iPad Steam deck proves Apple missed an opportunity

[macguy360]

the iPad is clearly more powerful than steam deck and could play games better. However, Apple decided from the get go to allow companies to make freemium garbage and ruin the gaming ecosystem of iPad.

Hence, Steam Deck was created to fill the niche and also windows gaming handhelds. If Apple were to partner with Valve to allow steam on iPad it would be a game changer, but we won’t see that and it will continue to get outclassed by these new gaming handhelds coming out.

 

[ericwn]

I hear you but at the same time free casual ad infested nonsense pay to play is what the masses are asking for it seems. I’m at least happy to see dedicated gaming platforms still exist to take care of the needs of these gamers.

 

[russell_314]

the iPad is clearly more powerful than steam deck and could play games better. However, Apple decided from the get go to allow companies to make freemium garbage and ruin the gaming ecosystem of iPad.

Hence, Steam Deck was created to fill the niche and also windows gaming handhelds. If Apple were to partner with Valve to allow steam on iPad it would be a game changer, but we won’t see that and it will continue to get outclassed by these new gaming handhelds coming out.

Wait, you’re saying that Apple should’ve made the iPad more like the steam deck so they missed an opportunity?

No, that doesn’t even make sense. If you compare sales numbers of even one model of iPad versus the entire history of the steam deck, I’m sure it’s not even close. They made the iPad as a tool for multiple uses and it’s highly successful. The steam deck is a niche product and it will always be a niche product. Apple didn’t make a mistake.

Don’t get me wrong I would love to see gaming improved on the iPad, but you can’t say they made a mistake by not making the iPad as a steam deck. If they did that, it would’ve probably been discontinued years ago.

 

[erasr]

Side note; if anyone hasn’t tried a Steam Deck, it’s awesome. I love my OLED Deck.

One of the best tech purchases I’ve ever made. Highly recommended.

 

[macguy360]

I hear you but at the same time free casual ad infested nonsense pay to play is what the masses are asking for it seems. I’m at least happy to see dedicated gaming platforms still exist to take care of the needs of these gamers.

I’d argue free casual gaming is what proliferated in the App Store because Apple allowed it. Then companies used tactics to make games based off addicting style casino games and the game store has been trash ever since. Honestly the only thing that could fix the store at this point would be for Apple to ban all freemium games.

 

[macguy360]

Wait, you’re saying that Apple should’ve made the iPad more like the steam deck so they missed an opportunity?

No, that doesn’t even make sense. If you compare sales numbers of even one model of iPad versus the entire history of the steam deck, I’m sure it’s not even close. They made the iPad as a tool for multiple uses and it’s highly successful. The steam deck is a niche product and it will always be a niche product. Apple didn’t make a mistake.

Don’t get me wrong I would love to see gaming improved on the iPad, but you can’t say they made a mistake by not making the iPad as a steam deck. If they did that, it would’ve probably been discontinued years ago.

You’re confused. I said the steam deck exists because Apple didn’t make the iPad able to use existing ecosystems like steam. The Arm chips in the iPad are powerful enough to play Mac/windows games (as seen in MacBook airs and pros).

By Apple not working with Valve, not allowing Mac games on iPad OS and not banning freemium to encourage quality triple A games, a system like steam deck (& windows gaming handhelds) were born filling the niche that Apple clearly missed the mark on.

Could steam deck have still been created by valve if iPads were able to play steam games (possibly, but there would have been a lot less incentive if iPads could play steam games)

 

[dmr727]

Side note; if anyone hasn’t tried a Steam Deck, it’s awesome. I love my OLED Deck.

One of the best tech purchases I’ve ever made. Highly recommended.

I've got one too - really is amazing. If I could pull the sides off (like a Switch) and use it as a small tablet/e-reader, it'd replace my iPad mini. It's such a versatile device.

 

[russell_314]

Honestly the only thing that could fix the store at this point would be for Apple to ban all freemium games.

OK let’s go with your scenario that Apple would just say “I don’t care about millions of dollars in App Store revenue, let’s shut all these games down. Screw the shareholders and profit. We’re going to be ethically and morally great!”


What do you think is going to happen when all of these big developers get kicked out of the App Store with their games that were making them millions? Apple is already on thin ice for being too restrictive on the App Store. These developers would sue Apple and it would be the end of the App Store. Some might say that’s a good thing, but you would still have the same amount of crap games just to siphon money out of peoples pockets.

 

[ericwn]

I’d argue free casual gaming is what proliferated in the App Store because Apple allowed it. Then companies used tactics to make games based off addicting style casino games and the game store has been trash ever since. Honestly the only thing that could fix the store at this point would be for Apple to ban all freemium games.

There is nothing that stops a paid app from being successful and plenty of paid games were. You and I might not enjoy this stuff pay to play stuff but it’s undeniable that millions of other users do. It’s also probably way more attractive for apple than curating a gamer-focused catalogue of high value titles.

 

[Rafterman]

Wait, you’re saying that Apple should’ve made the iPad more like the steam deck so they missed an opportunity?

I think the poster is saying that Apple should allow a Steam-like app that can run the games on iPads. Maybe a partnership with Valve.

 

[klasma]

Steam Deck is successful because it has lots of hardware controls and buttons (for which a touch screen is no replacement), a microSD card slot and upgradable SSD, and you can run any software on it you like, all of which Apple would never do voluntarily.

 

[leman]

Apple has no interest in making emulators for other systems.

 

[macguy360]

There is nothing that stops a paid app from being successful and plenty of paid games were. You and I might not enjoy this stuff pay to play stuff but it’s undeniable that millions of other users do. It’s also probably way more attractive for apple than curating a gamer-focused catalogue of high value titles.

