Even if it’s Steam Deck, this just goes to show that desktop Linux is totally viable; it just needs more commitment from companies
Yeah! That thing almost nobody touches because it’s literally just there to run a proprietary storefront and act as a translation layer for games is totally going to win the desktop!
Just next year!
For the last twenty-five years or so.
desktop Linux is totally viable
I think this shows the opposite.
If a FREE option that claims to be more efficient/faster (but usually isn’t in real life) is less than 2% of the market, something is wrong. Very, very wrong. Since when do people turn down free stuff, unless that free item is that bad?
Because the vast majority of computers come with Windows preinstalled, and the vast majority of users can’t be bothered to update their OS unless they’re forced, let alone reinstall something else. I’m fairly certain the numbers would be very different if there were a significant number of blank laptops on the market, let alone ones shipped with Linux.
I’m 100% certain there would be little difference because people need an OS that can run the software that they want, and just as importantly they need to be able to actually install and use it and Linux has never even tried to make that process anything but a nightmare. And I’ll stop you right there with your various flavors of Mint or Ubuntu or Elementary or the dozens of other distros. Users don’t care about endlessly tinkering. They want something that just works. Linux doesn’t offer that.
Lol steam Deck is already on the edge of not being able to play new AAA console titles. There will be a few ten thousand left who will feel like there is value in buying a second.
This is the new Steam Link. They’ve probably lost millions internally.
Maybe 10 years from now if they keep pumping massive money into it but it’s certainly not even close to comedically viable.
You mean like those AAA titles the fucking Switch can’t run?
That’s literally the only thing close to competition that the Deck has, and it skullfucks it in terms of horsepower.
Oh and I guess steam has also been carefully cultivating their own IP, studios, and games for the past 40 years to ensure a steady supply of the new stuff right? Right?
Because even I hear someone gushing over their switch it’s because they are playing some 4 year old game that finally made it there and it’s definitely not titles like Mario or Zelda.
It has those windows portables (I am blanking on the company name) but those also have way worse battery life.
If you try to run any new AAA title on any current handheld you’re going to have a bad time and bad battery life IMO. I think you could even extend this to modestly old gaming rigs that already struggle badly with poorly optimised new titles.
I see the Deck praised often for its emulation capabilities and indie game performance - and to be honest those aspects are appealing enough to me if I was interested in buying another portable computer.
This is the new Steam Link
Out of curiosity, what makes you think this?
I doubt this is the case as thin client gaming accessories are a very niche product, and the Deck hardware is grossly overqualified in this regard IMO
It’s always hilarious when kids with no knowledge talk about Valve’s hardware. Like… none of it has ever been developed to make money. Steam makes so goddamn much money they’re literally just pissing around with R&D because it’s fun.
Valve sold out of steam decks for multiple production runs now. And other companies are now investing in handhelds after seeing the success of it. Steams intention with the Deck was to kick start the handhelds market and make SteamOS the default operating system for that form factor. I don’t know if they profit from the deck directly but i definitely have bought more games since owning one.
Not to mention that most people have a favorite game they go back to that runs on older hardware, AAA certainly makes up a very small percentage of my gameplay
tbh most AAA game are not worth playing the last AAA game i bought was cyberpunk. i’d rather get a game with good performance, gameplay and story than one that just looks pretty and is buggy as hell