The Rise of the Hori Steam Controller: A New Era for Handheld Gaming

As the portable gaming scene expands, the accessories that accompany handheld devices are becoming increasingly important. Hori, known for their quality peripherals, has officially announced that its Steam controller will be debuting in the U.S. market just in time for the holidays. With a price tag of $60, this gamepad caters to both casual gamers and hardcore enthusiasts alike.

Image: Hori

Features That Matter

One of the standout features of Hori’s new Steam controller is its dedicated buttons, designed specifically for accessing Steam menus. Gamers can easily navigate their library or settings, whether they’re in Big Picture Mode or playing on their Steam Deck. Coupled with touch sensors on the joysticks, which enhance motion control capabilities, this peripheral is designed to provide a seamless experience that is reminiscent of the Steam Deck itself.

To maintain connectivity, the Hori controller supports Bluetooth and includes a USB-A Bluetooth receiver. Hori claims an impressive battery life of up to 12 hours on a full charge, which is certainly reassuring for those longer gaming sessions. If you ever find yourself running low on battery during an intense gaming moment, worry not! The USB cable allows for direct play while charging, ensuring that adventure never has to stop.

Image: Hori

However, while the Hori Steam controller is an excellent choice for many, it does lack some anticipated features, such as rumble packs, a headset jack, and a trackpad. With the previous discontinuation of Valve’s ultra-customizable Steam controller, many users likely hoped for a more comprehensive hardware option. Nonetheless, for those looking for an intuitive controller that acts as an extension of the Steam Deck, Hori’s offering is hard to overlook.

Dragon Age: The Veilguard: A Perfect Fit for the Steam Deck

As Hori enters the stage, so does Bioware with its latest RPG, Dragon Age: The Veilguard. This title promises a rich gaming experience that fits snugly into the handheld format of the Steam Deck. Thorough tests show that the game runs remarkably well on the device, proving Bioware’s dedication to optimizing the Dragon Age series for portable play.

Even with the Steam Deck’s limitations, The Veilguard manages to maintain a solid 30 fps during gameplay, and for the most part, even higher during exploratory segments. Players can tweak settings according to their preference, with lower graphics presets allowing for a comfortable gaming experience on the go.

Image: The Veilguard Screenshot

In terms of gameplay, The Veilguard avoids the pitfalls of its predecessor, Inquisition, which often required users to wrestle with desktop mode settings and tweak numerous options to achieve a smooth experience. Instead, it offers a user-friendly interface, allowing gamers to dive right in without the hassle.

Optimizing Your Experience

While the battery drain on The Veilguard is on the higher side, switching to the Deck’s native resolution and adjusting some settings can yield a better experience. The recommendations include:

• Upsample method: AMD FSR on Performance
• Minimum resolution scale: 83%
• Texture quality: Low

This customization is vital, especially during lengthy play sessions when managing battery life becomes a concern.

Apex Legends and the Steam Deck: A Bitter Farewell

In a surprising turn of events, the popular battle royale Apex Legends has announced it will withdraw support for the Linux OS. The move comes in response to a spike in cheating exploits associated with Linux, the operating system that powers the Steam Deck. As a result, players wishing to enjoy Apex Legends on their Steam Deck will need to consider installing Windows.

Respawn, in their statement, conveyed that blocking Linux access is necessary for combating cheating, acknowledging the challenges presented in distinguishing legitimate users from those exploiting the system. This decision is disappointing for many, particularly casual gamers who enjoyed the convenience of playing Apex Legends on their Steam Deck.

Image: Apex Legends Screenshot

Respawn’s announcement is yet another reminder of the ongoing battle against cheating in online multiplayer games. While there has been speculation of future updates to improve anti-cheat measures, many in the community are expressing concern about this significant setback.

Conclusion: A Bright Future for Handheld Gaming

The innovations being brought forth by Hori and Bioware indicate a promising direction for handheld gaming. With new peripherals and high-quality games tailored for portability, players can anticipate a vibrant gaming ecosystem in the palm of their hands. However, challenges remain, as seen with Apex Legends, which reminds us that balancing accessibility with integrity is an ongoing endeavor in the gaming industry. The future is bright for handheld gamers—as long as they can dodge the pitfalls of both software and hardware challenges that arise in this innovative space.