Hey all, long time lurker in this sub and big fan (from afar) of the Steam Deck. I’ve finally saved the funds to potentially purchase a Steam Deck and I’m looking for some guidance here so I’ll describe my situation and potential use cases and see what you guys would recommend.

I’m a long time console gamer in the PlayStation and Nintendo ecosystems. I have a PS5 and a Nintendo Switch that I use when I have time. I’m a Mac user for my personal and work computer needs so not really any gaming on my computer. I haven’t purchased much through Steam in the past. I’m also a dad so I have limited time to sit and play a lot of games due to family obligations.

I play online (PlayStation) with a group of friends once or twice a week. A couple of my friends recently purchased OLED Steam Decks and have been really enjoying them.

I feel like the Steam ecosystem and community is much better all around. Better customer support, game prices, and a platform that doesn’t lock you in the way Sony and Nintendo do with their anti-consumer policies and paid online subscriptions.

What are the benefits of the Steam Deck vs. PlayStation and Nintendo? Does it complement my current set up in any way? What games or types of games will I be able to access that I can’t access today with my current set up? I’m feeling kind of weird dropping a bunch of money on hardware that isn’t more powerful than my PlayStation or more portable than my Switch but it could be worth it if there are unique games and experiences I can’t access today. I think having a handheld device will increase my ability to play games when I’m not able to be at my desk/monitor. I also worry maybe I’m spreading myself too thin in terms of how much time I have to actually play games and how many gaming platforms I own. I do know that if I do buy a Deck I’ll definitely spring for the OLED.

Sorry for the long, rambling post. Interested to hear everyone’s thoughts. Cheers!