Especially since one of the best features is basically unmentioned. Turn on your steam deck and before you sign in for the first time, you can boot straight to the desktop. Just wish there was a toggle in Plasma to boot to desktop by default.
For all intents and purposes, you don’t need to log into steam to play games on the steam deck which is honestly shocking where most new hardware basically requires you to agree to sign in to begin using your device.
Looking at you Windows 11
Steam deck is great. It seemingly connects the arcane nerdy and streamlined casual. Whatever is your jam and mood in the moment there is always plethora of things you can play. Almost infinite possibilities. Modded. Portable.
It’s one of the only purchases that I never really regretted. Somehow it has the wow factor each day as when it was new.
I tried to see if I like kenshi game. I don’t but it is crazy that it is comfortable on deck and rimworld, dwarf fortress and sims too. I could use a MacBook Pro smh smh ultra hyper but it is clunky and annoying cold slab of business efficiency.
Any day now and I may actually attempt to run x4 with Star Wars mod though I think that may be actually a single exception but I swear I am going to do this crazy thing. Anything to play next to your loved ones in the living room or elsewhere
I bought my Steam Deck simply to support Linux gaming and Valve’s contribution to more open hardware and software. I wasn’t actually interested in handheld gaming.
Roughly a year later, I game about 75% on my Steam Deck vs my very expensive Linux gaming desktop. I love it so much, the convenience of pausing a game, going from my couch to my bed and resuming flawlessly is awesome.
My spouse wanted one too, so now we both can game together easily anywhere.
Looking at you Windows 11
Yeah, I got a new laptop recently with no intention of using the pre-installed OS, but I wanted to boot it up once just to make sure all the hardware was working.
It may have actually taken longer to figure out how to create a local account on W11 than to wipe it and install Linux.
Live ISO FTW
For anyone wondering how to do this - on the first setup screen asking you to pick a language after you turn the laptop on, hit Shift + F10, which will bring up the console. Click on it and type:
oobe/bypassnro
This will restart the computer, and setup will appear unchanged. When you get to the step asking you to connect to a network, select “I don’t have Internet.” This will prompt the creation of a local account. Enjoy your Microsoft account free computer!
If you’ve already connected to the Internet but haven’t created the account, open the console and type:
ipconfig /release
Which will force the computer to disconnect from the internet. From there you can use the oobe command from before to reset and set up without a Microsoft account.
I needed this info a while back. I didn’t think it was even possible!
Make sure to check out “Nested Desktop mode”, it’s a great way to have faster access while in the default Game mode
Wait what? How?
Go into desktop mode, open the menu and use the search function to look for “Nested Desktop”. Now right click and add that to Steam. When you boot into Game mode, you’ll see a new item added called Nested Desktop, which you can open to access desktop mode while still in game mode. I found out about this a week ago and so far I use it most for referencing my digital game guides or searching NMS portal codes while still gaming.
Welcome to Linux. It works great as a media center instead of your ad-ridden smart TV as well.
Will you have access to all codecs as well though? This is the main reason we still keep our Nvidia Shield around from years ago
My Linux PC is a media server/htpc with access to all codecs. I regularly transcode H.265 via nvenc for jellyfin.
You must ensure you’re using a client that can use the codec in question, regarding proprietary codecies like H.265 you will need either a desktop client that can handle it, or verify you have your browser properly configured.
Is there a specific codec you’re concerned about losing access to?
The arch wiki page here lists all the common video codecs as well as packages to install them, assuming you’re on an unlocked steam deck these packages will work, otherwise you’ll need to source them yourself.
We both switch years ago on our laptops when Windows 11 became the default windows. Linux Mint ftw
Another bonus: Many very good open source games can be added to SteamDeck by:
- Boot to desktop.
- Search the software center.
- Click install.
- Right-click the new game icon, and click “add to Steam”
- Reboot to Steam mode and enjoy.
Some suggestions: Luanti, Empty Epsilon, UnCiv, Tux Racer, most retro emulators.
I might be slightly biased, but I can also recommend OpenMW for Deck.
Are you using the controller to play it, or a mouse and keyboard?
Done both, but I’ve found I rather enjoy the mix of stick and trackpad, emulated as KB+M
Thanks! Really jonesing for some Morrowind or obkivion but my deck lives in a dock next to my TV so I’m not sure how comfortable either game will be with a wireless controller versus holding the deck.
Oblivion was released on consoles and had great controller layouts. I played it for years on PS3. Not sure if Morrowind has a similar experience.
Yea for the original Xbox, however neither PC version has those supports built in. And the mods seem to be a mediocre experience in comparison, I may just buy the Xbox/360 versions of Morrowind and Oblivion to play comfortably.
SteamDeck is the best Nintendo Switch Online device ever 😉
