How To Watch Netflix on Steam Deck?

It is safe to say that the gaming community today is obsessed with Steam Deck, a handheld gaming console from Steam.

With comfortable control options, never-seen-before graphics, and a stunning build, the console has already blown away thousands of tech enthusiasts and reviewers.

In short, this hybrid gaming console from Valve is set to change the way handheld gaming works.

Amidst all these, potential buyers of Steam Deck have some questions. One of them is: can we watch Netflix on Steam Deck?

Unfortunately, Valve or Steam does not answer this question directly. Therefore, you cannot do a simple Google search and find the answer.

However, we wanted to help you answer this question as precisely as possible.

Before we check out the answer, we believe you would love an introduction to Steam Deck and the things it is capable of.

What Is Steam Deck?

Steam Deck is a portable PC gaming console from Valve. It brings PC-quality gaming to the mobile system, equipped with a 7-inch touchscreen.

The device combines high-grade hardware, super-fast storage, and comfort-oriented control.

For instance, you can have up to 512GB of NVMe SSD storage and 16GB of onboard RAM. In addition to ABXY buttons, D-pad, L&R analog buttons, four assignable grip buttons are in the package. It means you can have the best of both worlds from PC and console gaming.

The 7-inch Full HD display comes with a brightness of 400nits and an ambient light sensor. For connectivity, Valve has included options like WiFi 6, Bluetooth 5, USB Type-C, dual microphone, and a 3.5mm jack.

Weighing just 669 grams and powered by SteamOS 3.0, Steam Deck is the next big thing gaming enthusiasts are waiting for. So, are you wondering what Steam Deck can do?

Also Ready – Can There be a Steam Deck Emulator Soon?

How To Watch Netflix on Steam Deck?

We have to clarify a few points before we answer the question.

Steam Deck uses SteamOS 3.0. It is the latest version of SteamOS and comes with a brand-new User Interface.

Therefore, the question becomes whether you can run Netflix on SteamOS. Unfortunately, you cannot find an official Netflix app for SteamOS at this point. There are talks about making SteamOS an excellent platform for entertainment, but native Netflix support is a faraway dream.

There are a few ways out, though. So, technically, YES, you can watch Netflix on Steam Deck.

First and foremost, Steam has had an in-built browser for a while now. You can either directly watch Netflix there or use the Steam Bookmarklets, which are essentially shortcuts for different web pages. 

Another way is through the media players app. You can find a number of media player apps on the Steam library. Apps like Chameleon Media Player allow you to stream content from Netflix, Hulu, ABC Stream, Twitch, YouTube, etc.

But, of course, you may have to set up the system in the first place.

Chameleon, a video player, has officially started supporting Netflix and other OTT apps on the media player.

Because these apps will be available on Steam Deck, you can stream Netflix on Steam as well. We believe it would sound like a solace for someone looking forward to buying Steam Deck. So, to answer the chief query we all have, the answer is a YES. You can watch Netflix on Steam Deck.

What Kinds of Games Can I Play on Steam Deck?

It is probably the most impressive part about Steam Deck.

Once you set up your Steam Deck and sign in, your entire Steam library will be available on the device. In addition, thanks to 512GB of storage space and expandable storage via a microSD card, you can download all your games and apps for offline access. While real-world performance is something we have to see, reviews that used some prototype versions seem promising.

According to hands-on reviews, Steam Deck does an impressive job of gaming performance. It is just amazing that you can play titles like Cyberpunk 2077, DOTA 2, and Shadow of the Tomb Raider on this console. You can also see a demo of a few Star Wars titles on the homepage. What’s more? These games can run at 30fps to 60fps, offering an impressive range.

In short, Steam Deck can play almost every game you can find on the Steam store. Furthermore, because the device has a fully-fledged PC inside, you do not have to worry about performance, either. So, if you are thinking of the latest-generation video game, Steam Deck should be able to run it.

Now, we will go back to the question: will such an incredible handheld gaming console allow you to stream Netflix?

 

Frequently Asked Questions

• When can I buy Steam Deck?

Valve has scheduled the launch of Steam Deck for February 2022. It was previously touted for launch in May 2021, but the worldwide supply crunch of hardware materials also affected Valve. Therefore, you have to wait for a month or two before getting your hands on Steam Deck. There is also a reservation queue for the product. You may want to sign up for the queue if you want to try this gaming experience at the earliest.

• Where is Steam Deck available?

According to Valve, Steam Deck is currently available in limited regions, such as the US, Canada, UK, European Union, etc. The company will expand the product availability to different areas in the upcoming months when the supply-demand ratio is met. Long story short, if you live in Japan or South Korea, you may have to wait for long to get the Steam Deck console.

• Is Steam Deck A PC?

Steam Deck is a Linux-based portable PC. Even though it uses SteamOS, which is custom-made by Valve, it is possible to install Microsoft Windows on the device. So that you know, the USB-C port on the Steam Deck can provide an 8K display output at 60Hz or 4K output at 120Hz. In short, Steam Deck is one of the most rugged PCs you can get today.

• Can I Play PC Games on Steam Deck?

Yes. Even though it is powered by a custom OS called the SteamOS, you can use Steam Deck to play games made for PCs. It happens because Valve has used PC-grade hardware and construction for the device in most aspects. Of course, you have to make sure that the games in your Steam library are designed to work with SteamOS. Otherwise, you may have some compatibility issues.

• Is Steam Deck any good?

As we said, it is too early to judge the standard version of Steam Deck. However, if we believe what most reviewers have told, it is clear that Steam Deck is revolutionary. It will change the way a lot of people approach console-based gaming. The console is so powerful that you can connect it to a full-sized display as well.

Conclusion

We are almost sure that Steam Deck will be one of the best things in 2022. You simply have to ensure that you have the right level of expectations.

For instance, while you can stream Netflix on Steam Deck, do not expect the device to arrive anytime soon. Instead, you should expect a rush in online and hybrid channels whenever it launches.