2w ago

PC game development surges in Steam Deck handheld era — But don't count Xbox and PlayStation out

www.windowscentral.com PC game development surges in Steam Deck handheld era — But don't count Xbox and PlayStation out

The GDC survey also reveals more about layoffs, sheds light on which devs are using AI, and shows that Xbox is ahead of PlayStation in one key way.

In last year's survey, 66% of developers reported working on games for PC, while this year's number is significantly higher at 80%. In comparison, 38% of developers said they were working to put their game on PlayStation while 34% said they were developing for Xbox.

Now, GDC clarifies that "Steam Deck" was not specifically listed as a platform option in the survey. However, when answering which platforms they were developing for, 44% of respondents who chose "Other" did mention "the Steam Deck as a platform they’re interested in," which potentially shows a significant focus on Valve's handheld.

Steam Deck @lemmit.online

Lemmit.Online bot @lemmit.online

BOT

2w ago

PC game development surges in Steam Deck handheld era

www.windowscentral.com /gaming/gdc-survey-responses-2025

1 0

You're viewing a single thread.

14 comments

the steam deck sits in a pretty decent position long term because the switch 2 has roughly similar performance levels as it. so developers would have double the reason to get a game working at said performance level.
- They'll also have potentially more exposure, as many other companies have and will be coming out with SteamOS handhelds of their own. So if anyone had to choose, it might make more sense to skip the Switch 2.
  
  Nintendo has moved over 140 million Switch consoles. The Switch 2 might become more, or less successful, but let's just conservatively assume they'll only sell half as many this time around.
  Last time I checked, the entire Deck-like category amounted to some seven-digit number of sold devices. The idea that anyone targeting that level of performance is going to skip the Switch 2… is wildly unrealistic.
  
  I mean, I know what you're saying. Nintendo is no slouch when it comes to drawing people in, but they're no longer the only fish in the pond. Couple that with the general customer satisfaction with Deck-likes and the flat deluge of games to which you have access, and there's a real chance of people at least thinking twice before jumping on a Switch 2.
  Some people won't care, but Nintendo is going to have to really work to pull others away from all those extras you get by design. Plus, that's not even getting into how stupidly easy it is to set up emulation, which you have to pay a lot for via Nintendo.
  
  Even a Wii U-level failure would vastly outsell the Deck.
  I get what you're saying, but there's just no way on planet earth that the market will ignore the Switch 2 in favour of the Deck 2.
  Plenty will, I'm sure. But mostly PC gamer types.
  I think if you're expecting the SD2 to sell anywhere near the Switch 2 you're setting yourself up for disappointment.
  
  I'm not. I'm more hoping for Nintendo to get a wakeup call that improving customer satisfaction and giving them actual value, rather than clawing and squeezing and litigating every dollar possible from their freaking fans, is actually a viable business strategy.
- Also dedicated gpus are getting expensive and I think PC gamers are going to need to game on integrated gpus as Ai will use all the dedicated ones.
- . so developers would have double the reason to get a game working at said performance level.
  I don't think this point has merit since deck is x86 and switch is arm?
  
  Graphics are graphics, that's what limits most of the games and devices. Optimize something to run on the Switch 2, and that should work on the Deck too.
  That benchmark used to be the PS4, but most developers have dropped support for last gen hardware.

14 comments