I never expected to write an article directly comparing the Steam Deck with the Switch 2. After all, they exist in completely different universes and ecosystems. One is a PC-based gaming handheld with access to tens of thousands of games spanning more than 20 years, and the other is a console you buy primarily to experience the wonder and whimsy of Nintendo’s excellent first-party titles. Right?
Frankly, it’s always been logical to recommend buying both. The PC + Nintendo combo tends to cover the bases for enthusiasts who want deep access to the majority of games out there. Want to enjoy Nintendo exclusives? Get a Switch. Want an affordable handheld for playing the vast library of PC games on Steam? Grab yourself a Steam Deck.
But a perfect storm has been coalescing since mid-2024, threatening to make the Steam Deck more and more irrelevant in a growing sea of powerful competitors. And it seems bitterly ironic that a legendary game franchise with an historic PC heritage might be the final, crushing wave that drowns the Steam Deck.
Let me explain.
Switch 2 Vs Steam Deck: A Tale of DOOM?
That perfect storm I mentioned? It’s the growing list of games that are simply too demanding to run properly — if at all — on Steam Deck. That list is punctuated by Indiana Jones And The Great Circle. Last year’s terrific Indy adventure from Machine Games and Bethesda was the first game in history to require a GPU with built-in ray tracing. There is no menu option to disable it.
While it’s true that the Steam Deck’s processor does have basic ray tracing support, actually flipping it on in games tends to bring the system to its knees. So when it’s mandatory, as it with the demanding Indiana Jones And The Great Circle, it’s an unplayable mess. As such, Valve lists it as Unsupported on Steam Deck.
But now the second game in history to require ray tracing has entered the picture, and that’s DOOM: The Dark Ages. Combined with the game’s requirement of an Nvidia RTX 2060 Super at minimum, this likely spells, well, doom, for the Steam Deck’s chances of running it.
More games requiring built-in Ray Tracing are sure to follow in 2025.
Also, if you’re keeping track, that’s another Bethesda game. And Bethesda is now owned by Microsoft, which just pledged its enthusiastic support for Nintendo’s Switch 2.
Microsoft’s Phil Spencer recently said that Xbox is “really looking forward to supporting them with the games that we have.” This statement follows multiple claims from industry insiders that most, if not all, Xbox games will get ported to Switch 2. And it certainly lines up with Microsoft’s new “everything is an Xbox” strategy.
Beyond the new DOOM and new Indy games, graphically intensive titles like Space Marine 2 and Final Fantasy VII Rebirth are barely playable on Valve’s terrific but aging handheld. If a Steam Deck is the only viable device you have for PC gaming, you can muddle through but it will be a pitiful playthrough riddled with slowdown and blurry textures.
So, wait a minute. A legendary PC staple like DOOM skipping the Steam Deck but likely running well on Switch 2? A relatively affordable Nintendo console will be the smartest destination for Xbox and PC ports on a handheld? That sounds ludicrous.
It feels like we’ve jumped into an alternative timeline. But there’s ample evidence to support this.
Switch 2 Will Have Strong Ray Tracing Support
It’s a widely held belief that the Switch 2 is powered by an Nvidia Ampere GPU derived from the company’s 30 Series of RTX graphics cards, which includes 2nd-generation Ray Tracing support from the company that pioneered it. You better believe that Nvidia wants one of its flagship features to shine brightly on a device with the potential to sell more than 100 million units.
Consider also that the original Switch is powered by the Tegra X1, which is downright ancient at this point, yet somehow DOOM 2016 exists on Nintendo’s 8-year-old console. Now consider that the Switch 2’s oft-rumored T239 processor has 500% more of Nvidia’s CUDA Cores than the Tegra X1 does. Five. Hundred. Percent.
All of this adds up to a sobering situation for Valve’s Steam Deck, and indeed for devices like the Legion Go and ROG Ally as well. It seems increasingly possible that we’re headed towards a reality where the Switch 2 will be home to not just the usual dose of regular Nintendo exclusives, but also home to major 3rd-party releases that Nintendo’s handheld competition can’t even launch.
Like I said, it feels like we’ve jumped timelines. But the Switch 2 seems poised to give the current slate of PC-powered handhelds a very loud wake-up call. Perhaps Valve should accelerate its plans for a Steam Deck 2?
