It’s more designed as a portable companion for PC players but it can also be a gateway to PC gaming. If money was a consideration then the answer would clearly be no, but since it isn’t then whatever buy and check it out. Something that PC/Deck gaming requires additionally is time because many games require troubleshooting and tweaking to work properly even the Verified ones. Not like console where the expectation is you press play and the game just works, already fully optimized for the platform.

For console-only people : why not.

The Steam Deck could be a nice first gaming pc, even with a clear library they could feed anyway with tons of free (Epic…) and cheap (sales & bundles) games. It’s personnaly currently my only gaming pc, and I’d play it more if I haven’t other consoles with games I like to play.

In your case, it seems you already have basically every console, so… it isn’t a urgent case ; but if somehow you want a pc for some games you want to play, it isn’t a bad deal to get a Steam Deck instead of a “proper” gaming pc.

I’m a console gamer with a Steamdeck. I bought it specifically for going on holiday. My kushand and I usually rent a place for the summer and before I would drag my PS4 with me and he would bring his PC setup so we could play games.

We use the Steamdecks now, it’s way more portable and you only need a few things to hook it up to a larger screen. Even when you bring a screen, it still saves a lot of space.

I knew beforehand I wouldn’t use it THAT much so that isn’t a problem for me. Husband uses his deck way more than he thought he would, but he’s a PC player.

I also use it when I have some hours to kill at work while waiting for an appointment.

Great place to buy older games u love that are only available on older consoles. Why I started on steam and use steam deck alot to play them. Awesome handheld. And now even better with OLED model

Thanks everyone. Seems my instincts were correct. I’ll wait for the new Switch. I have a PC but I’m not tech savvy so it’s just frustrating, hence I stick to consoles. I’m sure I could do SD but I’ll never pair it with full PC gaming so I guess it’s just not for me, for now at least.

Well, if money isn’t an issue, you should just get one and try it out. Pick up a couple games you think you might like. Worst comes to worst, you can just return it in the two week return window or sell it on Facebook to get most of your money back.

Sounds like you don’t need it. The steam deck is intended for either people with large steam libraries that enjoy handheld gaming or people who are interested in joining the PC ecosystem and want an easy entry point. If you don’t fit either but find portable AAA gaming interesting I would suggest buying a controller peripheral for your phone and download remote play/PSnow/xcloud on your phone instead. Same effect but much cheaper. Streaming is obviously not as good as native gaming but depending on the game, it probably won’t make a big difference.

I’m fairly casual but would probably be relatively close to your experience other than that I’m casual.

My main systems were PS4 and Switch.

I bought the Steam Deck because I had a few games on Steam that weren’t available on console over the years and a few more that I’d bought because they were stupidly cheap and played on my non-gaming PC, though it had a decent middle range GPU.

It changed the way I play for sure. Completed more games than I ever have before because you can play in 10-30 minute snatches in ways I just couldn’t on the TV or PC.

Massively changed the way I buy games. Not bought a single thing for Switch or PlayStation since I got the Steam Deck; but everything on PC now and almost always when it’s on sale which seems to happen all the time relatively speaking.

It’s also fantastic for emulation and I’m rediscovering loads of old PS2, Xbox, and N64 era titles (all of which of course I own the originals of) and that’s hugely fun too.

Like I say though, I’m no hardcore CoD player or anything.

Sounds like you answered your own question. My Steam Deck is a companion device to my PC.

I’m a console guy. Owned a switch before, but sold it 2y ago because of the lack of games (I liked). I owned a steam account already, as I have a old PC and played in the past and only on rare occasions these days some simple indie games.

Bought the deck for on game and couch (second screen like) gaming. Absolutely love it for simpler, non AAA games.

Not sure if it’s a great fit for you if you own consoles and a switch. Only if you’re interested in non-AAA PC games. Older AA Titles run as well, newer ones may run, but with some compromise.

But you can emulate switch and stream PS4/5 if that’s a thing for you.

I was a console only player that dabbled in pc games. I’m pretty glad that I got deck though, it’s kind of changed the entire way that I play pc games. It’s all personal preference, though.

Going to disagree with the consensus. I also have all the consoles, and a bleeding edge PC (13900K/4090). I barely touch them. I put more time into my handhelds; I work 16-18 hours a day, sleep 4-5 hours most nights. I barely have time to sit down and enjoying gaming from the couch.

But, I have the Deck and an Ally that are close by in my office, or next to the bed. I pick them up from time to time between meetings, or before bed. I also have an insane backlog (at least 15 years of stuff I still haven’t finished). To put it in perspective, I finished Divinity Original Sin 2 for the first time on my Deck, because it was easier to pick it up a few times a day and get some playtime in, then it was to justify booting it up on the PC and sitting on the couch for 2-3 hours at a time to play.

I also fly a hell of a lot; while I love my Switch, I wanted to make my life a little more minimal so I grabbed roms of all my Switch games and loaded those up via EmuDeck. So I have my entire library with me most of the time. And Steam sales makes it economical to pick up several older games that I still haven’t gotten around to playing since I’m already pretty far behind. I’m the guy that owns all three of the new Tomb Raiders, but still hasn’t finished the first, non-enhanced version of the original (like pre-Meghan Fox plastic surgery Lara).

You clearly don’t need it, and it sounds like you already knew that.

I had a modest Steam Library of 120 games, many of which I was actively playing through, when I got the Deck. It allows me to continue progress while relaxing upstairs away from my desktop.

If you’re coming in cold, with a huge backlog elsewhere, and already have a portable device for the few trips who take a year, then I see no point in it.

I like using the Steam Deck for emulation. PS2 was one of my favorite consoles. It’s awesome having all the games in a compact handheld form and still have the option to hook up a Playstation controller to play on the TV.

If emulation doesn’t interest you, then it might not be worth it in your case.

steam deals are so great if I were you I would get a steam deck and start buying games on steam. Then you can just use consoles for game pass and purchase single player games on steam deck.

I love how easy it is to just play for 15-20 mins on steam deck. If you find you don’t have the time you used to for gaming it’s great for allowing more time playing games.