Obviously Steam as a game

I think the poster is saying that Apple should allow a Steam-like app that can run the games on iPads. Maybe a partnership with Valve.

exactly. Apple missed the opportunity and handhelds show that because they are doing well.

 

[Plutonius]

the iPad is clearly more powerful than steam deck and could play games better. However, Apple decided from the get go to allow companies to make freemium garbage and ruin the gaming ecosystem of iPad.

iOS games are much more profitable for Apple even though many consider iOS games to be garbage.

 

[ginkobiloba]

Side note; if anyone hasn’t tried a Steam Deck, it’s awesome. I love my OLED Deck.

One of the best tech purchases I’ve ever made. Highly recommended.

I have one but only to use it with an external monitor like a PC. I have no idea how anyone can play on such a tiny screen ( but then all my games are Grand Strategy or 4X , with big screen estate requirements )

 

[sleeptodream]

Apple doesn’t give a **** about missing out on those handful of sales, their iPad revenue is more than Valve’s entire yearly revenue, not just for Steam Deck

 

[Xeem]

I have one but only to use it with an external monitor like a PC. I have no idea how anyone can play on such a tiny screen ( but then all my games are Grand Strategy or 4X , with big screen estate requirements )

It’s really all about picking your games carefully. Modern AAA titles will be too cramped (and many won’t run that well anyway if you are used to playing them at high settings on a PC), but older games made for lower resolutions feel at home on that screen.

I use mine mostly for indie titles, but it occasionally pinch-hits for my gaming PC due to travel/illness. Side note: Bungie’s Marathon finally hit Steam recently and it was awesome playing on Steam Deck.

 

[richpjr]

I think the poster is saying that Apple should allow a Steam-like app that can run the games on iPads. Maybe a partnership with Valve.

That is how I read it.

 

[Allen_Wentz]

OK let’s go with your scenario that Apple would just say “I don’t care about millions of dollars in App Store revenue, let’s shut all these games down. Screw the shareholders and profit. We’re going to be ethically and morally great!”


What do you think is going to happen when all of these big developers get kicked out of the App Store with their games that were making them millions? Apple is already on thin ice for being too restrictive on the App Store. These developers would sue Apple and it would be the end of the App Store. Some might say that’s a good thing, but you would still have the same amount of crap games just to siphon money out of peoples pockets.

Correct. And suggesting Apple ban freemium games would twist EU panties up for sure; probably USA anti-trust as well.

 

[macguy360]

Correct. And suggesting Apple ban freemium games would twist EU panties up for sure; probably USA anti-trust as well.

Considering the EU banned loot boxes… I’m pretty sure they aren’t too far away from banning addiction based gaming with microtransactions

 

[Allen_Wentz]

Considering the EU banned loot boxes… I’m pretty sure they aren’t too far away from banning addiction based gaming with microtransactions

The devil is in the details of course, but IMO banning addiction based gaming with microtransactions would be a good thing. Alas, the task of banning itself might end up worse than the addiction based gaming itself. Govt always manages to screw it up when trying to legislate morality. Always.

 

[Heindijs]

The whole idea of a Steam Deck is very un-Apple. You can do whatever the hell you want with it. You don't even need to run Steam on it. They made videos about how you'd go about tearing it down if you'd really want to.

Also, the Steam Deck is x86, it runs Linux and Valve loves Linux and definitely likes Apple even less than they like Windows. Steam is just the front end for buying games, these gamea still need to be able to run on anything other than Windows or Linux.

 

[bousozoku]

You’re confused. I said the steam deck exists because Apple didn’t make the iPad able to use existing ecosystems like steam. The Arm chips in the iPad are powerful enough to play Mac/windows games (as seen in MacBook airs and pros).

By Apple not working with Valve, not allowing Mac games on iPad OS and not banning freemium to encourage quality triple A games, a system like steam deck (& windows gaming handhelds) were born filling the niche that Apple clearly missed the mark on.

Could steam deck have still been created by valve if iPads were able to play steam games (possibly, but there would have been a lot less incentive if iPads could play steam games)

Apple and Valve could have worked together, but both are stubbornly opposed to working together.

If Apple had been interested in gaming, they would have done more than cooperate with Bandai in making a game console back when MacOS 9.x was available.

Valve has been pushing SteamOS for around 7-8 years. They had multiple vendors selling various Steam Box machines and when that didn't work quite the way they wanted, they created Steam Deck. It's an amazing machine and takes a lot of behind-the-scenes work to get those Windows games under control.

There are a few games for iPad Pro that are a credit to their developers. I used to play the Galaxy on Fire series on my iPod touch and Apple TV. Games are out there, but you really have to look past the ad-laden rubbish.

 

[Pakaku]

There isn't really much to prove, Apple has always voluntarily skipped out on gaming. They don't understand the culture at all and it's probably for the best that they don't try to involve themselves.

And Valve isn't entirely faultless. There is still a lot of **** on Steam, even if there are many proper games on there as well. It also seems like they'll always come up with a great hardware idea, like the Deck or Index, but never follow through with new revisions. I'm still waiting for a Steam Controller 2...

 

[macguy360]

There are a few games for iPad Pro that are a credit to their developers. I used to play the Galaxy on Fire series on my iPod touch and Apple TV. Games are out there, but you really have to look past the ad-laden rubbish.

there in lies the problem. Apple who was once considered the richest company in the world can’t manage to have a good gaming ecosystem on IOS. But a company like Valve who became big with a single computer game and then made steam has an ecosystem with practically no garbage at all and very reasonable prices.