Can the Steam Deck replace a desktop? My experience as a game developer.
Disclaimer: I mention the game I built with the Steam Deck near the end for anyone curious. That's the only promotional link in this post.
About a year ago I was planning a six-month trip through Southeast Asia.
At the time I only owned a desktop PC, and wasn't interested in buying an expensive gaming laptop just to travel.
I wanted something that could:
- play games
- let me work from coffee shops and co-working spaces
- run from a USB-C charger or power bank during blackouts
- fit in a backpack
On paper, the Steam Deck was a good fit.
The question was whether it could actually replace a traditional computer for work.
I'm an indie game developer, so my typical day involves running a game engine, creating art, editing trailers, and testing builds.
I searched Reddit / YouTube to see if anyone had already tried this. The answers were... mixed.
And that makes sense. Whether the Steam Deck can replace your PC depends entirely on what you do. Linux compatibility, software availability, and your tolerance for workarounds all need to be considered when purchasing any computer.
So I decided to find out for myself.
Why I took the gamble
- I was moving overseas and wanted to travel light.
- I didn't want to spend $1500+ on a laptop I'd only use while travelling.
- I needed a Steam Deck anyways for future game development.
- It’s just plain cool!
Here's the software I ended up using (and the alternatives I forced myself to learn):
- Godot (game engine)
- Aseprite (pixel art, via Proton)
- Kdenlive (video editing) - Alternative video editor, was actually quite nice to use.
- Krita (image editing) - Not a huge fan coming from Affinity Photo, but got the job done.
Peripherals used (These are mandatory if you value your sanity):
- Bluetooth mouse + keyboard
- Portable monitor (for a second screen)
- Dock (to connect everything)
I think it will come as no surprise that trying to use this thing as a PC without external peripherals is going to be miserable. While these external peripherals will arguably make the entire setup heavier, and harder to transport, they have the added benefit of being optional for gaming on the go.
I did learn quickly how ridiculous I looked setting all this up at a coffee shop, and quickly found myself going to co-working spaces instead. 😅
What surprised me most:
- Trackpads are surprisingly useable in a pinch for web browsing / file navigation.
- It handled a full dev workflow without issues
- Personally I had little to no issues with performance.
- It runs super quiet, pretty much all the time.
- THE VENTS SMELL GOOD
*Also… I may or may not have pushed a build while sitting on the toilet.* Peak “portable workstation” moment.
Where it struggled:
- Some Linux / SteamOS quirks
- Video editing works, but only for simple stuff
- Extra peripherals make it less portable
- Some problems are harder to troubleshoot
I struggled a lot with getting the controller input to work while outside gaming mode, turns out you need to hold the menu button for a few seconds to switch to controller mode.
There was a lack of troubleshooting resources compared to Windows. I could usually solve my problems, but it often took a lot more digging.
The only performance issues I had was during video editing, which I kind of expected. During editing of the trailer trying to playback the edit would get pretty choppy once effects were added in. I did use proxy clips which helped. Editing a simple 30 second trailer was fine, anything beyond that… and you’re gonna have a bad time.
Result:
My biggest takeaway is that the Steam Deck is absolutely capable of replacing a desktop for some workflows, provided you're okay with Linux and don't mind carrying a few peripherals.
In the end I ended up completing almost the entire development of my latest game using nothing but the Steam Deck.
Since it was developed on the hardware from day one, it has native controller support and was designed around the Deck.
If anyone is curious, here's the Steam page:
https://store.steampowered.com/app/3987230/Mining_and_Dwarves/
I'd genuinely love some wishlists and feedback from other Steam Deck users, especially on the controls. If you end up trying it, let me know what feels good and what doesn't.
And if you've used your Deck as more than just a gaming device, I'd love to hear your experience too.
Questions:
If you have any questions or want me to dive into more specifics ask away below, or share your experience using the deck as a PC :)