The Steam Deck is software-freedom friendly

Original Article ↗ Hacker News Discussion ↗

Steam Deck vs Switch (and Other Consoles)

  • Many compare the Steam Deck favorably to the Switch/Switch 2 on openness and game pricing, even if Nintendo may win on battery, first‑party polish, kid‑friendly titles, and motion‑control experiences.
  • Nintendo’s evergreen full-price games are contrasted with Steam’s heavy discounts; some see Nintendo’s pricing as preserving value, others as gouging.
  • Several parents criticize Nintendo’s modern UX (store prompts, online hooks) as worse for young kids than older offline handhelds.

Valve, Openness, and “Software Freedom”

  • Strong praise for SteamOS: Arch-based, desktop mode, Flatpaks, easy installation of other stores and even Windows. People note Valve’s long-term investment in Wine/Proton and Linux gaming.
  • Others argue the headline overreaches: the Deck is “not hostile” to software freedom, but still DRM-heavy, full of proprietary blobs, and far from FOSS ideals.
  • Some confusion about “software freedom” vs “choice”; commenters clarify it refers to licensing, transparency, and modifiability, not just being able to run many apps.

Monopoly, Anticompetitiveness, and the 30% Cut

  • Heated debate over whether Steam is a monopoly: users have alternatives (Epic, GOG, publisher launchers), but devs say if you’re not on Steam, your game “might as well not exist.”
  • Several point to most‑favored‑nation–style pricing parity and key policies as anticompetitive; lawsuits and judicial rulings allowing cases to proceed are cited.
  • Others respond that competitors mostly “shot themselves in the foot,” and Valve wins by UX and trust, not OEM‑style strong‑arming.

Consumer Experience, DRM, and Gambling

  • Steam is widely praised for UX, refunds (with caveats), family sharing/parental controls, Workshop, regional pricing, and not breaking games often. Many admit buying games on Steam they already own elsewhere just to avoid bad launchers.
  • DRM is seen as relatively “benign” compared to others, but some insist any DRM is anti‑freedom and worry about long‑term access and lack of inheritance.
  • Multiple commenters highlight Valve’s role in loot boxes / skin gambling as a major ethical black mark, especially regarding kids.

Steam Deck in Practice

  • Users describe the Deck as transformative: handheld PC, dockable desktop, robotics controller, fallback workstation, and powerful emulation box.
  • Critiques: “Verified” status sometimes overpromises; launchers and local multiplayer can be clunky; the device is bulky compared to Switch; some games need tinkering.

Wider Ecosystem and Future Risks

  • Discussion of potential Xbox handhelds, other x86 portables, and dreams of “Steam Machine 2.0” or Framework partnerships.
  • Many express anxiety about what happens after Gabe Newell—fear of IPO, shareholder pressure, and more aggressive monetization.