Hey all, I bought a Steam Deck LCD 1TB about a day ago expecting a straightforward gaming console experience, similar to my PS5. But so far, I’ve run into several issues: random keyboard failures in both desktop and Steam mode, Ubisoft Connect problems preventing me from running Far Cry 6 despite installing it, and general worries about game compatibility since not all titles have Steam Deck support. It feels like only emulators or indie games run smoothly out of the box, while many AAA titles require significant tweaking before they even boot. As an IT consultant, I’m used to troubleshooting but bought this for lazy gaming without fuss. Is it normal for the Steam Deck OS and compatibility to be this rough around the edges? Or did I get the wrong device for what I wanted—a hassle-free AAA gaming handheld? Any advice or shared experiences would help! Thanks for sticking with me through the rant.
5 Answers
I’ve had a pretty good experience with ProtonDB myself—usually, it gives a good idea of what to expect and what fixes may be needed. But sometimes it’s about finding the right tweaks or workarounds mentioned in recent reports. Not perfect, but still a helpful resource. If your first big game wasn’t working even after hours, that can definitely be frustrating. The Deck is more for folks who don’t mind fiddling a bit to get everything running, not just a straight console replacement.
Honestly, Ubisoft titles are notoriously problematic on Steam Deck due to their launcher dependencies. The Deck is a powerful handheld PC with a custom OS, but it isn’t a plug-and-play console. If you’re looking for a hassle-free experience like PS5, this might not be it. That said, most games that don’t require extra launchers run fine, especially if they’re ‘Deck Verified’. Setting graphics low helps smooth things out, but again, expect some setup. It all depends on how much tinkering you want to do versus pure plug-and-play.
The Steam Deck isn’t really a traditional console—it’s more like a handheld gaming PC. So yes, some tweaking is part of the experience, especially for games that use extra launchers. AAA titles that are Steam Deck Verified usually run fine without fuss. For Ubisoft games and others tied to launchers, problems are common. If you want plug-and-play AAA gaming like a PS5, the Steam Deck might feel frustrating. You might want to take advantage of Steam’s refund window if gaming convenience is your top priority.
If you just want to play AAA games easily without much setup, you might actually want to look into using a streaming solution like Chiaki to stream your PS5 games to the Deck. The Deck struggles with a lot of those launchers and heavy AAA titles. Streaming your PS5 experience can fill that gap pretty well, just keep in mind streaming quality depends on your network. It’s definitely smoother if you prefer zero tinkering though.
Tried PS remote play before, but the streaming quality wasn’t great enough for me. Prefer running games natively if I can.
Yeah, the Steam Deck definitely has a learning curve. Lots of games—especially those requiring third-party launchers like Ubisoft Connect—can be tricky to get running smoothly. ProtonDB is a solid resource to see how games perform, but sometimes even “playable” titles need a bit of messing around. If you want, try grabbing a cheap Bluetooth keyboard and mouse; it makes desktop mode more usable. Honestly, for a hassle-free AAA experience, the Deck might not be your best bet straight out of the box.
I checked ProtonDB and Mark of the Ninja worked fine but my first 3D game failed completely after 3 hours of troubleshooting. Makes me wonder how reliable ProtonDB is.
Yeah, it’s tough because coming from a PS5 where you just pop the disc or hit install and game, this feels like a whole different ballgame.