The Crew Gazette

Visual: Yasmine Elsayed

With the gaming industry booming (as always), the revival of handheld consoles is at an all-time high. 

Since the release of the Steam Deck in February of 2022, many people have decided to put down their controllers and give handhelds a chance. I am one of those people. As a recent avid gamer, I had the Nintendo Switch before I picked up the Steam Deck. One of the things that appealed to me was that I would be playing OG games exclusive to the Nintendo Switch, for example, Super Mario Maker or The Legend of Zelda. Another pro was that I could play these games anywhere. Though I had my Switch, I did not give up playing on my PlayStation. There was no way that I would play Assassin’s Creed on my Switch. Even if I could, the Switch would give up on existence because of how big the game is. The Switch showed its limitations in many ways, such as battery life, lack of advanced technology, storage, etc. This may seem too obvious, but some games need to be appreciated, especially on a console meant for them.

Fast forward to the Steam Deck’s release. I was hesitant to buy it, primarily because of the price. Regardless, I decided to go ahead and purchase it anyway. When I received it, I was excited and had such a great unboxing experience. However, a few days later, I wanted to return it. Why, you ask? Because “Why would I have the Steam Deck when I have the Switch? I also have a PlayStation. What a waste; I wanted to like this thing.” Lowkey, I even told people not to get it because it was a waste of money. Honestly, I wasn’t even a PC gamer until I discovered a free game on Steam called “Aperture Desk Job.” I wondered what other games would look like on PC, and so I bought Mirror’s Edge and Stray. The longer I played on the PC, the more I felt tired from sitting the same way for too long. Hence, my Steam Deck purchase.

As my disappointment grew, my need to determine whether to return to the Steam Deck grew. Maybe I can’t play Epic’s video games (thanks, Tim Sweeney), but I realized that I might get to see what the hype was about if I bought a couple of other games. RIP wallet. Slowly but surely, my Steam Deck became my most prized possession. I transitioned from playing on the PlayStation (that wasn’t mine to begin with) and played solely on the Steam Deck. I started to understand why it was such a loved handheld. I can play any game with no limitations whatsoever. Great graphics, sound, and ergonomics. What’s not to love? 

This leads us to the following question: why is handheld gaming better?

Saying that handheld gaming is better is not fair. I have to give credit where credit is due. But, I will explain why I prefer handheld gaming to “traditional” gaming. Other than the sweet feel of nostalgia and portability, it also provides immersive gaming. With handhelds, you can connect your headphones and fully enjoy the ambiance of whatever game you play. And since it is a handheld console, being close to the screen is where you feel like it’s just you and the world you have imported yourself into. It really does add a new meaning to gaming. As someone who truly focuses on one thing at a time, I find this type of gaming revolutionary. Hours in a game begin to feel like seconds. 

Comfortability is also another aspect that deserves some attention. You can kick back anywhere and play your game—on your couch (a different part of it, at least), your bed, or even your kitchen if you feel like it. I have designed my bedroom to be the coziest part of my house. It’s my comfort zone, and having my Deck or my Switch in there with me adds to the overall vibe I have going on. 

The Steam Deck really broke the barrier between traditional consoles and handhelds. I am no longer bound to stay in the same spot to play a specific game; I can now take it anywhere with me. And the quality of the games is not compromised if you choose to play on the Steam Deck. Truly, it brought to life what most of us gamers really wanted. You can also emulate Nintendo games if you wish. But I prefer to play Nintendo games on their respective consoles. 2DS games are played on my 2DS XL, DS Lite games are on my DS Lite, etc. The Switch was a good starting point for many gaming companies to take handhelds seriously. So, credit definitely goes to Nintendo. 

Regardless of what type of console you prefer, gaming is gaming. While handhelds may not necessarily be “better” than other traditional gaming consoles, they offer unique advantages and appeal to a broad audience of gamers who value portability, comfortability, and immersive experiences. Happy gaming!