No one is preparing to burn their Nintendo Switches or the mobile peripherals they’ve collected to enjoy cloud gaming services on the go. Though, there has been a lot of bold proclamations and optimism surrounding the Valve upcoming Steam Deck, a Nintendo Switch doppelganger that runs on Valve’s Linux-based Steam OS platform.
But this isn’t a zero-sum game, where only one party gains all the resources (consumer buy-in) and the others lose it all. No, Valve’s venture into the handheld gaming segment could benefit itself, along with all interested parties – including its so-called rivals.
Here are five reasons why all cloud gaming fans should be happy about the Steam Deck and the potential it could have on our favorite cloud gaming services.
No. 1 – Cloud Gaming Services Could Have a Mobile Standard to Target
It would take Valve shifting millions of units of Steam Decks. But if their PC-based handset was popular enough, cloud gaming platforms would have a standard set of specifications to target for the optimal cloud gaming experience on the go.
The likes of Stadia, Luna, GeForce Now, PS Now and all the rest of ‘em could optimize the delivery of content for: a standard resolution (1280×800), a standard amount of power (1.6 Teraflops), and a platform that caters to both gamepads as well as keyboard and mouse combos.
They’d know just how much to optimize their cloud-based games to leverage the amount of available power, how much bandwidth they’d need to consume to make the best of that 1280×800 resolution, and keyboard and mouse could get a lot more love and consideration.
No. 2 – We Could See Handhelds from Amazon, Google or NVidia Someday Soon
Valve has always opened up its software developments with third-party manufacturers in the past. Gabe Newell, president and co-founder of Valve, recently told IGN that he hopes the success of the Steam Deck would inspire other manufacturers to take up Steam OS and build their own versions of the portable.
It’s easy to imaging a “Deck” built by ASUS, Razer or even Dell’s Alienware brand. But it also isn’t hard to see Amazon unveiling a Luna “Deck,” or a Fire “Deck,” and decks from NVidia and Google. Maybe even Sony might someday find the motivation to resurrect the Vita with room for PS Now.
We could spend all month dreaming about the possibilities in this section. But there’s one more point to make before we move on.
Right now, there are concerns that the Steam Deck could, despite Valve agonizing over the price, come at too high of a price point for mass-market appeal.
Cloud gaming services don’t require the processing power needed to run native games well. And that could mean we someday see the “Chromebook” of handheld, low-cost hardware that runs demanding games, via the cloud and on the go – or on a TV via a docking station.
No. 3 – Could Encourage Stronger Buy-in from Apple Loyalists
Yes, Apple users can now access cloud gaming services on their favorite Mac or iOS hardware. There’s still this stitched-together nature of cloud gaming in which the seams are especially visible on Apple hardware.
The Steam Deck has the platform agnosticism that could attract a following of people who are devout to Apple, staunch in their Android support and people who simply want the best experience for their needs.
While you will have to invest in new hardware, this particular piece of hardware will suit all of the places you want to play. It’s not a massive ecosystem shift, thanks to the Switch-like flexibility of the Steam Deck. And it’s not asking to replace your Apple TV, your iPhone or your Mac. Simply dock it where you want to play it or enjoy it in handheld mode.
No. 4 – It Might Affirm Nintendo’s Venture into Cloud Gaming on the Switch
Nintendo isn’t one to chase fads, though there are exceptions such as a certain monochromatic VR headset from the 90s. Often, the beloved game maker looks for new ways to elevate established concepts – such as motion controls, handheld devices and 3D displays.
We’ve already seen Nintendo workaround the Switch’s modest processing power by tapping into the power of the cloud, such as offering cloud versions of Hitman and other demanding cross-platform titles.
If the Steam Deck pushes handheld cloud gaming in a new era, we could see Nintendo double down on the bets it’s currently making on cloud gaming. And who knows where they could take the sector.
Nintendo’s early efforts in the cloud gaming space and Valve’s impending release of the Steam Deck speaks to our final point: the maturation of cloud gaming.
No. 5 – It Could Be Another Wrinkle in Cloud Gaming’s Maturity
Right now, trying to convince the non-believing Luddites about the power and potential of the cloud is akin to trying to advocate for Netflix and Roku to a friend with a massive collection of physical media around 2007-2010.
Cloud gaming continues its maturation.
The arrival of the Steam Deck could serve as a template of how cloud and native games will coexist side-by-side in the near term, for the long term. Neither is going away at this point, certainly not cloud gaming. And the more cloud games look, feel and are treated like native games, the more entrenched the sector will be.
Wanna know more about cloud gaming? Which platform is best for you? Check out: Geforce Now vs Stadia: Which Cloud Gaming Platform Should You Choose?