I by no means pay full value for video games on my...

It might sound apparent to these acquainted with the wild, generally difficult world of PC video games, however the all-encompassing gaming platform that’s Steam is not put in by default on the ROG Ally X, not like Valve’s Steam Deck. Which means that you could seek out Steam and set up it on the ROG Ally X your self, opening up the machine to all kinds of video games — and extra importantly, an array of superior offers.

Since I come from the land of consoles and have solely dabbled on the earth of PC gaming, the flexibility Steam provides is thrilling and recent to me. Model-new video games which have already been discounted? You’d by no means see this within the Switch’s eShop. Steam looks like a much more inexpensive model of the Xbox Recreation Retailer or PlayStation Retailer that additionally doubles as a handy platform for launching your whole titles (although I nonetheless desire to make use of Armory Crate SE for that).

For instance, Returnal is on sale proper now for $40 (usually $80), Diablo IV is $37 (usually $66.99), and Dead Island 2 is $27.59 (usually 68.99). Over the previous few months, I’ve picked up video games like Elden Ring, Final Fantasy XVI, The Grand Theft Auto Definitive Edition Trilogy, and Halo The Master Chief Collection, all at massive reductions.

Getting Steam in your Asus ROG Ally solely takes just a few steps

Welcome to the wild world of PC gaming

To get Steam up and operating on the ROG Ally X, first you could obtain the app. To do that, open up your browser of selection (if you happen to’re simply utilizing the ROG Ally X’s default Home windows 11 browser, that is Edge), sort “Steam” within the search bar and click on on the “Welcome to Steam” hyperlink (the inexperienced “Set up Steam” field is within the prime proper). Alternatively, you can too simply click on this link to obtain the Steam app.

I hate navigating Home windows 11 on the ROG Ally X’s tiny display screen as a result of the working system is not designed for exact contact controls. If I will, I arrange my ROG Ally X at my desk and hook my Logitech Bluetooth mouse and keyboard as much as the hand-held. This makes doing just about something with the hand-held far simpler.

Comply with these steps to put in Steam in your ROG Ally X:

1. Head to Valve’s official Steam website.
2. Click on on the blue Set up Steam button.
3. Launch SteamSetup.exe (it must be in your downloads folder).
4. Click on Sure, after which Subsequent.
5. Choose your language.
6. Lastly, click on Set up.

As soon as you have launched Steam, you possibly can register along with your account or make a brand new one by choosing Create a free account, which requires your title, electronic mail, and different info. After you have logged in, you will see all of your video games in a listing on the left when you will have the Library tab chosen. To put in a recreation, choose it and click on the blue Obtain button.

The hand held model of Steam could be very straightforward to navigate. To entry the menu, hit the B button. From right here you possibly can take a look at your Library or go to the Retailer (you can too use the touchscreen). Whereas any recreation from the shop will be put in on the ROG Ally X, sticking to the Nice on Deck part is a stable means to make sure you’re at all times downloading titles optimized for handheld controls and shows.

Any recreation retailer you put in must also present up below the Recreation Platforms tab in Armory Crate SE, making it straightforward to get again to Steam comparatively rapidly. Downloaded titles seem below the All Video games part. To entry Armory Crate SE, faucet the triangle-shaped button above the best joystick and use the ROG Ally X’s bumpers to hit the primary tab. You possibly can then navigate by Favorites, All Video games, and Recreation Platforms with the triggers.

Associated

I wasn’t expecting the ROG Ally X to outshine the Steam Deck quite this much

Each gaming handhelds have particular strengths and weaknesses, however typically, the ROG Ally X reigns supreme.