Welcome to immediately’s version of the Steam Deck Weekly. I didn’t assume there can be a lot information this week, however the Nintendo Direct proved me flawed on many fronts as anticipated. Many of the third get together video games included are additionally coming to PC, and I shall be taking part in all of them on Steam Deck. Apart from the Nintendo Direct third get together information, there are a number of notable recreation releases this week together with my early Steam Deck impressions of Elden Ring’s large growth. Let’s get into the critiques and impressions first.
Steam Deck Sport Critiques & Impressions
ELDEN RING Shadow of the Erdtree Steam Deck impressions
Having performed ELDEN RING on Xbox Collection X, PC, Steam Deck, and PS5 the 12 months it was launched, I’ve since moved to specializing in the sport on Steam Deck primarily. Whereas it doesn’t run in addition to it does on Xbox Collection X with VRR or taking part in the PS4 model on PS5, I loved how good it seemed and performed natively on Steam Deck. When ELDEN RING Shadow of the Erdtree was introduced, I used to be most to see how the brand new areas felt on Valve’s handheld, and whether or not there have been any enhancements to the PC port that was fairly missing at launch. I now have a Steam Deck OLED, and taking part in ELDEN RING Shadow of the Erdtree’s opening hours with HDR on it have been fairly superb.
The unique ELDEN RING on Steam Deck was really a extra constant expertise than taking part in on a desktop PC with Valve having fastened the shader problem. I nonetheless hear pals who’ve prime of the road PCs with 4090s complain about random stuttering even immediately. On Steam Deck, I wasn’t in a position to get ELDEN RING Shadow of the Erdtree to run at a locked 40fps in any respect with out dropping the picture high quality or options an excessive amount of. I opted to goal for a locked 30fps which I capped utilizing the Steam Deck’s fast entry menu. I additionally enabled HDR for taking part in on my Steam Deck OLED. Primarily based on the few hours I’ve put into ELDEN RING Shadow of the Erdtree on Steam Deck immediately together with on my Steam Deck LCD, except for one half that precipitated efficiency to drop beneath 30 with too many results for a number of seconds, it’s holding its 30fps goal nicely, and appears glorious on the small display screen. I left most settings on the auto-detect preset, however turned shadows and volumetric lighting down a bit.
Apart from what I’ve skilled of the brand new visuals and content material of the growth, I like to recommend turning on the brand new stock options instantly. They assist rather a lot. For those who haven’t overwhelmed the primary recreation but, the change to the ultimate boss makes an unfun struggle a lot better. I say unfun, however that solely actually is an issue for melee targeted builds. I nonetheless assume the change is nice. I received’t say extra to keep away from spoilers.
For those who’re new to ELDEN RING and haven’t purchased it but, however need to play it on Steam Deck, I like to recommend getting the ELDEN RING Shadow of the Erdtree Version which incorporates the bottom recreation and the growth. Shopping for it that means will work out cheaper than shopping for the growth individually afterward how FromSoftware recreation costs have been beneath Bandai Namco with DLC. You can also’t entry the DLC till fairly a bit later as nicely.
I want extra time to do a full evaluation of ELDEN RING Shadow of the Erdtree on Steam Deck, however it is rather promising up to now once I play it offline, and I can’t wait to see how extra of the growth seems to be on Valve’s handheld. I haven’t examined it on-line but, however I can safely say that ELDEN RING Shadow of the Erdtree is beautiful on Steam Deck OLED up to now, and I stay up for being equal components shocked at how good it seems to be and pissed off by the inevitable boss partitions I run into.
Eiyuden Chronicle: Hundred Heroes Steam Deck Port Evaluation
Some time in the past I reviewed Eiyuden Chronicle: Hundred Heroes on the Nintendo Swap and located a captivating non secular successor to the traditional Suikoden collection introduced down by important technical points. Effectively, I’ve had the prospect to play the sport on Steam Deck now, and whereas I wouldn’t go as far as to say it’s fully freed from points, it’s night time and day. I dare say one can correctly benefit from the recreation right here. And meaning I can converse to the sport a bit extra, so I’ll do this.
