Welcome to at this time’s version of the Steam Deck Weekly. I didn’t suppose there could be a lot information this week, however the Nintendo Direct proved me fallacious on many fronts as anticipated. A lot of the third occasion video games included are additionally coming to PC, and I will likely be taking part in all of them on Steam Deck. Except for the Nintendo Direct third occasion information, there are a couple of notable sport releases this week together with my early Steam Deck impressions of Elden Ring’s huge enlargement. Let’s get into the evaluations and impressions first.
Steam Deck Recreation Evaluations & Impressions
ELDEN RING Shadow of the Erdtree Steam Deck impressions
Having performed ELDEN RING on Xbox Sequence 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 Sequence 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 truly a extra constant expertise than taking part in on a desktop PC with Valve having fastened the shader situation. I nonetheless hear associates who’ve high of the road PCs with 4090s complain about random stuttering even at this time. 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 purpose 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 at this time together with on my Steam Deck LCD, apart from one half that brought on efficiency to drop under 30 with too many results for a couple 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.
Except for what I’ve skilled of the brand new visuals and content material of the enlargement, I like to recommend turning on the brand new stock options instantly. They assist quite a bit. In case you haven’t overwhelmed the principle sport but, the change to the ultimate boss makes an unfun combat a lot better. I say unfun, however that solely actually is an issue for melee targeted builds. I nonetheless suppose the change is nice. I received’t say extra to keep away from spoilers.
In case you’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 sport and the enlargement. Shopping for it that method will work out cheaper than shopping for the enlargement individually afterward taking a look at how FromSoftware sport costs have been underneath Bandai Namco with DLC. You can also’t entry the DLC till fairly a bit later as nicely.
I would like extra time to do a full assessment of ELDEN RING Shadow of the Erdtree on Steam Deck, however it is rather promising thus far after I play it offline, and I can’t wait to see how extra of the enlargement 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 attractive on Steam Deck OLED thus far, and I stay up for being equal elements shocked at how good it seems to be and annoyed by the inevitable boss partitions I run into.
Eiyuden Chronicle: Hundred Heroes Steam Deck Port Overview
Some time in the past I reviewed Eiyuden Chronicle: Hundred Heroes on the Nintendo Swap and located a captivating non secular successor to the basic Suikoden sequence introduced down by vital technical points. Nicely, 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 evening and day. I dare say one can correctly benefit from the sport right here. And meaning I can converse to the sport a bit extra, so I’ll do this.
This sport is in fact the crowd-funded, long-awaited Suikoden follow-up put collectively by a number of the folks behind the unique sport, together with the sequence creator Yoshitaka Murayama, who sadly handed away scant months earlier than this sport’s launch. One can solely think about the stress the workforce should have been underneath to ship on the hopes and goals of a devoted fanbase on such a restricted funds, and in quite a lot of methods you’ll be able to really feel all of that in the long run end result. That is as near a brand new Suikoden sport as we’re doubtless going to get, and it was clearly put along with quite a lot of ardour and never fairly sufficient assets.
Nonetheless, in case you’re trying to scratch the itch and might settle for that this was by no means going to stay as much as a full-sized manufacturing from a serious online game writer on the top of its powers, I feel you’ll discover quite a bit to like on this sport. Amassing the entire characters is simply as satisfying right here because it was within the Suikoden video games, even when most of them are missing the allure and utility you may hope for. There’s a extremely fascinating battle system at play right here, one that you just’ll should correctly interact with. The general story isn’t significantly nice, and it has some hassle escaping the shadow of what got here earlier than, but it surely’s partaking sufficient to maintain you going. The sport is usually loyal to these twenty-five 12 months previous video games to its personal detriment, but when that’s the flavour you’re after I feel you’re more likely to forgive that.
In case you’re in search of a sequel to the basic Suikoden video games that may dangle comfortably with one of the best entries in that franchise, Eiyuden Chronicle: Hundred Heroes won’t be as much as your expectations. However in case you’re simply making an attempt to get slightly of that previous magic again, there’s sufficient pixie mud on this sport to hold you many of the technique to Neverland. It’s a sport brimming with ardour, struggling towards its limitations, however in the end a real expression, and it’s all the time good for one thing like that to come back into this world. -Shaun Musgrave
Information and Trailers
The information highlights of the week are largely from the Nintendo Direct. I’ve included my favorites under.
Marvel Vs. Capcom Combating Assortment could be the largest shock of 2024 for me when it comes to announcement. I saved listening to a lot about these video games however by no means obtained 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 under:
Capcom additionally introduced the Ace Legal professional Investigations Assortment for Steam and consoles. It launches on September sixth worldwide with pre-orders now stay. Whereas the primary sport is on the market on cellular and DS, the second sport was by no means launched in English. That modifications with this assortment. As an enormous fan of the sequence, I’m excited to revisit Ace Legal professional Investigations and play the second sport for the primary time.
Farmagia from Xseed Video games and Marvelous USA launches on November 1st alongside an anime. The monster farming sport with character designs from Fairy Tail’s Hiro Mashima will even see a bodily launch on consoles. I’m wanting ahead to this one. Watch the trailer for it under:
Talking of Hiro Mashima, Fairy Tail 2 from Gust and Koei Tecmo can also be due this 12 months in Winter on Steam, PS5, PS4, and Swap worldwide. It’s the follow-up sport to 2020’s Fairy Tail for PS4, Swap, and Steam. Watch the announcement trailer under:
Spike Chunsoft is localizing Natsu-Mon twentieth Century Summer time Trip for PC this August on Steam. The journey sport from Toybox and Millennium Kitchen can also be getting DLC when it arrives on PC in Japanese later this month. I by no means performed the Japanese Swap model, however will likely be checking this one out on Steam. Watch the Japanese trailer under:
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 sport in a really very long time, and it options greater than 50 characters with 300 abilities. It’s a turn-based technique sport with out a grid, and I can’t wait to see how a contemporary sport on this sequence looks 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 believed it wouldn’t be ported given Nintendo and Monolith Comfortable’s involvement. It has a month 1 version together with a digital artbook. Learn my Swap assessment 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 contains 5 places, a brand new outfit, and rather more. Watch the discharge date trailer for it under:
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 sport and will likely be checking this one out to see the place it takes the story.
Stage-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 rather more. Watch the replace trailer under:
The superb Destiny/Samurai Remnant has gotten its third main DLC pack this week in Document’s Fragment: Bailong and the Crimson Demon. Take a look at the launch trailer for the DLC under:
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 under:
I saved one of the best 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 sport to Steam and consoles main the information. It’s due later this 12 months, and it features a new issue possibility as nicely.
Sq. Enix is remaking Romancing SaGa 2 as Romancing SaGa 2: Revenge of the Seven, and it seems to be unbelievable. 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 latest mainline sport however right here we’re. Watch the trailer under:
The ultimate announcement is Dragon Quest III HD 2D Remake coming November 14th for Steam, PS5, Xbox Sequence X, and Swap worldwide. It seems to be beautiful, and remakes of Dragon Quest I and II will likely 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 Publish 10 2024 – Verified
Steam Deck Recreation Gross sales, Reductions, and Specials
Subsequent week, the large Steam sale begins. Forward of that, you’ll be able to 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 common, you’ll be able to learn all our previous and future Steam Deck protection right here. When you’ve got any suggestions for this characteristic or what else you’d wish to see us do across the Steam Deck, tell us within the feedback under. I hope you all have an excellent day, and thanks for studying.
