Two gaming industry titans walk into a bar. Valve orders an IPA with extra hops while Nintendo orders apple juice - chilled, on the rocks. 

We’re well and truly fans of both companies, with Valve releasing cult classics such as Half-Life and Team Fortress 2, while Nintendo has provided us with absolute gaming mainstays such as the Mario and Legend of Zelda series of video games. However, what we’re here to talk about (as we find appropriate, since the Switch 2 is hot off the presses) is that while many people compare the Steam Deck and Nintendo Switch(es) in terms of hardware and playability, we’d like to take a moment to compare the philosophies that Nintendo and Valve encompass and how that affects their end products. Stick around - this one is interesting.

 

Audience

Firstly, we need to talk about what kind of audience both companies gear themselves towards. Let’s look at Valve first.

Steam:

• Population-wise, typically focuses on the adult gamer with games like Counter-Strike 2 and PUBG: BATTLEGROUNDS dominating the Steam Charts

• Largest gaming distribution platform on the market by far; despite player counts being dominated by “core” gamers, most people do in fact shop on Steam for games

• Overwhelmingly PC gamer-oriented, especially male PC gamers

Nintendo:

• Focuses on gamers of all ages, though there is a strong child-leaning approach due to the emphasis on accessibility and family-friendliness

• “Family” approach is crucial to the Nintendo image, as many of their consoles promote being shared amongst family.

• Gender is no matter, as the fanbase is pretty split between male and female

End-Product Comparison

Now that we have that out of the way, the easiest way to see the difference within this audience philosophy is to create a comparison between the Switch 2 and Steam Deck. Really, it’s mostly about how while the Steam Deck and Switch 2 are pretty similar from a high level, the choices that Valve and Nintendo have allowed to manifest in the development of each is what makes the difference between them.

Steam Deck and Steam:

• Very open-source, with the operating system being built on Linux and modification being encouraged by Valve.

• “SteamOS is an Arch Linux-based Linux distribution, and all of the base operating system components are open source.” (SteamOS page)

• Built with right-to-repair in mind

• Valve has partnered with third-party companies (such as iFixIt) to provide replacement parts and teardown guides on how to fix a malfunctioning or faulty Steam Deck

• Steam is more than a platform for developers to launch games off - Steam is a fully functioning ecosystem for developers that Valve is dedicated to supporting

• In general, Valve is just more open to usages of their products in creative ways than Nintendo is

Being built by a company founded on modding (see how Counter-Strike was a mod of Quake, how Half-Life was a Quake mod, etc.) and seeing how they’re very open to community reworks of their products, it’s easy to see how Valve was a company founded by gamers for gamers, which reflects in the way the Steam Deck is built. If you can think of a way to do it with the Steam Deck, you probably can.

Now, onto the Nintendo Switches and their Nintendo eShop:

• Completely closed-source, from the internal operating system to modifications on hardware with massive sanctions on those who do

• Nintendo reserves the absolute right to render one’s device "unusable in whole or in part" if their devices aren’t used within the limits of their user agreement.

• Store focuses on first-party games, with a much more rigorous and closed-off ecosystem that tends to not promote innovation

• Most best-sellers are games that Nintendo has developed, with an emphasis on renewing well-known IPs by introducing new technologies such as physical control schemes or mechanics

We’re not saying that these are bad things at all - in fact, Nintendo is well-known for making products that just work. Products like the Nintendo DS and Wii may have been known for their lacking in features or functionality than similar products like Sony’s PSP or the PlayStation 3. However, Nintendo products have never really been criticized for not being seamless and memorable experiences. This is a result of their focus on quality control, and the company’s belief in the significance behind making games and products that just work.

 

Conclusion

At first glance, the Steam Deck and Switch 2 might seem like comparable devices: handheld gaming consoles aimed at delivering high-quality gaming experiences on the go. But beneath their similar appearances and functions lies a fundamental difference in philosophy.

Valve’s Steam Deck is an embodiment of the open-source, community-first ethos, inviting tinkerers, modders, and developers alike to take part in shaping how the device is used. Nintendo’s Switch 2, by contrast, is a product of careful curation and tight control—built with the intention of creating a unified, accessible experience that aligns with its broader family-friendly brand.

Neither approach is inherently better than the other. Valve appeals to the experimental, tech-savvy gamer who values freedom, customization, and community empowerment. Nintendo courts players of all ages by delivering polished, intuitive experiences that put fun and nostalgia front and center. 

What did you think of this article? We sure had fun writing it as both fans of Nintendo and Valve. Did we miss anything or did you feel like we didn’t bring something up we should’ve? Let us know by reaching out to us on our social media!