For most of the pre-launch marketing, Valve has wanted to show that the Steam Deck is more than just a Switch-like game console. Of course, the game is what most use, but with the Steam Deck Now compatible with Windows, Valve continues to push the idea that it’s more like a portable PC.
In that sense, it offers all the versatility of a standard computer, and one person has shown that it is even possible to develop a game using just that console. A recent tweet from Valve designer Lawrence Yang noted that YouTuber Tranasus has used the Steam Deck not only to create a simple game using the device, but he has added it to his Steam library.
Although what they have actually created is very basic, since it is a simple shape that moves across an empty plain, the idea of the experiment was to demonstrate that it is possible to use only this console to develop and upload games. Tranasus believes that the Deck is therefore a viable alternative to a regular PC, not least because it is cheaper than a full system.
It does show that the device can do seemingly everything that a home computer can do. Tranasus claims that with just a Bluetooth keyboard and the Deck, anyone interested in programming can potentially use it in the same way someone would use a desktop or laptop.
The system is so diverse that some users have even modified their device, and one person has managed to change the SSD of the Steam Deck for a bigger one. Although it is possible to do so, Valve has insisted that others not try it as it may cause problems later on.