A survey from Overkill has found that Steam Deck users are more likely to emulate the PlayStation 2 than any other console. Most of their respondents were from the Steam Deck subreddit and between the ages of 18 to 39.
Of the over 3000 people that were surveyed (and that used their Steam Deck for emulation at all), more than 1200 used Valve's handheld to emulate the PlayStation 2. It was a close competition with consoles like the Nintendo 64, Switch, Game Cube and Game Boy Advance all selected over 1000 times.
It's worth noting that this part of the survey was multiple choice, but game developers should still take note of the results. The games of old have been inspiring new generations for years, with horror games in particular known to use old PlayStation aesthetics to enhance creep factor.
Still, the survey's results shouldn't come as a surprise to anyone who's familiar with the PlayStation 2's incredibly popular library of games. Silent Hill 2, Shadow of the Colossus, Metal Gear Solid 3, God of War and so many more were exclusive to the console back in the day. Many of those games also went on to spawn massive franchises today.
Some have argued that emulation is unethical, as it prevents developers from seeing any additional income from their games. Others believe that it's one of the more realistic ways that the video game industry can preserve its past. Purchasing a PlayStation 2 with several classic games can cost hundreds if not thousands in the present day, so the free and fairly simple emulation process is hard for many to ignore.
Read More: Most Steam Deck owners ignore the 'verified' status of games
Despite the industry's recent trend towards remaking popular old titles, it's safe to assume many Deck users think the classics do it best - or are hesitant to pay full price for a game that may not live up to the original.
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