I mean, honestly having access to every game system I have owned since childhood is pretty much worth the asking price. :) And I do believe that the Steam Deck will become a dream come true for emulation. And that 4k support in DeckUI mode will most likely become available once Valve release their dock. It works in desktop mode.
@@blanka4545 yup. I mean for me, I have been playing PC games since the early 90's as well. and everything up until this point will work on the Steam Deck. It's kind of crazy that a handheld can play every game I have ever owned. and every game I want to play currently. :)
As a Steam Deck owner myself, I would highly discourage you from installing Windows on it. I've tried it just for kicks and it sucked. Not only was the performance kinda bad on Windows, but everything I was doing on the Deck already, I can do on Linux but better and easier. And when it comes to older games and emulators, Linux is your best friend because it allows me to play games that are no longer playable on Windows. And most gaming consoles are actually Linux or FreeBSD based, which means that the process of emulating these consoles' software is a lot more complicated on Windows, thus hit the performance. Not only that. But because Linux is a lot more lightweight and uses less ram, you'll have fewer resources on Windows. And the Deck only comes with 16gigs of ram. I don't wanna waste about half of that on the OS. Btw. Cemu actually runs better on Steam OS than on Windows. I installed it through Lutris, which is an amazing app. I wish Windows had something similar.
I've preordered precisely because it doesn't have Windows on it. I despise Windows. It's an expensive, janky, buggy, unpredictable, virus strewn, updates breaking, driver issue mess that is so hamstrung by keeping It's legacy of software compatibility you are never far away from awfully designed systems that you recognise were in Windows 98. I want a gaming and production future away from Windows without having the expense and restrictions (and privacy concerns) using a Mac. This is hopefully the start of a beautiful relationship.
Fair enough, and thank you for the insights. I was mostly curious to install Windows just to see the performance difference between the two. I fully agree that I want to stay within the SteamOS ecosystem as much as possible, I think the popularity of this device will bring a lot of nice attention to Linux as a whole.
Linux not only uses less RAM but also has less CPU and GPU load. Try running Windows and for example Linux Mint on an average laptop. It will work faster and you will get better performance from something as obvious as a web browser. That means you will spare quite a lot of resources to use by emulators. I'm runnin PSX and N64 games at full speed on a 14 years old office laptop with Linux Mint Mate that looks even better and cleaner than Windows. And the emulators I'm using are known for being very accurate.
To be fair, SteamOS is half of the excitement in wanting the Steam Deck and overall, a lot of games and emulators run fine on the Deck with SteamOS and that's likely only going to get better. As for Windows, I've seen enough of those portable PC gaming devices as well as the Steam Deck with Windows on it and it just looks clunky, not as easy to use and uses more battery life, simply put, Windows isn't designed for this kind of controller or screen size whereas SteamOS is and the only thing that interest me with Windows on the Deck is comparisons of games to see the difference from SteamOS and Windows but apart from that, I would recommend sticking to SteamOS. Wouldn't mind seeing SteamOS on the desktop, especially once it matures.
Before next year, they will have an optimised build of Windows 10 for the Valve Steam Deck. And it will be worth it, at least for using all those Full Programs you can't get anywhere. As well as accessing the entire Steam Library, Native Windows Games, and other Platforms (eg Epic Store). I think we will also get some pretty good nVme Mini SSD cards, ones that are 2TB and cheap. And people will be able to write tutorials on how to dual-boot the VSD with both operating systems. I also think many of these higher-end emulators will get builds better optimised for the SteamDeck, if not, just out-right ported to Linux. And hopefully people will use this as a springboard to improve Linux as a Daily Driver OS and Gaming for the Mainstream Audience.
I love the long emulation review videos because you test out a variety of games, not just one or two per system like eta prime does. Keep up the good work
@@rlrlrlagusdn eta prime just trys the most hardest one to emulate which means everything under would run find like after gta5 runs smoothly then gta vice city would also run fine.
@@shlokshah5379 It would still be nice to see how various games look, especially under Cemu, PS2, PS3. ETA is cool but the dude just churns out videos non-stop for views only.
What I do with Steam's Retroarch is I install it, but then I just overwrite everything in *that* Retroarch install with a fresh standalone install of Retroarch. It's pretty seamless that way too. Plus you get access to all cores and Steam Features for Retroarch. Also DAMN that fix for the weird sprite scaling in MMX is genius. Would've never thought to do that.
