specific optimized version for Steam Deck. Both are separated.
Its targeted by developers like a console is, its a specific hardware that developers can optimize for. And the operating system and user interface is optimized for gaming. That’s the Console portion of it. Steam Deck is a PC hardware in handheld form factor and a Console treatment, which developers can target specifically for, unlike other handheld PCs with Windows.
Steam Deck is not just a PC, and its not just a handheld. Its a console that can be targeted.
Yes. It’s both… And it is fully functioning as either. It’s really not difficult to understand.
Most of the “optimizations” are either generic Linux improvements that exist in many distros or are can be easily installed on any PC. Meanwhile the UI is literally just Steam gamepadui, any PC could access it, any PC can launch Steam on boot and set Steam to launch into Steam big picture mode. The only optimizations are just a set of good defaults and software that works well together.
Yeah because its a popular piece of hardware running amazing software, thats something Windows handhelds dont have. What people dont understand about SteamOS is it isn’t that optimized, thats because Linux is so optimized as an OS that Valve doesn’t need to do much on top of it.
There is even an API in Steam that directly targets the Steam Deck. Steam Deck can be programmatically identified by its API, just like any other console. This is a key factor.
We are not speaking about any random hardware configuration or tablet, we are speaking about a device with software and hardware specifically designed, build, tested, targeted and marketed as a single unit. Exactly what a console is. However, I’m not disregarding its roots of PC. What I am saying is, that Steam Deck does not represent PC “very well”; its its own thing, even compared to other handheld PCs. If the Steam is marketed as a PC, then it won’t get the support from the developers.
Steam Deck is its own category, besides general PC. Games need to have different Spec Recommendations for PC and one specific optimized version for Steam Deck. Both are separated.