The Steam Deck is stronger than ever.

Summary

This week's Steam Deck news covers significant developments in Linux gaming, including Dolphin Emulator's official Flatpak support, enhancing Linux gamers' experience. The video also discusses vkd3d's optimizations and Microsoft's donation of the Mono project to Wine, benefiting cross-platform gaming. The Steam Deck Verified program surpasses 1,600 titles, with 'Black Myth Wukong' topping the charts, indicating the Deck's popularity. The video concludes with insights on the Deck's success, suggesting high sales despite competition.

Takeaways

• 🎮 Dolphin, the Nintendo GameCube and Wii emulator, is set to receive official Flatpak support, which will ensure more regular updates and synchronization with the latest emulator versions for Linux gamers, especially on Steam Deck.
• 🔧 Win's vkd3d version 1.13 has been released, featuring optimizations like basic loop unrolling support in the HLSL compiler and effects compiler support for several version 4.0 plus State objects.
• 🤝 Microsoft has donated Mono, the open-source .NET runtime, to the Wine project, marking a significant contribution to the cross-platform compatibility of games and applications.
• 📈 The Steam Deck Verified program has surpassed 1,600 titles rated as playable or verified, indicating Valve's commitment to the platform and the growing compatibility of games with the Steam Deck.
• 🐛 The recent Steam Deck beta client update has resolved the persistent error 11 and improved game resolution overrides and Steam input features.
• 🔝 Black Myth: Wukong, a top-selling game on Steam, has been outselling other titles on the platform, suggesting the Steam Deck's popularity and strong market performance.
• 💰 The Steam Deck's presence in the top 10 of Steam's global top sellers chart, despite being more expensive than other items, demonstrates its high demand and successful market positioning.
• 🔄 Valve's strategy of not providing specific sales numbers but focusing on relative and average numbers for the Steam Deck has kept the exact sales figures a mystery, but the device's consistent presence in top sales charts speaks to its popularity.
• 🌟 The success of the Steam Deck is not solely about performance but also its pricing and the platform's ecosystem, which has allowed it to remain a top seller on Steam since its release.
• 📱 The Steam Deck's continued presence in the top 100 best-selling games on Steam since its release, and often in the top 10, highlights its sustained popularity and the platform's strong appeal to gamers.

Q & A

What is the significance of Dolphin Emulator getting an official flatpak?

Dolphin Emulator's official flatpak is significant because it means that the Dolphin team will be directly responsible for creating and maintaining Linux builds, ensuring more regular updates and keeping them in sync with the latest version of the emulator, which benefits Linux gamers, especially those using the Steam Deck.

What does the release of vkd3d version 1.13 entail for users?

The release of vkd3d version 1.13 includes optimizations such as basic loop unrolling support in the HLSL compiler, effects compiler support for several version 4.0 plus State objects, and miscellaneous bug fixes. This update is important for users as it enhances the performance and stability of applications that rely on vkd3d.

Why did Microsoft donate Mono to the Wine project?

Microsoft donated Mono to the Wine project to ensure continued support and development of the Mono runtime, which is crucial for a wide range of video games and applications that use .NET or Mono for cross-platform functionality. This move also reflects Microsoft's recognition of the importance of open-source contributions to the ecosystem.

How does the Steam Deck's inclusion in the global top sellers chart indicate its popularity?

The Steam Deck's presence in the global top sellers chart, despite being a more expensive item compared to games, suggests high demand and popularity. It implies that for every several copies of top-selling games, one Steam Deck is sold, indicating strong sales figures and consumer interest.

What does the Steam Deck's 'error 11' fix signify for users?

The fix for 'error 11' in the latest Steam Deck beta client update is significant as it resolves a long-standing issue that required a device restart, enhancing user experience by providing a more stable and reliable gaming platform.

What does the growth in the number of 'verified' games on the Steam Deck indicate about Valve's commitment?

The increase in the number of 'verified' games on the Steam Deck, as reported by Steam DB, shows Valve's ongoing commitment to ensuring a high-quality gaming experience on the platform. It also highlights the growing library of games that are optimized for and perform well on the Steam Deck.

How does the success of 'Black Myth Wukong' reflect on the Steam Deck's market performance?

The success of 'Black Myth Wukong', being one of the most popular titles on Steam and outperforming the Steam Deck in revenue despite the Deck's higher price, indicates that the Steam Deck has a strong market presence and is a popular choice among gamers, even 131 weeks after its release.

What does the transition of Dolphin Emulator's Linux builds from distributions to the Dolphin team mean for users?

The transition means that users can expect more timely updates, better synchronization with the emulator's latest features, and potentially improved performance and stability due to the Dolphin team's direct involvement in creating and maintaining the Linux builds.

How does the Wine project's acquisition of Mono impact the gaming and application development community?

The Wine project's acquisition of Mono ensures continued support for the Mono runtime, which is vital for many games and applications. This move can lead to more robust cross-platform development, better compatibility, and an enriched ecosystem for .NET applications on Linux.

What does the distinction between 'playable' and 'verified' games on the Steam Deck signify?

The distinction signifies that 'verified' games are expected to perform exceptionally well on the Steam Deck, while 'playable' games may have some issues but are still functional. This categorization helps users make informed decisions about their gaming experience on the device.