# Steam Deck - the portable gaming computer from Valve. Any interest? **URL:** \ **Category:** The Game Room\ **Tags:** video-games-e-games\ **Created:** [July 16, 2021, 1:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/steam-deck-the-portable-gaming-computer-from-valve-any-interest/946634 "2021-07-16T13:16:08Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![DCnDC](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dcndc/32/2842_2.png) [@DCnDC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DCnDC)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2024, 12:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/steam-deck-the-portable-gaming-computer-from-valve-any-interest/946634/61 "2024-07-10T12:37:41Z")
I’m seeing you can open it up and replace almost all of the hardware, should one so desire. Of course with the new OLED models, buying the cheapest one and self-upgrading the SSD is not the deal it once was with the 64GB model, but I still like that you have that option. Tempting. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_Bravo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_bravo/32/493_2.png) [@Johnny\_Bravo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_Bravo)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2024, 2:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/steam-deck-the-portable-gaming-computer-from-valve-any-interest/946634/62 "2024-07-10T14:45:18Z")
Skill Up Gaming did a great video about the OLED. It’s long, but the tldr is what it says on the tin: the OLED is better than the basic model in more ways than just the screen. [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/bilk0NOz8qw/maxresdefault.jpg "The Steam Deck OLED is a way bigger upgrade than Valve are letting on (Review)") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bilk0NOz8qw) I bought one a couple months back and really like it, though I have a lot of trouble jumping from regular controls to Steam Deck controls, so games kind of have to be “playing on PC” or “playing on handheld” for me. ---
**Author:** ![DCnDC](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dcndc/32/2842_2.png) [@DCnDC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DCnDC)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2024, 5:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/steam-deck-the-portable-gaming-computer-from-valve-any-interest/946634/63 "2024-07-11T17:00:42Z")
> [@Johnny\_Bravo](#): > > I have a lot of trouble jumping from regular controls to Steam Deck controls, so games kind of have to be “playing on PC” or “playing on handheld” for me. That’s a hurdle to buying one for me. Some games I play only with a controller, others I play only with KB+M, and the ones I play with a controller are not necessarily the ones I would want to have in a portable. ---
**Author:** ![EllisDee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ellisdee/32/4531_2.png) [@EllisDee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EllisDee)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2024, 6:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/steam-deck-the-portable-gaming-computer-from-valve-any-interest/946634/64 "2024-07-11T18:15:40Z")
Can a steam deck be treated like a console? Is there an HDMI out to let you send the signal to a television and a USB-C input to let you plug in a proper controller? Those would seem like simple options to include. ---
**Author:** ![Mahaloth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mahaloth/32/1079_2.png) [@Mahaloth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mahaloth)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2024, 6:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/steam-deck-the-portable-gaming-computer-from-valve-any-interest/946634/65 "2024-07-11T18:24:47Z")
> [@EllisDee](#): > > Can a steam deck be treated like a console? Is there an HDMI out to let you send the signal to a television and a USB-C input to let you plug in a proper controller? Those would seem like simple options to include You have to buy a dock to put it on your TV, but they are not expensive. The Nintendo Switch comes witih its dock; the Steam Deck does not as I understand it. But yes, it works on TV. ---
**Author:** ![Babale](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/babale/32/15666_2.png) [@Babale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Babale)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2024, 6:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/steam-deck-the-portable-gaming-computer-from-valve-any-interest/946634/66 "2024-07-11T18:29:49Z")
> [@EllisDee](#): > > Can a steam deck be treated like a console? Is there an HDMI out to let you send the signal to a television and a USB-C input to let you plug in a proper controller? Those would seem like simple options to include Yes, a third party dock is like $20-30 and then it works like a console. That’s mostly how I use mine. ---
**Author:** ![Mahaloth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mahaloth/32/1079_2.png) [@Mahaloth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mahaloth)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2024, 7:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/steam-deck-the-portable-gaming-computer-from-valve-any-interest/946634/67 "2024-07-11T19:10:04Z")
> [@Babale](#): > > Yes, a third party dock is like $20-30 and then it works like a console. That’s mostly how I use mine. Do you just blu-tooth the controller to it to play from the couch? That is how I play my switch. It does _not_ come with detachable controllers, right? Is it still limited to 800p on the big TV? ---
**Author:** ![Babale](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/babale/32/15666_2.png) [@Babale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Babale)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2024, 8:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/steam-deck-the-portable-gaming-computer-from-valve-any-interest/946634/68 "2024-07-11T20:40:00Z")
> [@Mahaloth](#): > > Do you just blu-tooth the controller to it to play from the couch? That is how I play my switch. Yes. > [@Mahaloth](#): > > It does _not_ come with detachable controllers, right? No. I use a Switch Pro and a PS5 controller… > [@Mahaloth](#): > > Is it still limited to 800p on the big TV? I don’t think so but I haven’t really messed with resolution. ---
**Author:** ![Mahaloth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mahaloth/32/1079_2.png) [@Mahaloth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mahaloth)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2025, 6:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/steam-deck-the-portable-gaming-computer-from-valve-any-interest/946634/69 "2025-01-13T18:45:43Z")
I now own one and have been enjoying a game on Steam. I might play Guardians of the Galaxy next, a game I only own on Epic. Has anyone had good success playing Epic games on Steam deck? If so, what were the basics to get the game up and running properly? ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_Bravo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_bravo/32/493_2.png) [@Johnny\_Bravo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_Bravo)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2025, 7:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/steam-deck-the-portable-gaming-computer-from-valve-any-interest/946634/70 "2025-01-13T19:03:13Z")
