Steam Deck User Finds Clever Way To Turn Handheld Into A Perfect DS Emulator

DS emulation is tricky to pull off on a handheld like the Steam Deck, since the DS used two screens to display information. While not authentic, most emulators place these side-by-side or have a toggle to swap between them — it’s a decent compromise. But if you’ve got the budget, one player has a great solution, and frankly, Nintendo needs to take notes for the Switch 2.

“My take on a Steam Deck DS,” u/rediiboy posted to the handheld’s subreddit, attaching a photo of their console with a second screen mounted on top. “I wanted a dual screen to emulate 3DS games so I got a portable monitor and had a magnetic phone holder laying around. The holder folds in neatly behind when I don’t want to use the screen. Turned out better than expected.”

You can get an equivalent 7-inch portable monitor for around $75 to $125, and a similar mount for roughly $10 to $30, depending on the quality. So, it’s a little expensive for an emulator, but if you’re playing enough DS games on your Steam Deck to warrant splashing out, it’s worth the investment for a truly authentic experience.

Nintendo Might Already Be Planning Something Similar For The Switch 2

Nintendo could also opt for picture-in-picture and side-by-side displays, as patents suggest it’s already looking into, and as emulators currently do, but this would be a brilliant little gadget for the Switch 2 for those with enough spare change lying around, making for a more authentic experience, albeit blown up to bigger monitors than the tiny little handheld of yesteryear.

And while I mused that Nintendo should take notes from u/rediiboy for the design, leaker Shpeshal Nick claimed earlier this month that “They’re doing DS with an extra screen” already, so the Steam Deck DS hybrid might not be far off from what the console giant has planned. The big worry with that kind of design, however, is whether the magnet will impact the fans on the back of the handheld, but u/rediiboy claimed that they “haven’t had any issues on that part so far,” and that they’re willing to see how it “behaves on the long run.”

It also doesn’t look that uncomfortable to use, with the mount being centered enough that it doesn’t get in the way of the back buttons or grips, so if Nintendo does opt for a similar approach, it would work a treat, though the extra screen slapped on top does make the console less portable, and undoubtedly clunkier to use.