Nintendo Switch 2 will reportedly perform as good as Steam Deck, but it's software may hold it back

[Redaktion]

In the latest episode of the Broken Silicon podcast by Moore's Law Is Dead, Matthew Cassells from Alderon Games shared some insights on the upcoming Nintendo Switch 2. Matthew says that the gaming handheld could be on par with Steam Deck in terms of performance, but its software could limit it.

https://www.notebookcheck.net/Nintendo-Switch-2-will-reportedly-perform-as-good-as-Steam-Deck-but-it-s-software-may-hold-it-back.873319.0.html

[X]

Steam Deck itself perform actually really poor in comparison with other handhelds, ROG Ally Z1E for example, which it cost currently about $600. I expected from Switch 2 to have at least the same performance as Z1E's handhelds.

[Bigmacnfry]

Steam Deck itself perform actually really poor in comparison with other handhelds, ROG Ally Z1E for example, which it cost currently about $600. I expected from Switch 2 to have at least the same performance as Z1E's handhelds.

Steam Deck performs exactly as it should for its resolution and screen size. You don't need the power of Z1E if you can't make the most out of it. Ally 1st gen tried to do this but it wrecks the battery life. The Z1E and system trying to make the most of it with superior graphics gives you a short playing experience. Completely nullifying a handheld.

Steam Deck isn't the Ally Z1E in that they both attract two different style of gamers. It also allows for insane customizations from software to hardware too.

[Y]

Sorry to break it to you, but the Switch 2 definitely won't have Z1E performance. There are already internal leaked emails from employees of how Nvidia isn't too happy with how long Nintendo had delayed this switch 2 launch so far out. If it came out 2022 it'd of been pretty powerful.

I do agree steam deck is underpowered though (both it and Z1E tbf).

Then again considering just how much some Nintendo ports are incredibly well optimistic (i.e. Ace Combat 7) and how poorly pc optimized pc ports are, the gap might not be as big as we think.

Ally 1st gen tried to do this but it wrecks the battery life.

Because:

1) X1E is a laptop SoC literally designed for 28w+ tdp. They didn't power optimize it at all. It literally is an off the shelf bog standard laptop chip that was never designed for handheld form factor.

2) AMD in general seems to be terrible at handling chips at ultra low wattages. Though to be fair, it seems there aren't many companies in the world who are truly competent at this so it just seems difficult in general to do.