Use these tips to get the most out of Valve's portable console
The portable system that gamers have been waiting for has finally arrived. Of course, I'm referring about Valve's Steam Deck, a portable handheld device akin to the Nintendo Switch that plays PC games.
Despite having a Linux-based operating system, the Steam Deck can play games designed for Windows owing to a handy compatibility layer known as Proton. Not only that, but the Steam Deck is a full-fledged PC that can boot into a desktop mode where you can surf the web, download programs, and listen to music. If the default Steam OS feels too restrictive, you may even install Windows 10 on the device.
With so much going on, the Steam Deck might be intimidating at first. Fortunately, Valve has provided several useful shortcuts and features to help you get started. And with that, here are some pointers and tricks that every Steam Deck owner should be aware of.
Add more storage using a microSD card
Even if you purchased the 512GB Steam Deck, you'll most likely run out of storage capacity at some time. After all, triple-A Steam Deck-verified titles like God of War (70GB) and NBA 2K22 (120GB) need a significant amount of storage. Those who purchased the standard 64GB Steam Deck may have issues while attempting to download only one title.
Fortunately, every Steam Deck model includes a convenient microSD card slot on the bottom for up to 2TB of extra storage. The goal is to choose the microSD card with the quickest write speeds and most capacity that falls within your price range. Consider the following brands: SanDisk, Lexar, and Samsung.
Disable adaptive brightness
Adaptive brightness is one of those things that, although it sounds fantastic in theory, seldom performs as claimed. The frequent brightness fluctuation was too annoying for me, and any battery life gain didn't compensate. It didn't take long for me to disable the function, and once I did, it stayed turned off for the whole time I tried the Steam Deck.
If you need to change the brightness, use the fast settings or the button combo approach explained on the following slide...
While playing a game, adjust the brightness of the screen
You're in the middle of the game, enjoying your Steam Deck in the fresh summer air, when the sun peeks out from behind the clouds. Under such light conditions, the 7-inch screen becomes difficult to view. You could, of course, access the quick settings and shift the brightness slider to the right. But you're in the midst of a high-octane gunfight; there's no time for menus!
Fortunately, Valve concurs. It developed a handy brightness adjustment shortcut that you can instantly utilize to brighten or darken your screen in the middle of a game. It's a strange button combination, but it works: press and hold the Steam button while sliding the left toggle up (brighter) or down (dimmer).
Wait till Windows 10 is installed
Windows 10 may be installed on the Steam Deck. Should you do it? It's difficult. For the time being, I'd fight the impulse. Valve published Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and GPU drivers, ensuring that the Steam Deck has the essentials for downloading and playing games on Windows. However, to do so, you must erase the Steam Deck, which means deleting Steam OS because there is no dual boot compatibility. Worse, the Steam Deck's speakers and headphone jack will not operate because Valve has only given bare-bones Windows support thus far.
Then there's the issue of performance and long-term stability. Because not all Steam games function on Linux, you may be tempted to download Windows as a workaround to have full access to your Steam collection or titles you own on other shops (including Xbox Game Pass games). That's excellent, but these games haven't been tested to work on the Steam Deck, so you'll be the guinea pig until other gamblers contribute more data.
If you're a tinkerer who thinks the value of getting Windows onto the Steam Deck outweighs the danger, go for it. The majority of people, on the other hand, should continue with Steam OS.
Change your graphics settings
Some games just will not run at high graphical settings. Even those considered "a terrific experience" on Steam Deck suffer when the video settings are increased. Control, for example, faltered at the console's original 1280x800 resolution while swarms of Hiss-possessed foes flooded the screen. The frame rate issues were solved by lowering the resolution to 720p without losing the graphics.
The crucial thing to understand here is that the Steam Deck is driven by a bespoke AMD CPU with RDNA 2 graphics, rather than a high-powered GPU and separate graphics card combination. Just keep your expectations in check and don't be disappointed if a game doesn't perform smoothly at the default settings.
Examine for software upgrades
I lost count of how many software upgrades Valve issued between the time I received the Steam Deck and the review's embargo date. Dozens. Things have slowed since then, but many more software changes are on the way in the next months and years. Watch for the yellow exclamation point over the settings gear symbol, which indicates that a new software version is ready for download.
Do not purchase untested games
It almost goes without saying that if a game isn't validated for Steam Deck, it won't be played. That's what I discovered during my tests. The game can be downloaded, but it may not even start. It's not like Valve is playing a quick one on us; add an unverified game to your cart, and a large yellow notice displays, noting that your game "may not operate correctly on Steam Deck." My advice? If you already possess a game, test it out; you can always uninstall it later. If you don't already have an unconfirmed game in your library, don't buy it in the hopes that it will run on the Steam Deck.
Set up the buttons
The Steam Deck contains a plethora of buttons. You should make use of them! Especially the back paddle buttons, which aren't frequently coded in games because they're not commonly available on a conventional controller. That isn't to say you can't utilize them.
When playing certain games, like as first-person shooters or competitive titles like Fortnite, remapping the back buttons might offer you an advantage. When racing in Forza Horizon 5, they may also be used as paddle shifters. To remap the trigger buttons, hit the Steam button twice and then slide your cursor right twice to bring up the controller button map. You may assign any action to the back buttons here.
Access the list of shortcuts
Hold down Steam + A. I know, it's beautiful, isn't it? Holding the Steam + A keys brings up a shortcut overlay with all the hotkeys you need to efficiently browse Steam OS, including the button combinations required to utilize a cursor and left- and right-click buttons directly from your controller—no mouse required.
In the following slide, I'll go through one of these button combinations in further depth.
With Steam + B, you can force a quit
Things are about to go downhill. The Steam Deck is a first-generation device that is still a few upgrades away from being reliable in terms of games, applications, and the console itself. Yes, the Steam Deck works, but it's a hurried disaster that requires owners to be patient and tolerant. If patience isn't your thing, you can use the Steam + B button combo to force stop games that aren't working properly. Simply holding those two buttons will cause the game you're playing to shut down and return you to the main Steam OS interface.
I don't want to exaggerate the Steam Deck's flaws. Yes, it needs fixing, but game crashes are becoming increasingly infrequent. Even yet, it's wonderful to have a speedy escape should things go wrong.
Connect a controller, mouse, or keyboard
You can use the controller to navigate Steam OS (or your preferred OS) on the Steam Deck, but that's no way to live. The console has a Bluetooth radio for connecting wireless accessories such as a gaming mouse and keyboard. Pairing my Lenovo ThinkPad TrackPoint keyboard and Logitech Bluetooth mouse to the Steam Deck was simple, and it made navigating the desktop mode much easier when I wanted to browse the web. And, because I prefer a console controller to the Steam Deck's controls or even a mouse and keyboard, I connected my PS5's DualSense to the Steam Deck via Bluetooth (wired is also an option) and used it instead.
Make use of the FPS limiter
An FPS limitation with 15 fps, 30 fps, and 60 fps choices is baked into the quick settings menu. When you reach the specified frame rates, this option throttles the console. Why would you want to restrict performance? Specifically, to conserve battery life and decrease fan noise. A game that runs at 15 frames per second does not use as much power as one that runs at maximum speed to achieve 60 frames per second.
You won't want to lower the frame rate for every game, but lowering from 60 fps to 30 fps shouldn't impair your gaming if you're not playing a fast-action game. The 15 fps limitation is ideal for extending battery life when playing slow-paced games like the turn-based strategy Civilization VI.
#SteamDeck #Steam #Valve #HandheldGaming
SOURCE: gizmodo
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