One Steam Deck Feature Forced Me to Not Buy the Nintendo Switch 2

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One Steam Deck Feature Forced Me to Not Buy the Nintendo Switch 2

Like many gamers, I couldn’t help but got sucked into the hype of Nintendo Switch 2. The upgraded hardware, new features, and the slew of third-party titles all point towards a very near future when the hybrid console will most likely dominate the market again, despite the price concerns.

But we are living in 2025, and Nintendo isn’t the only fish in the Handheld pond anymore. There are various contenders, and the biggest one has to be the Steam Deck. While I was excited about Switch 2 and was thinking about pre-ordering it, one standout feature of Valve’s handheld tipped the scales for me: the desktop mode.

Desktop Mode: The Steam Deck’s game-changing feature

The Steam Deck isn’t just a portable gaming machine; it’s a full-fledged Linux PC hidden in a handheld body. When Valve first launched the Deck, it was a bold statement: quality gaming on the go, with the openness and flexibility of a PC.

For the first time, players weren’t locked into just one storefront or one way of using their handheld console. Whether I wanted to play AAA Steam games, indie titles, install mods, or even dive into retro emulated classics, the Deck gave me that freedom, all in a device I could take anywhere.

But what really sealed the deal for me was the Desktop Mode. With just a few taps, I can leave the Gaming Mode and jump into a Linux-based desktop, giving me access to a complete computing environment. This means installing third-party apps is as simple as on any PC.

I can use emulators, run non-Steam games, browse the web with full desktop browsers, and install productivity tools. The freedom of a PC, right in my palms. This feature essentially makes the device not just limited to one library or one way of using my hardware.

I’m free to shape it into what I need, whether that’s gaming, productivity, or entertainment. This openness makes the Steam Deck particularly appealing to tech-savvy users like me who enjoy tinkering with files, modding games, and customizing the experience to make it even more enjoyable.

The Switch 2 has the games, but not the freedom

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I’ll give Nintendo credit where it’s due: they know how to generate hype. The Switch 2 promises everything fans have been asking for: a better screen, new features, and even backward compatibility.

Titles like New Mario Kart and Metroid Prime are practically system-sellers on their own, in addition to tons of third-party titles. But after experiencing the openness of the Steam Deck, I started to see those familiar Nintendo walls more clearly.

Nintendo’s ecosystem, by design, is tightly controlled. I can only install what Nintendo approves, whether it’s games, apps, or even basic functionality. Want to run emulators? Forget it. Thinking about tinkering with the OS? Ready for a ban or worse, a lawsuit.

Yes, the Switch 2 will almost certainly offer a smoother docked experience — but at the end of the day, that’s still just a ******* screen for the duplicate walled-off content. It doesn’t come close to transforming the system into something fundamentally more versatile.

As much as I’ll miss Nintendo’s iconic titles, I’m not willing to trade away that freedom anymore. After seeing what true flexibility feels like, it’s hard to go back, and that’s where the Steam Deck quietly, but powerfully, changed the conversation for me.

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#Steam #Deck #Feature #Forced #Buy #Nintendo #Switch

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