I have owned almost every handheld in existence. Almost all of them ended up collecting dust after a while. I thought it was because i did not like the form factor. The small screen, often lesser controls. In the past that might have been so, but not today with switch, vita. I actually like lying in bed, or my hammock playing games. I have come to the conclusion it is the actual games that are the problem. The handheld games.
historically games on handheld systems can be summed up in a few categories.
*Time wasters, games made to be played in short burst, waiting on the bus. I never had a use for this. And i guess mobiles have taken this segment.
*Quirky weird games. Games with made for a weird controls schemes and what not. These used to be big on handhelds. But it think the appeal is lessened somewhat when there are so many games of these sort developed by indies and on mobile. I liked it as a novelty. These days there are so many games of this sort, i rather just go for quality.
* Compromised console/pc ports. I can play these, but i refuse to buy a severely compromised, lesser version of a game for 40, 50 euros. Especially if i own it on an other proper platform.
* Traditional games made bespoke for handheld systems, like god of war games, super mario 3d land. These games are often good. And worth playing. But at the same time, i rather be playing the games made for console/pc they are often made by better teams, bigger budgets etc.
Traditionally there have been very few genuinely great games on handhelds. There are a lot of games that are good enough. But true greatness. Few and far between. There is almost always a better game to be played on console or pc. The only reason to play the game on the handheld, is because its handheld.
Enter the switch which started this console/handheld hybrid. I thought this would change things. Botw was great. Probably the greatest handheld game ever made. But ultimately, the switch just ended up being your typical nintendo system. While i understand the appeal as a parent. As a gamer it does not offer a lot, and suffers the same issues all handhelds do. Nintendo games are often polished, but more of the same that i have played 100 times before. I dont need to play another mario kart game.
Generally speaking i don't have a lot of time for games. When i do i want to play the games i want to play, and not because they are on a handheld.
The steam deck solves all of this. It has an infinite steam library. I can play the games i want to play, i don't have to compromise on game quality. I only have to buy the game i want to play once on steam, and choose how i want to play it. I can start to play a game on my htpc with a big screen, and then i can continue to play with my deck in my bed. I can do the monotonous boring parts of a game like taking out bandit camps when others are watching tv.
Same games, quick resume and cloud saves changes everything in the handheld space. Steam deck and its successors are going to finally take the handheld out of the ghetto.
I think people underestimate the massive appeal here.
