The Steam Deck Replaces the PlayStation and Xbox, Not the Switch

Valve’s high-powered Steam Deck handheld and its vast PC library make traditional home consoles much less appealing.

[SullysCigar]

Cool, I'll look forward to playing GT7 in VR on it next month. Dumb, PCMag.com, just dumb.

[darthv72]

...on a side note, Index support would be cool.

[piroh]

True

I see a connection to Xbox (you can play all Xbox games on it) even i considering it will replace my XSX some day, but Playstation is completely different system. Right now im playing GT7, Ragnarok and when these games will be Steam deck verified ill be playin GT8 and Ghost of Tsushima 2

According to the author Snickers and a beef are the same because its all food

[-Foxtrot]

So dumb it’s brilliant

NO…it’s just dumb

[Army_of_Darkness]

This will never replace my PS5... But I did have all the intentions in the world to replace the switch! Need it for my steam games, camping trips and vacationing.

[Orchard]

Not that dumb though. The reality is, the overwhelming majority (high 90s in percents) of PS owners don’t care about VR.

So for most, it is a viable replacement/alternative to PS5. Especially now that more and more PS games are showing up on Steam.

[Nyxus]

The reason Sony is willing to release games on PC is because it doesn't cannibalize their console sales. At least to an extent that matters. Same goes for Microsoft by the way.

[Orchard]

Yep - I’ve always said the same. I support Sony releasing their games on PC because as you said, the hit to console sales will be minimal, and more $$$ = bigger and better games for us.

Could someone realistically buy a SD instead of a PS5? Yeah, and it’d let you play Sony games on the go. But most console gamers like the simplicity, convenience and comfort of a console, couch and a big TV.

[SurgicalMenace]

Why...?

[Orchard]

Why what?

[_SilverHawk_]

Lol. My ps5 took up a lot of space in my picnic basket when going to the park

[darthv72]

PS4 & XBO perhaps...

And the deck can play switch too.

[Silver_ShadoWolf]

This. They do know that the steam deck can’t play all of PS5 and Xbox games, but it can play all of switch games. The author knows nothing about the steam deck…

[shinoff2183]

Not quite lol. Still replaces switch if anything.

[Nyxus]

Not for me, as I only buy physical, which the Steam Deck doesn't support at all.

[Vengeance1138]

100% factually incorrect article.

[GoodGuy09]

Nah it doesn't replace anything. Good for entry level pc gaming and just pc gamers that want to play on the go.

[SoulWarrior]

lol what nonsense, it doesn't have to, and won't replace anything.

[Elda]

LOL! No it doesn't.

[garos82]

lmao

get the hell out of here pc mag

[JL2930]

I could never imagine someone choosing to game on a 7 inch screen over a 60 or 70 inch tv not to mention portable hardware can never achieve the same power as a full size APU.

The Steam Deck not only replaces the Switch, it emulates it.

[Pissmaster]

Are you sure about that man?

[-Foxtrot]

Only time I’ve ever thought Valve had a shot in the console market was when MS had that awful Xbox One reveal, Valve could have really twisted the knife in but we got shitty Steam Boxes instead

[FinalFantasyFanatic]

Now that you mention it, that would have been the perfect opportunity for a "Steam Console" if there ever was one, Steam should have attempted that, especially with the new Big Picture mode that resembles the Steam Deck OS.

[-Foxtrot]

If they managed to make a console that links to your steam account and made it so some games (the ones with support anyway) in your pc library could be played on your console along with heavy game mod support similar to the PC they could have knocked MS out and possibly give some competition to Sony

[MrNinosan]

Nope

[H9]

Nothing does replace anything honestly, PS5 doesn't replace switch because it doesn't have Mario Zelda etc and switch doesn't replace PS5 because it doesn't have GOW Spiderman etc the same goes for everything else

[Zeref]

Steamdeck is great for smaller games. But it's pretty useless when it comes to games that are even remotely graphically intensive, an hour of playtime is pathetic. It's a nice device to have to play smaller games that you might not feel like turning the TV or PC on for, For example Pentiment.

And those Switch games people keep bragging about that you can 'play' on the Steamdeck. 80 percent of them are buggy as hell or straight up don't work.