> [@Mahaloth](#): > > If so, what were the basics to get the game up and running properly? There are a couple launchers (one is called Heroic) that purport to do this easily, but I haven’t tried it and can’t give you better info than Google can. ---
**Author:** ![control-z](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/eada6e/32.png) [@control-z](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/control-z)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2025, 7:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/steam-deck-the-portable-gaming-computer-from-valve-any-interest/946634/71 "2025-01-13T19:50:28Z")
ProtonDB is always a good place to check for game compatibility: [https://www.protondb.com/app/1088850](https://www.protondb.com/app/1088850) It’s not terribly smooth but it isn’t “config file editing” difficult. IIRC there is a launcher called Heroic (not made by Epic) that you have to install in Desktop mode to download and install Epic games. Heroic has the option to create Steam shortcuts for game installed with it. Then you can go back to Big Picture mode to launch the game. Sometimes games quit working and the updates have to be done via Heroic in Desktop mode. ---
**Author:** ![Atamasama](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/atamasama/32/12961_2.png) [@Atamasama](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Atamasama)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2025, 1:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/steam-deck-the-portable-gaming-computer-from-valve-any-interest/946634/72 "2025-01-14T01:37:11Z")
> [@Mahaloth](#): > > I might play Guardians of the Galaxy next, a game I only own on Epic. Though this is a bit of a tangent, I just wanted to say I love Guardians of the Galaxy (though I played in on Xbox). Just so much fun. ---
**Author:** ![Mahaloth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mahaloth/32/1079_2.png) [@Mahaloth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mahaloth)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2025, 4:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/steam-deck-the-portable-gaming-computer-from-valve-any-interest/946634/73 "2025-02-10T16:13:56Z")
I have a question, kind of more a “Steam” question than just the Deck. I installed Indiana Jones and the Great Circle. I got it up and running decently. Looked bad, but I did get into the game and it was basically running. Feeling good, I upped a few quality options just a bit and so forth. Restarted the game and got the Black Screen after the company logos…game will not go to title screen. OK, I will uninstall the game and re-install it clean. Crap, it seems to have remembered settings…it still did black screen. Is there a way to totally wipe a game off your Deck so that Steam just clean installs the game as it did the very first time it was installed? Reset all defaults, etc.? I’m going to play Guardians of the Galaxy first…Valve swears they are working on Great Circle patches and stuff to get it up on the Deck, but I wonder how to do a true “wipe this game out” and install fresh. My save had 30 minutes on it, I don’t care I the Cloud loses that as well. ---
**Author:** ![DCnDC](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dcndc/32/2842_2.png) [@DCnDC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DCnDC)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2025, 4:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/steam-deck-the-portable-gaming-computer-from-valve-any-interest/946634/74 "2025-02-10T16:20:55Z")
If you can get into the file system, delete the game folder from the steam common folder. Possibly your settings are in a document file in the document folder, so delete that too. It might be pulling a cloud save. Disable Steam Cloud synchronization before you re-install. ---
**Author:** ![Mahaloth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mahaloth/32/1079_2.png) [@Mahaloth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mahaloth)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2025, 4:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/steam-deck-the-portable-gaming-computer-from-valve-any-interest/946634/75 "2025-02-10T16:22:22Z")
I saw some directions for that for Windows. Does anyone know where files like this are stored on a Deck? I know how to get to Desktop Mode and also how to open its file explorer, but I could not find(even by searching) install files. Even when it _was_ installed. ---
**Author:** ![DCnDC](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dcndc/32/2842_2.png) [@DCnDC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DCnDC)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2025, 4:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/steam-deck-the-portable-gaming-computer-from-valve-any-interest/946634/76 "2025-02-10T16:24:36Z")
Should be in home/deck/.steam. It’s likely a hidden folder. ---
**Author:** ![DCnDC](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dcndc/32/2842_2.png) [@DCnDC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DCnDC)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2025, 4:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/steam-deck-the-portable-gaming-computer-from-valve-any-interest/946634/77 "2025-02-10T16:27:54Z")
Curious it didn’t do a “revert to prior settings” when you changed it after 15 seconds. ---
**Author:** ![Mahaloth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mahaloth/32/1079_2.png) [@Mahaloth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mahaloth)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2025, 6:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/steam-deck-the-portable-gaming-computer-from-valve-any-interest/946634/78 "2025-02-10T18:02:17Z")
> [@DCnDC](#): > > Should be in home/deck/.steam. It’s likely a hidden folder. I’m sure this is easy, but how do I reveal hidden folders on Steam OS? ---
**Author:** ![DCnDC](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dcndc/32/2842_2.png) [@DCnDC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DCnDC)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2025, 6:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/steam-deck-the-portable-gaming-computer-from-valve-any-interest/946634/79 "2025-02-10T18:04:36Z")
Dolphin folder browser, (top-right) 3 lines menu button, show hidden files. ---
**Author:** ![Mahaloth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mahaloth/32/1079_2.png) [@Mahaloth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mahaloth)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2025, 6:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/steam-deck-the-portable-gaming-computer-from-valve-any-interest/946634/80 "2025-02-10T18:07:01Z")
I’ll check it out, thanks. Still going to do Guardians of the Galaxy first, but will install and test Indy again having deleted everything. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/steam-deck-the-portable-gaming-computer-from-valve-any-interest/946634.md?page=3)