Valve's recently announced mobile PC platform, the Steam Deck, has already drawn a lot of attention online. The mix between handheld console and powerful PC gaming has a lot of potential, depending on how it handles things like running Windows and game performance. Potential purchasers have a lot of things to consider ahead of the release of the Steam Deck, but at the heart of whether the system is successful or not is obviously the games that will be available. Obviously the native Steam library is enormous, and the particularly popular JRPG series Final Fantasy may have a wildly different presence on the Steam Deck when compared to the Nintendo Switch.
Comparing the Switch to the Steam Deck is something that naturally comes up in discussion. The Switch has been wildly successful, that much can't be argued, but the concept of a PC-centric mobile console is immediately exciting for many players. The Steam Deck's potential for emulation, portable power, and game library will be the defining factors when comparing the two systems. One series that has a history connected to Nintendo is Final Fantasy, but in recent years, the franchise has seen more crossover success. Despite its obvious modern ties with Sony and PlayStation, Final Fantasy could end up having a strong presence on the Steam Deck.
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It's hard to overstate how popular Final Fantasy is as a whole. Its overall presence on any given platform can be a determining factor for many fans. The Switch has definitely had its fair share of Final Fantasy games, from ports of classics like Final Fantasy 7, and newer releases like World of Final Fantasy. And while the PlayStation 5 is likely to remain the primary home for new mainline games like Final Fantasy 16 for the foreseeable future, the Steam Deck may be able to support a huge library of games in the franchise. Square Enix has seemed more adamant about bringing the Final Fantasy catalogue to PC in a way it hasn't for the Switch.
Square Enix has been bringing a huge number of its classic catalogue to PC both via Steam and on Xbox Game Pass. It's important to note that Valve has already said that the Steam Deck can run Windows 10, and if that's true it could realistically run Xbox Game Pass for PC, or even the Epic Games Launcher. Provided all of that ends up possible, that means fans with existing subscriptions or purchases could have access to more than a dozen Final Fantasy games, not to mention Kingdom Hearts. This could end up being a huge selling point for fans of the franchise. Final Fantasy has a very dedicated fanbase, and the prospect of playing even modern games like Final Fantasy 15 on the go with all the power of a PC is enticing.
Also worth mentioning are the upcoming Pixel Remasters that are coming to PC. Square Enix is releasing retro-style "remakes" of the first six Final Fantasy games, with Steam releases on the way. Meaning that even if all of the other services don't work on the Steam Deck, which seems unlikely, it will still have access to the Pixel Remasters at release. This is another mark on the pro-Steam Deck side that will be a big deal to many fans of the older games. Square Enix is releasing the remasters in stages, but will still mean another six games Switch won't have unless the Final Fantasy Pixel Remaster is released on additional platforms.
While there are hundreds of games to consider already between the Steam Deck and the Switch, Final Fantasy has some serious pull for its fans. Square Enix seems to be focused more on expanding access to its library on PC than on the Switch, and that could end up making a huge difference for the Steam Deck. Experiencing the classic Final Fantasy games in new ways is something that tends to pay off, and Steam Deck may come out as the premiere way to do so very soon.
Final Fantasy 1-3's Pixel Remasters released July 28 on Mobile and PC.
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