Hi all,
I currently have a Nintendo Switch, which I’ve had for a few years, and it’s crap. It lags like no tomorrow, I suffer from latency issues with the controller, e.g. skill checks have been and gone and so I can’t hit them, and the controller itself is hard to use, even for someone with small hands. The render quality is also awful. It’s likely dying.
I’d like a new console to play from my bed when I can’t be bothered going on my PC, and the Steam Deck seems perfect. It means I don’t have to buy all the games again, I can play from my save/progress point. I also like being able to have my games portable and my partner can play his games whilst at my house or vice versa. I play boring basic games like Dead by Daylight. I also may want to emulate at some point.
I’d like to use it from it’s dock, but I’d like to know how effective it is as a docked console.
How is the latency when playing games?
Can I use an xbox/PS4 wireless controller?
Can I plug my headphones into my controller?
What are it’s speed/processing like? Does it struggle or is it quite happy? E.g. Dbd on Switch takes 1 minute to load in each game and it tries to crash.
Is there anything I’m missing that’s important?
It is not a flawless experience, but pc gaming rarely is. I would say it is the most efficient, cost effective way to have a tv gaming experience with pc games.
Yes you could have a dedicated pc for this and have it run holoiso for a smooth OS experience, but the progressive optimization of steamOS on the deck is worth the investment in the deck alone. Thats not mentioning the option of having a handheld experience if you want it.
I think PC gaming comes with a certain amount of jankiness and problem solving and the deck, whether docked or not offers a more consistent experience than gaming on windows. Its just not as consistent as console gaming.
Definitely get the deck if this is your use case. Stick with the OLED deck though i used to have the lcd deck and its a 1st generation device… The OLED will be an all around better product.