My sole DVD player: Oops, it’s the Steam Deck

Photo: Cameron Faulkner/Polygon

Cameron Faulkner
(he/him) is Polygon’s business editor. He started discussing technology and also pc gaming in 2013, and also moved from The Verge in 2023.

I’ve ruined at numerous factors in my life if I’m depending on a Steam Deck to assist me play DVDs. But that’s where I’m at, having actually removed almost every gadget I had over the previous couple of years that can play discs.

The Steam Deck cannot play DVDs on its own, so to review our collection of discs, I had the concept (one that I’m much from the very first to attempt) to attach a no fuss, USB-powered DVD drive to the Deck’s television dock, after that run the discs with the VLC Media Player application. I’m equivalent components pleased with and also shamed by this hacky arrangement. You don’t require to really feel poor for me!

This approach, as you may have thought, has to do with as much from a sophisticated customer experience as it obtains, specifically if you’re attempting to implant it right into a home entertainment facility. Actually utilizing it without tearing your hair out includes either making use of a computer mouse attached to your Steam Deck, or meticulously remapping VLC’s computer mouse and also key-board commands to a controller. Honestly, neither option internet something that really feels “good” to utilize.

Photo: Cameron Faulkner/Polygon

On the software program side, obtaining points established is less complex, the good news is. The VLC Media Player application is sustained by the SteamOS variation of Linux, and also you can discover it in the Discover shop that’s accessible in the Steam Deck’s desktop computer setting. The Steam Deck: It’s a computer system! After mounting it, right-clicking the application and also picking the “Add to Steam” choice will certainly include it (and also, actually, any type of various other application) to the collection of floor tiles that turn up in the Deck’s even more TV-friendly pc gaming setting.

Launching it takes you straight to the VLC user interface, using up the complete dimension of my television with its practical Windows 98-esque style. From there, it’s quite windy if you’ve utilized the software program prior to. If not, finding out exactly how it functions shouldn’t take much initiative if you’ve dabbled with the Steam Deck’s desktop computer setting.

Photo: Cameron Faulkner/Polygon

Is this my long-lasting service for viewing DVDs? I really hope not, however it could be, as long as it maintains functioning. That stated, I have a voice in my head that’s making me gently take into consideration numerous specialized 4K Blu-ray gamer choices. I’m likewise really hoping that Sony really follows up with the rumors that it’ll someday sell PS5 disc drives separately. I presume that will certainly be a more expensive service, and also it might look equally as hacky as this Steam Deck service. But, a minimum of it’d be a bit a lot more future evidence, most likely with assistance for 4K Blu-ray discs.

I covet you if you can’t presently associate with my fiasco of lacking disc-friendly devices. But circumstances like mine are just mosting likely to be a lot more typical. Using Microsoft’s recent, huge Xbox leak as an indicator that even more business are heading towards an all-digital future, the capacity to play discs of any type of kind in your following console might not be an offered. In the situation of video clip discs of any type of type, you’ll need to place in a lot more initiative and also possibly even more cash to appreciate your collection in the future. But as many physical media fanatics will certainly confess, placing in that initiative belongs to the enjoyable.

Photo: Cameron Faulkner/Polygon | Source photo: Lionsgate

 

Source: Polygon