The Switch 2 vs. Steam Deck: A Meaningless Battle?
The hype is building. Nintendo has officially unveiled the Switch 2 in a video, promising a deeper dive in April. Meanwhile, the Steam Deck and its numerous PC handheld rivals are enjoying immense popularity. Predictably, the internet is ablaze with comparisons, asking the inevitable question: Which is better? Which will dominate?
The answer? Neither. Both. The very question is misguided. Pitting the Switch 2 against the Steam Deck is a fundamentally flawed exercise, whether in an editorial or a clickbait YouTube video. While they share a similar form factor, the Switch 2 and Steam Deck cater to distinct markets and demographics.
These are both significant players in the gaming world, influencing each other and the broader industry. However, they don’t engage in direct competition like Xbox and PlayStation, or even the traditional console versus PC rivalry.
So, with a dose of self-awareness and apology for even addressing this comparison, let’s dismantle the notion of a head-to-head contest.
The original Nintendo Switch, released in 2017, was a game-changer. After the Wii U’s disappointing performance, Nintendo revitalized its core console business by leveraging its expertise in handheld gaming. The Switch unified the company’s console and portable strategies into a single, innovative product.
The Switch wasn’t perfect. It was underpowered compared to other consoles, faced controller issues, had limited battery life, and its digital store was poorly managed. Yet, its impact is undeniable.
The Switch’s ingenious merging of portable and home console functionality through the dock, a concept that arguably stemmed from the Wii U’s flawed design, was a stroke of genius. The addition of the Switch Lite, targeting younger players who favored portable gaming, further fueled Nintendo’s success. To date, the Switch has sold over 146 million units globally, surpassed only by the PS2 and Nintendo DS. Its price point of $300, relatively affordable compared to PlayStation and Xbox, also contributed to its widespread adoption.
The Switch’s success inevitably influenced the PC gaming landscape. While some handheld devices attempted to blend PC games with the Switch’s form factor, none achieved mainstream success. Even large companies like Dell (with Alienware) and Razer dabbled in Switch-style gaming PC handhelds, but these remained mostly as trade show demos.
Then came the Steam Deck. Valve unveiled its portable PC, powered by its Linux-based SteamOS, in 2021. The Steam Deck revived Valve’s ambition to create both console-like PC hardware and a unified platform for PC gaming, all within a portable design resembling the Switch. It can also be easily docked to a monitor or TV, supporting wireless controllers and even mouse and keyboard setups. The Steam Deck became an instant hit upon its release in February 2022.
However, it’s crucial to understand the nuances. The Steam Deck is not a direct competitor to the Switch, despite their shared design elements. Both are portable gaming devices with similar layouts, and the Steam Deck utilizes an integrated store akin to Xbox or PlayStation stores for PC gamers. But that’s where the similarities largely end.
The Switch is designed with a broader audience in mind, including children. It’s user-friendly, durable, and its game cartridges are coated with a bitter substance to prevent accidental ingestion, a clever touch by Nintendo. The Steam Deck, starting at $400, is geared towards adults. It’s larger and heavier, and encourages users to modify or repair it.
More importantly, the Steam Deck is a full-fledged computer, utilizing x86-64 hardware based on AMD’s integrated CPU-GPU solutions for laptops. You can even install Windows on it, though it’s not recommended. The Switch is a more closed and proprietary system powered by Nvidia’s Tegra chips, an Arm-based system primarily used in smartphones and embedded electronics. Attempting to run non-Nintendo software on the Switch is a constant battle. It’s, essentially, a console.
Despite the Steam Deck and SteamOS’s console-inspired design, Valve allows users to customize and experiment with the device as they would with a laptop or desktop. The same applies to the various Windows-based handheld gaming PCs from manufacturers like Asus, Lenovo, and MSI. These are handheld gaming PCs, not handheld game consoles, a subtle but important distinction.
The lines between console and PC gaming have blurred, especially with Xbox and PlayStation functioning as x86-64 PCs with proprietary software. However, Nintendo has maintained a unique position since the late 90s. Even when not dominating in sales, it has carved out a specific niche for itself, creating a unique relationship with the PC gaming platform.
Consumers buy a PlayStation, Xbox, or PC to play a wide range of video games. While Sony offers some compelling exclusives, many of these eventually find their way to the PC. However, people primarily buy a Nintendo console to play Nintendo games. This has always been the primary draw of Nintendo’s platforms.
The Switch followed this pattern, launching with Zelda: Breath of the Wild, and followed by Mario Odyssey and Smash Bros. Ultimate, all experiences exclusive to Nintendo hardware. The Switch’s early success also allowed Nintendo to port successful Wii U titles like Mario Kart 8 and Pikmin 3, giving them a wider audience. Nintendo has consistently released new and successful games for the Switch, along with numerous ports and remakes.
Nintendo has a loyal fanbase that primarily cares about Nintendo games, consistently purchasing new consoles and titles. This core audience has sustained the company through periods like the GameCube and Wii U eras. However, the broader gaming community also recognizes Nintendo’s appeal, often purchasing its consoles as secondary systems if their budget allows. It’s common to find setups featuring a PlayStation + Nintendo console, an Xbox + Nintendo, or a PC + Nintendo.
The Switch’s appeal as a portable and relatively affordable system, more powerful than previous portable devices, has expanded its role as a secondary gaming platform. This growth has attracted third-party developers who often treated Nintendo platforms as secondary priorities. Despite the Switch’s less powerful hardware, gamers can now play titles ranging from hardcore games like Dark Souls to multiplayer games like Overwatch and Fortnite, and indie hits like Balatro. The Nintendo eShop, despite its flaws, has become Nintendo’s most successful digital store.
While there is crossover between the PC gaming and Switch markets, the Switch and Steam Deck remain distinct products that primarily target different customers, or at least not exclusively the same customers. You can’t play Zelda on the Steam Deck (without questionable methods), nor can you play Elden Ring or Marvel Rivals on the Switch. Some gamers will want to play everything, and they may be limited to choosing between a Nintendo console and a Steam Deck/gaming laptop/desktop/PlayStation. However, the vast majority of gamers will be content with either a Switch, another platform, or both. This dynamic is unlikely to change soon.
PC gaming continues to thrive, even amidst industry-wide challenges. The Steam Deck plays a significant role in this success. However, it’s important to maintain perspective. While the PC gaming market is larger than Nintendo’s profitable segment, the Steam Deck has only sold a few million units, significantly less than the Switch, even when considering only the last few years.
The Switch was a remarkable success for Nintendo, defying conventional console competition. The Switch 2 may continue this success, or it may be a disappointing sequel like the GameCube and Wii U after the N64 and Wii. Regardless, Nintendo’s unique position in the gaming landscape doesn’t threaten Valve, the Steam Deck, or PC gaming as a whole. These platforms learn from and benefit from each other’s successes. They are happy neighbors, not rivals.
A small number of gamers will face the choice between the Switch 2 and the Steam Deck. This decision will be driven by the games they want to play and, more importantly, their budget. Hardware specifications will be a minor factor.
Buy a Nintendo Switch 2, buy a Steam Deck, or buy both if you can afford them. But don’t fall for the narrative of a zero-sum competition between major corporations. The whole argument is pointless and unproductive.
