Will Overwatch come to Steam Deck?

Seems like a no-brainer after it was brought to Switch, especially with the Deck’s overall better specs it would probably run Overwatch much better. I wonder if they’re already working with Steam on a port?

Steam Deck is just a PC. So anything a PC can run so can Steam Deck. Steam Deck uses Linux as an OS though and overwatch doesn’t officially support Linux but Steam Deck will use Proton to run windows-based games on Linux so Overwatch should work just fine…

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Hmm last I heard Proton couldn’t be used to run non-Steam games, has that changed? Even if it could run I imagine it would probably have issues…

I google searched playing Overwatch with proton and I saw a few posts being able to do it successfully. They are may be additional steps required though. I never personally tried it. There are also other ways of running windows-based games on Linux. Unless blizzard adds Linux support for Overwatch, those are probably your only options for playing Overwatch on steam deck.

i was just having this conversation with some friends…

even if it can play OW…i think i would much rather just play it on a PC…which i have…so not sure that i would even consider getting it if my intention is to play OW

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Same. Inb4 people start complaining “Steam deck users are ruining my games” lol

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Yeah, I don’t think people would buy Steam Deck specifically to play OW, at that price range I think they’d just get a gaming laptop. More likely they’d buy the Deck primarily to play their Steam library on the go, and then if they could get Overwatch running on it that would be a nice plus.

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I would hope so.
I was thinking of making my own PC but that would be tedious and with steam deck announcement I kinda have faith on playing all my steam games on a single device.

It was unexpected for me too. And a good price. I’ll wait to see how the performance goes though but it looks pretty promising.

Don’t know if we’d be able to play games that are not from steam, though, but it would be sooooooo nice such potential…

Could play all my PC games without worrying of PC space management or whatever, so clean and easy… I’m hyped ngl but I want to be patient to see if it’s really worth it…

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In short. No.

They want everything to go through Battle.net.

It is easier to sell you things for OW and other games there as they are in control of what is “pushed”.

Especially useful when it inevitably goes F2P.

You can essentially install windows on it, but a native linux version which is just tested to be run on steam deck (installed with battle.net) using mkb will definitely be good. People can always argue around getting a gaming laptop but no gaming laptop comes in for 700 grams.

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It works well. You don’t use Proton, but Wine(Lutris specifically is what I use). Pretty much no problems with it.

I also think it would require a Windows +Battle.net installation on the Steam Deck to run Overwatch. I doubt it can run through Steam OS directly, since Overwatch has no Steam support at all. And I have no idea if you can bring the Battle.net launcher to work under Steam OS.
But I am really curious how Overwatch could run onto the Steam Deck. I think at least better than onto the Switch, including the Controller Options. ^^

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You can wipe it if you can’t and install windows os but it should run

Technically yes. Because it’s basically just a PC.

They said the Deck is going to allow Epic games. So I could see it allowing Blizzard games too.

My major disappointment with the Steam Deck so far is that its still a 720p resolution screen :frowning: In terms of resolutions 1080p still feels the most ideal balance. The higher resolutions means in order to resolve the detail you have to get closer and closer. 4k means you have to be pretty close. 1080p means you don’t have to be as close to get it. Which means 720p will feel blocky.

I hadn’t seen that it would allow non-steam games. Thanks for that information!

Excited to see how docked performance is. Could offer the native KB/M experience on a windows install for not that much money.

Was literally thinking of getting a Nintendo Switch just so I could lie down and play Overwatch but decided to wait until cross progression to come hopefully with OW2. Then Steam Deck happens so I reserved one to get for December to play all my anime fighting games, Overwatch, racing games etc anywhere. Won’t use it for competitive but will DEFINITELY use it for Overwatch 2 PvE.

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What this guy said. While I doubt any OS will run as well as the native one, it’s entirely possible to wipe the current OS and install windows. Then you’re free to run anything you like that windows can run.

… Am I to assume that you know the smell of the game, sir?

If I don’t like anything about the steam deck in particular (well there’s a long list of things I like and dislike) it’s that the controller is part of the unit. Yes, you can hook a separate controller up to it but this doesn’t really gel with the idea of using the system as a handheld. Analog sticks always give out eventually. If they were detachable or easily replaceable I’d feel a lot better about the thing.

Well it’s a pc with linux distro in there. While you can install windows on it.

OW can be played both on windows and Linux, but on Linux you need some knowledge and experimentation. Because drivers and configurations can be trickier.

On hardware side, I think it’s nice of them restrict 720p or 1080p both because battery usage but also because the integrated gpu would suffer a bit in certain game configurations. More resolution means more vram and higher demand on the weak gpu in there, with small screen and weak gpu they could make settings get a bit better.

The Hardware price isn’t great for the performance, but can please switch crowds and retro gaming crowds. Actual games and higher demanding game you would still need a pc streaming to it to play “well”. Most of the games would be limited between 20-60fps on high/low.

Edit: about OW I would say you could get around 100-160fps on medium/low. But OW2 I can’t say how would perform.