This recreation is after all the crowd-funded, long-awaited Suikoden follow-up put collectively by a number of the folks behind the unique recreation, together with the collection creator Yoshitaka Murayama, who sadly handed away scant months earlier than this recreation’s launch. One can solely think about the strain the workforce should have been beneath to ship on the hopes and goals of a devoted fanbase on such a restricted finances, and in loads of methods you possibly can really feel all of that ultimately consequence. That is as near a brand new Suikoden recreation as we’re doubtless going to get, and it was clearly put along with loads of ardour and never fairly sufficient assets.
Nonetheless, in case you’re seeking to scratch the itch and might settle for that this was by no means going to reside as much as a full-sized manufacturing from a serious online game writer on the top of its powers, I feel you’ll discover rather a lot to like on this recreation. Gathering the entire characters is simply as fulfilling right here because it was within the Suikoden video games, even when most of them are missing the allure and utility you would possibly hope for. There’s a extremely fascinating battle system at play right here, one that you simply’ll must correctly interact with. The general story isn’t notably nice, and it has some hassle escaping the shadow of what got here earlier than, nevertheless it’s partaking sufficient to maintain you going. The sport is usually loyal to these twenty-five 12 months outdated video games to its personal detriment, but when that’s the flavour you’re after I feel you’re prone to forgive that.
For those who’re in search of a sequel to the traditional Suikoden video games that may grasp comfortably with the perfect entries in that franchise, Eiyuden Chronicle: Hundred Heroes won’t be as much as your expectations. However in case you’re simply attempting to get slightly of that outdated magic again, there’s sufficient pixie mud on this recreation to hold you many of the technique to Neverland. It’s a recreation brimming with ardour, struggling towards its limitations, however in the end a real expression, and it’s at all times good for one thing like that to return into this world. -Shaun Musgrave
Information and Trailers
The information highlights of the week are principally from the Nintendo Direct. I’ve included my favorites beneath.
Marvel Vs. Capcom Preventing Assortment could be the largest shock of 2024 for me by way of announcement. I stored listening to a lot about these video games however by no means received to play them. With this assortment on Steam, Swap, and PS4, I’m going to verify I play it. The video games even have rollback netcode fortunately. Watch the announcement trailer from Capcom beneath:
Capcom additionally introduced the Ace Lawyer Investigations Assortment for Steam and consoles. It launches on September sixth worldwide with pre-orders now reside. Whereas the primary recreation is out there on cellular and DS, the second recreation was by no means launched in English. That modifications with this assortment. As an enormous fan of the collection, I’m excited to revisit Ace Lawyer Investigations and play the second recreation for the primary time.
Farmagia from Xseed Video games and Marvelous USA launches on November 1st alongside an anime. The monster farming recreation with character designs from Fairy Tail’s Hiro Mashima will even see a bodily launch on consoles. I’m trying ahead to this one. Watch the trailer for it beneath:
Talking of Hiro Mashima, Fairy Tail 2 from Gust and Koei Tecmo can be due this 12 months in Winter on Steam, PS5, PS4, and Swap worldwide. It’s the follow-up recreation to 2020’s Fairy Tail for PS4, Swap, and Steam. Watch the announcement trailer beneath:
Spike Chunsoft is localizing Natsu-Mon twentieth Century Summer time Trip for PC this August on Steam. The journey recreation from Toybox and Millennium Kitchen can be getting DLC when it arrives on PC in Japanese later this month. I by no means performed the Japanese Swap model, however shall be checking this one out on Steam. Watch the Japanese trailer beneath:
NIS America introduced Phantom Courageous: The Misplaced Hero for Steam, PS5, PS4, and Swap set for 2025 launch. That is the primary new Phantom Courageous recreation in a really very long time, and it options greater than 50 characters with 300 abilities. It’s a turn-based technique recreation with out a grid, and I can’t wait to see how a contemporary recreation on this collection seems like.