Hi Ross! I wanted to clarify something regarding to ProtonGE. The "-" doesn't stand for "x through x version", instead, it's like a version separator (like the dot) intended to differentiate it from the mainline proton version. What this means is that GE-Proton7-9 means it's the ninth GE revision of the 7.0 version of proton Oh, and the GE just means Glorious Eggroll which i just find completely amazing
Yeah dolphin and redream are great I was shocked that I could get shenmue working using redream on my aya neo, on dolphin I currently have: prince of Persia sands of time, simpsons hit and run, simpsons road rage, spyro a hero’s tale, Donald Duck goin quackers, ty the Tasmanian tiger, tak, wave race blue storm, Harry Potter and the philosophers stone 😏
I'm excited about this handheld... i'm almost tempting going into scalper steam deck jungle and buy one there 😆 Only paying 400+ above retail price... i think I rather wait for mine from Valve / Steam 😅
Here are instructions for adding more cores to the Steam version of RetroArch! Preface as to why you would want to do this: Steam RetroArch has several advantages like cloud saves and being sorted alongside the rest of your official Steam games. And if you install it to an SD card then it will be preserved if you ever have to reload your OS. The easiest way to add non-official-Steam-DLC cores to your Steam version of RetroArch is to install the Linux version of RetroArch from the Discover app, download cores in that version, then copy them to your Steam installation. The installation and downloading part is relatively easy and is covered in a RetroGameCorps guide. Then to copy over new cores, you will need to track down two files: the actual core which is a file ending in .so, and the info file which tells RetroArch what games are associated with the core and ends in .info. Linux Discover (Flatpak) RetroArch cores are located here: home/.var/app/org.libretro.RetroArch/config/RetroArch/cores Linux Discover (Flatpak) Retroarch info files are located here: var/lib/flatpak/app/org.libretro.RetroArch/x86_64/stable/[lots of letters and numbers]/files/share/libretro/info Copy both of these files for whatever core you are looking to add into the Steam RetroArch cores folder. If you are installing your games to an SD card, you will find that folder here: run/media/[SD card name]/steamapps/common/RetroArch/cores Fortunately the Steam version of RetroArch has the core and info files in the same folder. After doing this, exit the desktop and go back to the default Steam interface, and open Steam RetroArch. You should be able to load games in those new cores you added.
Instead of copying cores manually, it's better to change "libretro_directory" and "libretro_info_path" options in retroarch.cfg of the Steam version of RetroArch. It makes easier updating and addind new cores.
So what's you 2 thought on purchasing from private parties who owns it already never opened and tested or the ones with box open but never used the ones being sold on ebay or Macarri
I've never emulated anything before, but I've been getting interested in it lately for a variety of reasons (wanting to play classic games that aren't available anymore, the 3DS eShop closing). I have a Steam Deck reserved, but I was losing enthusiasm for it because quite a few games in my library aren't compatible with it. Your videos on this have just opened up a whole new world for me and now I'm extremely excited to get my Steam Deck again between July and September! Thanks so much for this video.
This is incredible. Thanks for all the hard work you’ve done here. What’s so great about the steam deck is the huge library even if you can’t emulate a game well. I can’t wait to get mine after Q3 😭
Q3 isn't that bad. I'm from Brazil, who knows when steam deck is gonna get here, if it does D:. I'll probably just have to wait until is on stock on stores and travel to buy cheaper
I’m so happy this device exists. The only thing I’m bummed about is that my Q2 release window got pushed back to Q3. Keep in mind I put in my preorder only an hour after they went live. I think that it’s pretty safe to say this console is selling a ton.
A pro argument of using Steam's RetroArch is savestate-synching, but yes, the lack of cores is a bummer. I'm wondering if it's possible to install cores manually. Copying core-files from the repo-RetroArch, for example...
Nice comment. Thanks for point that out. I don't need that many cores because for my retro taste I always stick with gb, gbc, gba, nes, snes and ps1. So maybe they have all the cores I need there.
That's the problem with the linux version too. I recently installed RetroArch on my son's linux laptop and was bummed to not find the cores installed and no way to download them form the UI. Fortunately it's not hard to get them from the RetroArch github repo and put them in the right folder.
I've learned more from your video after you've borrowed the Steam Deck in a few days than I've had my Steam Deck for over 2 weeks. The exciting thing is that great games that Windows no longer supports plays easily through Proton. Games like Prototype, Prototype 2, Saints Row 2, Mortal Kombat Komplete Edition and even really old dosbox games like Ignition run well on the Steam Deck.
Just seeing Golden Sun being played on steam deck has made me even more excited to get mine. I loved those games as a kid and I can't wait to play them again.
This thing seems like it's finally the answer to have literally all your games in one place finally. You can even use a Bluetooth Controller/KeyBoard & Mouse with it.
It makes much more sense to test MGS2 and 3 for the PS2 emulator as they take greater advantage of the PS2 hardware than any other game has. Same for MGS4 on PS3.
