When Valve announced the development of a portable Linux-based PC gaming system called the Steam Deck in July, the gaming world was surprisingly amenable to the idea and quick to get in their preorders. A few people compared the Steam Deck to the Nintendo Switch, wondering if there was room in the market for another handheld gaming device. But the Steam Deck fills a very different niche than the Switch, offering gamers the ability to access nearly the entirety of their Steam library while on the go.