A recent phenomenon involving Dota 2 players using the Steam Deck has caused a rift within the game’s community. It all began when a community member encountered a skilled player at a mall who was effortlessly playing Dota 2 on the Steam Deck.
In a short video clip, the player showcased their mastery of the game by utilizing the touch controls of the device while running Dota 2 in desktop mode with a customized keybind layout. This display of proficiency impressed many, leading another player to upload their own gameplay clip on Reddit featuring the notoriously difficult hero, Invoker.
Invoker is known for his complexity, and even most mouse-keyboard players tend to avoid playing him. However, the Steam Deck player showcased their skills with this challenging hero, earning respect from the Dota 2 community.
Not only were these players able to execute difficult moves using the Steam Deck controls, but they also consistently performed well in their recordings. This led many to consider purchasing a Steam Deck for themselves. However, some players expressed concern about Steam Deck users gaining enough confidence to bring their unconventional control methods into ranked matches.
While the showcased Steam Deck players made it look easy, it’s important to acknowledge the hours of practice they must have put in to become proficient with such unorthodox controls. Most Steam Deck owners typically use a mouse and keyboard to play Dota 2, as using a controller was never seen as a viable option.
As someone with experience in Dota 2, if a player were to tell me they were using a controller or Steam Deck controllers in a ranked match, I would have initially assumed they were griefing. However, these videos have expanded my perspective, and I now remain cautiously optimistic.
Source: DOTESPORTS
