A portable game console released by ValveSteam Deck” allows you to play high-quality games that require a gaming PC anytime, anywhere. Social VR “VRChat” can also be played with “Steam Deck” when playing in non-VR mode.
However, whether or not it is “optimal” just because it is playable is another story. And some people who are interested in “VRChat” may be wondering, “Is it OK to buy Steam Deck? Or do you need Quest 2?”
So this time, I borrowed one “Steam Deck” and played “VRChat” quickly. I decided to verify whether it is an ant for VRChat.
From installation to startup. The overall flow is the same as PC. After installing the application, you can log in.
Immediately after logging into Homeworld. Operation is performed with various buttons and sticks on the “Steam Deck” main unit. The quick menu is the menu button on the right hand side, the trigger operation is the left and right trigger button, the microphone switch is the Y button, and the expression menu is the right stick push.
The mode that can be played is “desktop mode”. It doesn’t have the immersive experience of VR or the free movement of avatars, but the graphics quality is high. The beautiful world is reflected well, so it seems to be suitable for world viewing.
The camera can also be moved in the same way as in desktop mode on a PC. You can move the viewpoint by holding down the L1 trigger. In this state, the R2 trigger is the button that presses the shutter, so some people may find it easier to shoot with the camera than using the keyboard.
As a characteristic operation, it also supports gyro operation. When you put your finger on the left and right sticks, the tilt of the “Steam Deck” body is reflected as a viewpoint operation in “VRChat”. It is an intuitive operation that allows you to move the “Steam Deck” itself and look in the direction you want to see. Since the main body is fairly heavy, it seems difficult to use it frequently, but it seems to be compatible with camera operation.
Overall, the overall operability and graphics are at a practical level, and I felt that there would be no problems when logging in and playing in desktop mode. Also, the price of “Steam Deck” is 59,800 yen to 99,800 yen, which is slightly cheaper than a general gaming PC.
On the other hand, since the main body is fairly heavy, it seems to be quite difficult to play with it “always in hand”. Although the screen size is larger than the “Nintendo Switch”, it is smaller than the PC screen, and it is a bit difficult to see the detailed UI of “VRChat”.
For those who are just starting “VRChat” and those who are just starting, “Steam Deck”, which is not optimized for operation in VR mode that will eventually reach, is only for “VRChat” I can’t recommend buying it. On the other hand, it may be ant to keep it at hand as a spare machine when people who already have an environment where they can play in VR mode want to access it in desktop mode.
“Steam Deck” itself is a device for playing non-VR games easily with the same quality as gaming PCs. For those who play various games, “VRChat” may be used in unexpected places as a “light play” device.
Click here to purchase “Steam Deck” in Japan.
https://steamdeck.komodo.jp/product/steam-deck/
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