As a shock to everybody, Bandai Namco launched Baten Kaitos I & II HD Remaster on Steam this week. It debuted on Swap final 12 months, and I assumed it wouldn’t be ported given Nintendo and Monolith Delicate’s involvement. It has a month 1 version together with a digital artbook. Learn my Swap evaluation right here. I’ll be overlaying the Steam model on Steam Deck as nicely.
PowerWash Simulator’s Alice’s Adventures Particular Pack DLC launches on July 2nd including Alice in Wonderland to PowerWash Simulator for Steam and consoles. It consists of 5 places, a brand new outfit, and way more. Watch the discharge date trailer for it beneath:
Stray Gods: The Roleplaying Musical is ready to launch its Orpheus DLC for $9.99 on June twenty seventh for Steam and consoles. I loved the bottom recreation and shall be checking this one out to see the place it takes the story.
Degree-5 is releasing the primary main content material replace for Megaton Musashi W: Wired quickly with a 50% off sale on Swap and Steam. This content material replace arrives in 3.1.0 bringing in UFO Robotic Grendizer and way more. Watch the replace trailer beneath:
The superb Destiny/Samurai Remnant has gotten its third main DLC pack this week in Report’s Fragment: Bailong and the Crimson Demon. Try the launch trailer for the DLC beneath:
Past Good & Evil – twentieth Anniversary Version launches on June twenty fifth for Steam and consoles providing 4K 60fps with improved graphics, management enhancements, and extra. Watch the trailer beneath:
I saved the perfect for final with Sq. Enix’s bulletins from the Nintendo Direct together with Fantasian Neo Dimension bringing an enhanced model of the superb Apple Arcade recreation to Steam and consoles main the information. It’s due later this 12 months, and it features a new problem choice as nicely.
Sq. Enix is remaking Romancing SaGa 2 as Romancing SaGa 2: Revenge of the Seven, and it seems to be unimaginable. Set to launch on October twenty fourth, this 3D remake is coming to Steam, PS5, and Swap. It feels bizarre that this remake is such an even bigger manufacturing than the most recent mainline recreation however right here we’re. Watch the trailer beneath:
The ultimate announcement is Dragon Quest III HD 2D Remake coming November 14th for Steam, PS5, Xbox Collection X, and Swap worldwide. It seems to be gorgeous, and remakes of Dragon Quest I and II shall be following in 2025.
New Steam Deck Verified & Playable video games for the week
Just a few notable video games this week in comparison with the previous few weeks, however some heavy hitters like No Relaxation for the Depraved (I’m nonetheless taking part in this), Kingdom Hearts, and extra are within the latest batch of video games examined by Valve.
- Anomaly Collapse – Playable
- FOUNDRY – Playable
- KINGDOM HEARTS HD 1.5+2.5 ReMIX – Verified (by way of TouchArcade reader Mor)
- KINGDOM HEARTS HD 2.8 Remaining Chapter Prologue – Verified (by way of TouchArcade reader Mor)
- Mullet Mad Jack – Verified
- No Relaxation for the Depraved – Verified
- Profitable Submit 10 2024 – Verified
Steam Deck Sport Gross sales, Reductions, and Specials
Subsequent week, the massive Steam sale begins. Forward of that, you possibly can seize Dragon Age video games within the new Dragon Age franchise sale right here or seize Everspace 2 and extra within the Video games Made in Germany 2024 sale right here.
That’s all for this version of the Steam Deck Weekly. As standard, you possibly can learn all our previous and future Steam Deck protection right here. You probably have any suggestions for this characteristic or what else you’d wish to see us do across the Steam Deck, tell us within the feedback beneath. I hope you all have an incredible day, and thanks for studying.