It's a great device on it's own but doesn't replace anything.

[Neofire]

If you think this limited ass handheld is comparable to the current gen Playstation or Xbox, you have much better problems.

As for PCmag spewing this rhetoric......tell me your biased with telling me you are biased 👀

[Father__Merrin]

Stupid article which screams inferiority complex. Consoles won't go away anyone series about gaming will always have both and many will be console only or pc only. It's not hard to grasp

[CrimsonWing69]

Lol, nawww.

Look, portability is cool if you’re into that, but nothing beats sitting comfortably in a recliner, leaning back with your feet up, playing on a large screen with a great sound bar and a controller in your hand.

[darkrider]

It's the way around 1000%

[FinalFantasyFanatic]

Not really, no, I still need the Playstation and the Nintendo for the exclusives that are never coming to Steam, although if I had to take a Switch or a Steam Deck with me in a backpack, it'd probably be the Steam Deck. If we wanted an apples to apples comparison, you'd moreso say that a PC replaces your home consoles (apart from the exclusives).

[z2g]

Uhhh sure bro. Whatever helps you sleep at night.

[FlintGREY]

It's not replacing anything for me. I hate the size of it. I'm thinking of getting an Aya Neo though. Better form factor

[Orchard]

Interesting take for sure. It matches the Switch in form factor for sure, but yes, it’s more of a replacement/alternative to Xbox and PlayStation when you look at the software available.

[BrainSyphoned]

Uhhmmm, ok, stick to PC please.

[Silver_ShadoWolf]

You can play every game from the Switch library on the Steam Deck…. You can remote play PS5 and XBox, but not run the games from the system itself. Sorry, but this article means nothing, especially when they don’t know what the steam deck can do..

[jznrpg]

Uh nope . Don’t even want one

[iivGHOST]

Not true i still play more on my on my ps5 and less on my steamdeck but thats just me

[Duke19]

Counterpoint, it replaces literally nothing.

[BehindTheRows]

Except, that it doesn’t.

[coldfire984]

I run switch games on it too. So it replaces all the above, and works in tandem with my ps5 as I stream it to my steam deck.

[Destiny1080]

64GBs of slow eMMC memory and a 800p screen

this thing couldn't even replace my ten year phone

[Orchard]

Your 10 year old phone can play Elden Ring?

[masterfox]

the steam deck imo is just valve creating a product for a niche market, it wont go replacing any major console or other handheld, and this will be this way until valve decide to go big into the retailer market like Bestbuy, walmart or other big retailers around the world. Is like VR in the past , VR was just meant for a few and it was specifically to PC, but Sony decided to go full market with PSVR make VR no longer a niche product since is widely available to everyone. So until Valve decides to go full market the steam deck is just an obscure product in general.

[Aloymetal]

The only thing that can replace my PS5 is a PS5 Pro and later on a PS6;)

[Binarycode]

Once upon a time in a distant land, one man buys a steam deck and declares he is the master of all.

Jokes aside, Steamdeck is a decent bit of kit and would suit some ppl down to the ground.

I personally don't game when i'm out and about, but for those who do, it's probably a better option then the switch and has much better hardware.

https://www.youtube.com/wat...

I thought I some Vaseline on the switch side of my screen.

[Eonjay]

Deck plays Switch games better than Switch. Deck does not play PS5 and Xbox games better.

[darthv72]

It plays ryse, sunset overdrive and quantum break at 60fps where even a one x (and series) could not.

So it can play certain xb games better just as it can with certain ps games.

[RiseNShine]

How a device that does all the things switch does, including emulating the Switch, and has a design quite similar to the switch, isn't a menace for the Switch?

[DragoonUS]

LOL! You can emulate Nintendo Switch with Steam Deck! You can literally play nintendo switch games with Steam Deck... Try Harder.

[frostypants]

Sure it does...LOL.

[Lexreborn2]

Odd… I haven’t used my switch since I got my steamdeck…. Still use my PS5 and PC though and even my series X

[MikeMbz8]

No it definitely doesn't replace my PS5.

[CDbiggen]

It didn't replace anything for me, I barely use it.