Pictures of a supposed Switch 2 joy con have surfaced online and the hype for it is real.
The original Nintendo Switch is on the path to surpass the Nintendo DS and maybe even Playstation 2 in sales, so it's easy to understand why people are excited about its successor and why there are so many rumors and so much hype surrounding it.
As a previous owner of at least 4 Switch consoles, I can say that I sort of understand these people. The Switch is an incredible piece of hardware for its price and for what it is (a locked out Nvidia Tegra tablet).
The Switch 2 has all the potential to be even better. With a new chip from Nvidia possibly making DLSS scaling and frame generation a thing on the Switch, it'd mean better looking and running games - and who knows what other gimmicks Nintendo might throw in there.
There'll also definitely be access to the entire library of Nintendo Switch titles, as backwards compatibility on consoles using the same architecture has always been quite simple.
But I don't care, really.
There's a reason I couldn't hold on to my Switches - well, a couple of reasons really.
The games are too expensive, the ecosystem isn't as good, paying for online sucks on any system, it wasn't a good substitute for a proper more powerful console to play AAA titles, etc.
So what I really really want is a Deck.
If you know me, you know how much I love Valve and Linux, and also how much I love handhelds.
Having owned a GBC, GBA, DS, 3DS, PSP, PS Vita, Powkiddy, Miyoo Mini Plus and Retroid Pocket 2+ - I'm a sucker for anything portable.
Now combine that love with my love of PCs, Linux, Valve and tinkering and you have the Steam Deck.
The perfect console but also the perfect PC, and in a way, the perfect tablet too.
I've literally dreamt of myself using that thing while lying in bed, not even gaming, but watching Youtube videos.
Of course its main purpose will be gaming but having a portable workstation with the form factor of the Deck would/will be incredible.
With my knowledge of Linux, using SteamOS and getting around it will be a non-issue. Its app store uses flatpaks, which I use extensively on my Arch install and its tailor made for that hardware, which gives you the benefits of PC gaming with console-like optimization (even then, games like Elden Ring and Tekken 8 run better on Linux than Windows on my actual PC).
If and once I get around to buying a Deck, I'll definitely get a bluetooth keyboard and mouse to use it as a laptop when I'm traveling. I've been traveling a lot more and spending more time in Florianópolis, unfortunately taking my PC there isn't a possibility and my laptop is at the same time broken, and unable to run demanding games - a Deck would rectify such issues.
I'll have to work hard to be able to purchase one this year, but I'll be dedicating more and more of my time to HIVE and trying to find odd jobs online to get as much capital as possible.
Unfortunately I've had a very complicated knee surgery done, so that puts me out of commission for at least 9 months.
But I'll get there.
One issue with the Steam Deck for me is that it's not yet available in LATAM/Brazil, but while I save up there's a big possibility that Valve might make it available. Right now a base model 64gb Deck costs $700-800 USD in my region, hopefully with it releasing here officially that price can drop down exponentially, we'll see.
For now however, all I can do is dream and work. So we'll see how it goes. I'll keep everyone updated on my Steam Deck journey. Eventually I'll get there!
Thanks for reading my rant!