I am excited for the potential advantages for emulation with shared memory exposed by VK_VALVE_descriptor_set_host_mapping Vulkan extension. This functionality was recently added to the mesa AMDGPU kernel driver and exposed by an extension within the valve developed radv vulkan provider for the vkd3d specific renderer. The VRAM and RAM are on the same chips and thus Valve wanted the ability to pass pointers to objects directly to the CPU to access resources from VRAM without waiting for the iGPU to send data to it. To make this happen Valve recently committed a Valve Vulkan extension that is ONLY advertised for the VKD3D renderer in use by proton. This advantage of having shared memory like the Steamdeck has is it allows the CPU to poke GPU memory directly and should be very handy for many Emulators where the CPU was designed to do just that. Should the VK_VALVE_descriptor_set_host_mapping Vulkan extension be advertised for other vulkan renderers, emulators should be able to take advantage of this in the future to remediate performance issues of emulating these specific functions. The most famous is the Jumbotron in Mario Kart 64 on the N64 emulator.(i think Mupen64plus or Project64 may already have low res workarounds). I bet the RPCS3 emulator would benefit greatly from this extension for effects that use the write color buffers option.
Waiting for my steam deck to arrive in a few days and warming up to the work ahead to set up everything. Loved the videos man keep ‘em coming.! Maybe do a more in depth guide to set everything up for total emulation noobs!?
The almost infinite possibilities of the steam deck is ridiculous, I can install any retro game I want pretty much and can play modern games on the go, what a device, can’t wait to get mine
Thank you so much for showing desktop and everything without it being full sized on the screen. It was a bit confusing watching others wondering if they had it hooked up to a PC or anything extra. Also showing how to swap the roms over without a dock. Super helpful video, will definitely be watching your others and subbing.
Thank you for this awesome video! About the SNES uneven pixels, there is an option in Retroarch called "Integer scaling" that allows you to run the core at a resolution that is a multiple of the original resolution. Of course, the image gets smaller, but at least it runs at "pixel perfect" scaling and it can help if you use CRT shaders.
From what I understand, the Steam version of RetroArch should have the ability to use Steam Cloud Saves, if not now then in the future. I hope thats still in the plans.
My first visit to your page and it was well worth it. Thank you so much for reigniting my fire for the Deck. I'm in Q3 now so let's just say I don't have any finger nails left. lol. Thanks again.
You can add individual rom launcher by adding the emulator manual like normal then renaming it and adding the file location in the argument section. This allows you to add modifiers to cause the emulator to not open the menu gui and you can use set custom steam input layouts if you wanted to. I have PCX2 and dolphin launch just the game window at full screen and I added save states quick presses on my PS4 touch pad. I don't have a Deck yet but it'll work all the same. Basically, I'm using Big Picture Mode as my front end.
I can play game libraries from the NES, Genesis, SNES, PS1, N64, Dreamcast, PS2, and GameCube, and I'll never get bored. Add the MAME ROMs. I actually don't need handheld games but keep a few around Iike Tetris and Ridge Racer from PSP.
Idk, if we're talking games that are designed for larger screens, the screen size would be too small. Even the Deck as it is has needed certain games tweaked so that fonts would be more readable.
This was the video I was waiting for. Looking forward to your video tomorrow. I wasn't planning on getting a Steam deck but after this video, i'm starting to warm up to it :)
Fantastic video Russ, this is literally my use-case for my Steamdeck when it arrives and I'm so pleased with the results you got, this fills me with hope that this will be my dream handheld console!! Playing Saturn and Gamecube on the go has been the real dream for me! TEAM Q2!! TEAM Q2!! TEAM Q2!!
Hey, thanks for all of the attention to detail you put into your videos. Also your voice is quite pleasant to listen to. So double thanks! I’m gonna have one of these at some point soon and I’ll definitely be using your videos for help as I am a total idiot with most tech stuff.
Lemuroid > RetroArch No doubt. UI is way nicer. I love seeing the covers. I only use RetroArch for Game Gear and Jaguar if I feel like playing Rayman which I usually don't.
It's videos like this that I'd love to show the "lolo we've had portable PCs for years they're called laptops" crowd. Laptops aren't handheld, and a gaming laptop sure as heck isn't $400; meanwhile the Deck is getting performance comparable to a top of the line laptop from a few years back at a top end *Chromebook* price. To be sure I think future revisions will be even better but as someone who has experimented with tiny PCs since the days of the OpenPandora I think we've finally found the 'iPhone' of handheld PCs.
