I’ve had a soft spot for the Steam Deck since it was first introduced. The day it was unveiled, I made my reservation and was lucky enough to receive mine relatively early. After spending two and a half years with it, I still find it to be the handheld I’d suggest to most gamers. Its usability is fantastic, yet it has its setbacks—like the inability to play Black Ops 6. With the ROG Ally now at an all-time low price across the Atlantic, I’m seriously considering making the switch.
I Love Steam OS, But It Falls Short for Black Ops 6 and Game Pass
Steam OS is my go-to choice. The interface feels just right for a handheld, far superior to the current integrations of Windows 11 that mix custom apps from brands like ASUS or Lenovo. I keep the majority of my gaming collection on Steam, and bringing in other launchers like Battle.net or Epic Games isn’t much of an issue. Linux as a gaming platform rarely poses a problem.
That is, until it does. The usual culprit is anticheat software such as Ricochet, which is used by Black Ops 6. Though not all anticheat systems are blocked on Linux, many do present challenges, only worsening over time. Call of Duty doesn’t run on Steam Deck, and neither do Fortnite, Destiny 2, or even Apex Legends, which was previously Deck Verified. I’ve often shrugged this off, not minding too much, until Black Ops 6 entered the scene and caught my interest.
This new obsession with Black Ops 6 has reminded me of how much I enjoy Xbox Game Pass across PC and console, another feature Steam Deck lacks unless you either install Windows or rely on the cloud. My current dive into Black Ops 6 is all thanks to its inclusion in Game Pass—I didn’t have to shell out $70 only to find out I might not enjoy it. Perhaps I’m becoming more frugal, but my interest in new games is consistently tempered if they’re absent from Game Pass.
Black Ops 6 on the ROG Ally is reportedly a pretty smooth experience. With the AMD Z1 Extreme powering it, achieving 60 FPS seems standard, and it’s a notable advancement over the tech in the Steam Deck. It might not be my choice for competitive play, but for lounging on the couch while engaging in some Zombies mode, it appears ideal.
Exploring Black Friday’s Best Deals
- Best Buy: Huge savings on video games, accessories, and more
- Walmart: Early deals across nearly everything
- Target: Live discounts on a wide array of products
- Dell: Top laptops, gaming PCs, and accessories at a discount
- HP: Big savings on laptops, desktops, and more
- Lenovo: Bargains on Lenovo PCs, monitors, and accessories
- Newegg: Deals on gaming accessories, components, and beyond
- Razer: Enjoy free shipping for a limited period
- Samsung: Holiday deals are active on laptops, TVs, phones, and more
- Amazon: Ever-changing deals on virtually everything
The Windows 11 Price Barrier Has Disappeared
Historically, Windows handhelds like the ROG Ally and Lenovo Legion Go were difficult to justify financially compared to my Steam Deck. The "Windows 11 tax" often meant they were priced significantly higher. However, Black Friday is leveling the playing field, making them much more attractive.
This shift makes the ROG Ally hard to resist. It’s set to offer better performance, a superior display, and greater storage than my Steam Deck right out of the box. The offset stick design, similar to Xbox controllers, is a preferred configuration I’ve grown to need. However, I do wish the Ally included touchpads—they’d serve a greater purpose on the Ally than they do on the Steam Deck, where they aren’t particularly useful to me. Admittedly though, Windows 11 isn’t optimized for small touch displays.
While the ROG Ally X initially tempted me, its price was always a deterrent. But now, with the original version available for just 399 in the UK, I don’t think I can hold out much longer.
I’ll always cherish my Steam Deck, but given this pricing, I find it hard not to lean towards recommending the ROG Ally instead. Despite Windows 11’s frustrations on a handheld, its full compatibility with all games, free from workarounds and anticheat limitations, makes it a straightforward choice.
