Valve’s recently announced mobile PC platform, theSteam Deck, has already drawn a lot of attention online. The mix between handheld console and powerful PC gaming has a lot of potential, depending on how it handles things like running Windows and game performance. Potential purchasers have a lot of things to consider ahead of the release of theSteam Deck, but at the heart of whether the system is successful or not is obviously the games that will be available. Obviously the native Steam library is enormous, and the particularly popular JRPG seriesFinal Fantasymay have a wildly different presence on the Steam Deck when compared to the Nintendo Switch.
Comparing the Switch to the Steam Deck is something that naturally comes up in discussion. The Switch has been wildly successful, that much can’t be argued, but the concept of a PC-centric mobile console is immediately exciting for many players. TheSteam Deck’s potential for emulation, portable power, and game library will be the defining factors when comparing the two systems. One series that has a history connected to Nintendo isFinal Fantasy, but in recent years, the franchise has seen more crossover success. Despite its obvious modern ties with Sony and PlayStation,Final Fantasycould end up having a strong presence on the Steam Deck.
RELATED:Valve Needs Its Own Game Pass for Steam Deck
Final Fantasy and Its Potential on Steam Deck
It’s hard to overstate how popularFinal Fantasyis as a whole. Its overall presence on any given platform can be a determining factor for many fans. The Switch has definitely had its fair share ofFinal Fantasygames, from ports of classics likeFinal Fantasy 7, and newer releases likeWorld of Final Fantasy. And while the PlayStation 5 is likely to remain the primary home for new mainline games likeFinal Fantasy 16for the foreseeable future, theSteam Deck may be able to support a huge library of gamesin the franchise. Square Enix has seemed more adamant about bringing theFinal Fantasycatalogue to PC in a way it hasn’t for the Switch.
Square Enix has been bringing a huge number of its classic catalogue to PC both viaSteam and on Xbox Game Pass. It’s important to note that Valve has already said that the Steam Deck can run Windows 10, and if that’s true it could realistically run Xbox Game Pass for PC, or even the Epic Games Launcher. Provided all of that ends up possible, that means fans with existing subscriptions or purchases could have access to more than a dozenFinal Fantasygames, not to mentionKingdom Hearts. This could end up being a huge selling point for fans of the franchise.Final Fantasyhas a very dedicated fanbase, and the prospect of playing even modern games likeFinal Fantasy 15on the go with all the power of a PC is enticing.
Also worth mentioning are the upcomingPixel Remastersthat are coming to PC. Square Enix is releasing retro-style “remakes” of the first sixFinal Fantasygames, with Steam releases on the way. Meaning that even if all of the other services don’t work on the Steam Deck, which seems unlikely, it will still have access to thePixel Remastersat release. This is another mark on the pro-Steam Deck side that will be a big deal to many fans of the older games. Square Enix is releasing the remasters in stages, but will still mean another six games Switch won’t have unless theFinal Fantasy Pixel Remasteris released on additional platforms.
While there are hundreds of games to consider already between the Steam Deck and the Switch,Final Fantasyhas some serious pull for its fans. Square Enix seems to be focused more on expanding access to its library on PC than on the Switch, and that could end up making a huge difference for the Steam Deck.Experiencing the classicFinal Fantasygamesin new ways is something that tends to pay off, and Steam Deck may come out as the premiere way to do so very soon.
Final Fantasy 1-3’sPixel Remastersreleased July 28 on Mobile and PC.