On the subject of Champions of Norrath, there's a speedhack EXPRESSLY tagged for Snowblind engine games like the Champions games and the Baldur's Gate Dark Alliance games, it makes an enormous difference on PC and if it's available in that version I bet it will clean up performance a ton. It's in the video plugin settings, I think it's called Fast Texture Invalidation.
What an excellent excellent review of emulation on Steam Deck. I really think you surpass ETAPrime in terms of how deep the contents goes in this subject.
I preordered the top end of the Deck (but intentionally not until it wouldn't be shipped until Q2 or 3 of this year) and have been going back or forth on it but this kinda sells me on just how nice having all that capbility in my hands will be. Expensive, but I'm blessed.
Nice video, gave me some input on what I could try next on my Steam Deck. Been using it for PC games (of course) and some 16 Bit system emulation so far and I'm loving it. As you said, it's price cannot be beaten for what you're getting - it's awesome.
Tekken 3 is under 700 MB. Tekken 5 is 4.2 GB. Tekken 7 is over 79 GB. How much better is Tekken 7 that's it's worth an extra 75-78 GB? Emulation is the most efficient way in storage and our bank accounts since they're 🆓.
Just from polygon count alone, a single strand of hair in T7 era games is more polygons than all 3 discs of Final Fantasy 7. Ps4 renders somewhere between 8-16 times the resolution of the ps1. That's why the filesizes are so huge.
I'm like you, I'm Q2 so hopefully I'll have mine by either April or May. I plan on using a Micro sd card for PC games, then I've got an external ssd for emulation. On a side note, never heard of the Discovery Store for emulators until the past few days
stepping up from an RP2+ all the way to a deck sometime this quarter. super glad i at least have expirence with setting up retroarch so some of the scary setup is easier.
my backlog is already insane, and was going to hold off on emulation but now seeing how easy it is to set up..oh my I need to set this up now. I have some ROMs, but need to find a lot more now.
Thanks for excellent video. It definitely helped address my concerns and questions. I like the bit where you can play 3ds games. Grateful for making these video especially considering you have such a small window to play with the steam deck.
great video, by far the best emulation video I have watched on the SD, in terms if OG Xbox the only game I would play on it would be JSR Future and as seen this plays no problems, hopefully the RPCS3 devs get their hands on this they can optimise their emulator for the SD but so happy to see this performance and the performance for the price point is amazing.
I'm really looking forward to my after q3 steam deck haha seriously your videos are just amazing... I was waiting for them expecting to be as excellent as always have been around here and I'm not disappointed whatsoever. You know how to deal with/explore these devices! That being said: I will probably stick to Steam Games because I've already have plenty of devices that can beautifully run retro games (and the rg351v is still my favorite for gb, gbc, gba, snes and ps1, and that's everything retro I need). But that screen indeed look gorgeous for GBA and PSP (maybe I will retire my Vita for that matter). Thank you Russ!! ❤️
Amazing, thank for vid.... I was Q2,. now I was moved to Q3... I ordered on July 17th.. .man I should of ordered on the 16th.. I might of had it by now... It's nice to see maybe it's worth waiting as everything will be upgraded to support the Steam Deck more...
i ordered 2h after they opened the reservations. and i still have to wait for q2. so even if you ordered on 16th, it's not guaranteed you would have received it by now.
Excellent breakdown! Thanks for the Batocera love too! My main reasoning for even ordering a SteamDeck was mostly to dive into Linux, run emulations (via Batocera), & attempt windows dual-boot. I know, sad but true By the time it arrives (Sept-Oct?) they should have worked through many of these issues (🤞)
I'm really hoping they can ship Batocera as a flatpak, just one convenient flatpak with all the emulators on it, and emulation station, so you won't need to reboot into it. Seems a shame since they're both Linux. Alternatively, Emulation station as an appimage / flatpak might be all you need to functionally get the batocera experience, complete with the Steam "..." menu benefits.
@@therealsunnyk well batocery is a linux distro, not sure how much work they would need to strip the OS from it and make the rest into flatpack... but if they can do that, it would be neat.
Hey there, a big thank you for that video. Proton up qt finally got me to running older windows games I did not buy on Steam. Without your hint I would have to continue streaming these games.🙏
Not something I plan on purchasing myself as doesn't ship to my country for ages but a quality video as to be expected. Many thanks for what you do Russ!
Protip. Instead of going through that whole process to add non-steam apps to steam, find the application you want to add in the start menu, right click the entry, select "Add To Steam". Boom!
Do y'all think that this might be the final incentive to get PS2 emulation improved? Do your think people will optimize it enough to play the entire PS2 library properly?
Great video as always. I guess someone already mentioned it (or you already know it) but sometimes the colors change / the way the camera tries to balance the colors ? It's a bit irritating, is there something you can do about it?
