Did The Steam Deck Turn Me Into a PC Gamer?

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For several years now, I’ve been a proud owner of the Steam Deck, and I have a regular routine with it each day. As soon as I pick up the Valve handheld, I browse through the games on sale, crunch the numbers to determine if I can afford a purchase, transition into Desktop Mode, explore old games that I can emulate, and finally, sit down to play something.

Does this make me a PC gamer? Maybe.

Before diving into a game on this portable powerhouse known as the Deck, I find myself fiddling with settings – tweaking and adjusting until it feels just right. This tinkering makes me ponder if my experience embodies the essence of PC gaming. Although it’s a handheld device, the endless customization possibilities in both games and hardware have got me hooked, making me wonder if I fit into the category of those casual PC gamers that some people love to criticize.

When running certain high-powered PC games on the Steam Deck, I always make sure the graphics are set at Medium or Low quality. While games like SoulCalibur 6 can be played at maximum settings with minimal visual loss, this is more of an exception than a rule. Even if a game allows for high-quality settings, I usually opt for Medium or Low to extend battery life and enjoy longer gaming sessions.

Tuning the Frames Per Second (FPS) has been a game-changer, providing me with the flexibility to pick between more appealing graphics or smoother gameplay. While I may not be overly concerned about frame rate and resolution, it’s incredible to observe how certain games can enhance their looks or performance by tweaking settings. It’s wonderful to see these customization options on the Switch 2 and PlayStation 5, allowing us to tailor our console experience according to our preferences.

The Steam Deck from Valve contributes to the rise in popularity of PC gaming by providing an approachable console-style experience that attracts many novice players.

Once gamers discover ways to enhance their gameplay by adjusting settings such as Protons, it could be contended that they’re moving towards becoming PC gamers. This approach certainly offers a new perspective on gaming, there’s no doubt about that.

Since I prefer console-style gaming on the portable device called the Deck due to its controller compatibility, I wouldn’t consider myself a dedicated desktop (PC) gamer. Occasionally, when games lack native controller support, I need to find community-created layouts to enhance playability, which can be inconvenient. Moreover, I primarily use the Deck for gaming and not for typical computer tasks like work or watching YouTube videos, further questioning my label as a PC gamer.

Perhaps one day I might possess a top-tier gaming PC capable of running all these demanding titles currently inaccessible on the Steam Deck. However, considering its portability, why settle for a stationary setup when I can take the Deck along with me instead?

Beyond its appealing design, it also supports playing my beloved PS2 games. As such, I don’t see any compelling reasons to let go of this portable computer just yet, at the very least for now.

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2025-04-18 14:43