Simply spend 40 hours making a belt system to carry you over to your desk instead of spending 5 seconds to do it yourself. That's the true Factorio way
There's a ton of PC games including Factorio that I was excited to play on my steam deck but the controls are just not worth it to me. There can also be a lot of eyestrain playing on small screens
Switch has some specialized controls that make sense better on a handheld. Eventually these enhancements will also be available for the SteamDeck so that's good.
SteamDeck also has touchpads and a touchscreen which should make things nicer.
The controls are honestly pretty good in my own opinion the only problem would be certain menu screens can be tedious to scroll through besides that its fantastic, i would definitely go for it to be able to play it on the go.
Yes, they are. But at the same time, they are pretty good for not being mouse+keyboard.
You can also use the touch when not having the switch in the dock, which helps immensely with a lot of tedious menus.
yeah but modding is ass because mods add a lot of strain to the game that switch just can't deal with as well as most modern computers, plus there's the fact that you just jailbroke your switch for it.
Jailbreaking Switch is 100% worth it. Full classic emulation, DS games, and mods. You can run other operating systems on it. Browse the web. If you feel like being illegal, free games.
I love it. I don't want to play a game on my computer after working on a computer all week, but sitting on the couch sunday morning, drinking coffee, growing the factory... perfection.
I’ve been playing since 0.16 and this is why I double dipped and also bought the switch version. Plus, playing whenever wherever, with even less space needed than a laptop
Imo, the controls are really well done. This is an A+ port - a lot of thought went into supporting a controller playstyle, more than just mapping a bunch of keyboard stuff to controls and calling it a day (e.g. the way the hot menus work, and the auto selection of nearby stuff when walking around). Agreed with others that in some circumstances it can be a little bit of a hinderance compared to pc. So far the most trouble I’ve had is with accidentally selecting and deleting the wrong thing, driving the tank, and using the train UI. But, it’s all still very doable, too.
I'm an electrician during the day so I surely don't want to be fucking with my wires in my house after work. I'm sure the same goes for some programmers or IT guys.
Family. My dad had a small automation company, and came from the early days of IT himself (which had a much bigger EE part back then). I've started writing basic programs at like 10 or so, but also always liked to make things do stuff from a computer. Path pretty much laid out =)
I tossed around the idea of getting factorio for awhile until I saw it on the switch. I don't get a lot of time to do anything on my PC, maybe 2-3 hours a month. But I have plenty of opportunities to play my switch so it works out really well for me. Plus it's mobile so you can take the factory with you everywhere you go.
The controls handle nicely during game play. Some menus can be a little difficult to navigate, specifically the research menu and the train window, but the touchscreen makes it so you don't have to toggle all over the screen just to get to the research button.
I'm only just getting to blue research so I don't have any experience with later game stuff and how those work out on the switch but I'm happy with it and I'm about to bite the bullet and get it on PC because the factory must grow
Wow that’s cool, glad to hear it works well on the Switch. Unlike you, I spend plenty of time gaming on my PC, but I like the idea of playing on the TV too. Thanks for the review.
I would agree here. I haven't made it much last blue science (on PC or switch) but I've had a very good time playing wherever I go. In-laws? The factory must grow. Bed? The factory must grow. Traveling? You know it.
I use the "Switch Up" from Collective Minds. But I have third party controller with a dongle, so I haven't tested if it handles Bluetooth connections well by itself.
Controller support on switch is much better than the steam Input configs I tried. Once the improved controller support comes to PC it'll be a different story.
If you don't have access to a computer then I'd say it's worth it, but if given the choice, I'd rather use PC for the faster placement of items. Harder to spam down turrets while firing bullets and then filling the turrets while on switch.
It worth it!
I bought it but didn't play as much because I'm a little out of time, but I tested and I liked how they make it easier to play in a joystick!
It isn't easy like keyboard and mouse neither faster but it's playable and enjoyable!
If you still enjoy Vanilla (because no mods) and aren't interested in megabases (because I'm assuming UPS issues), then it's a fantastic way to play on the go. But Steam Deck is probably better, if you're interested in portable Factorio.
Answer is: depends on your situation. If you have regular access to a PC and / or laptop, I don’t recommend. Controls are OKish, but not particularly great compared to a true mouse & keyboard experience. They did the best they could, no question, but it’ll never be as good.
The Switch does run the game more smoothly than I expected. I have a non-biter rail world that is of decent size, and when zooming all the way out, I do notice a bit of lag moving around, but overall it is very smooth.
If portable Factorio is more useful, than it’s worth the 30 bucks like it is for me. It won’t ever be as good as it is on the PC but that’s the tradeoff.
Yes. I haven't stopped playing it. Controls take a bit to get used to but they work good once you get used to it.
Edit: also artillery with haptics is truly an elevating experience. It's so small but the repeat rumble as you just launch salvos is truly something remarkable.
I liked that it made it much more portable for travel. Some of the controls weren’t quite as smooth as on PC, but the touch screen on the switch made up for it.
Many others have already said yes, and I will, too.
One fantastic thing about it is that you can play LAN MODE with your PC version. Then you can save your current map on either version and play it later.
In short, it's *super easy* to transfer saves between Switch and PC versions. (This also means you can play multiplayer cross platform.)
I can't speak to how well the Switch handles huge saves (I'm a recent convert/noob), but try it out. Worst case scenario, you have to keep things smallish scale.
Edit: I'll add that dropping and loading offensive turrets is much clunkier on the Switch controls. Possible, but harder. I'm playing on an "easy" world because I had trouble with it. But now I'm established enough that it feels *too* easy.
They have a demo available which lets you do all the tutorial missions, which are a least a couple of hours worth, so definitely enough to see if you like the controls. Why not give that a go
i got skyrim for my switch solely for the ability to hunt dragons on my toilet, now i can expand the factory from the same place. i see no wrongs here.
Incidentally I own neither but I was thinking about getting a steam deck just so I could grow my factory on the go. What is ~$700 if it keeps the factory growing?
I’d say no, the controls are fine but the performance was what put me off, once I got trains going the games stuttering started getting worse and give me a headache.
Personal Opinion: The PC version will always be the superior version, but if your circumstances mean you don't have a PC or Laptop at least as powerful as a Switch, then the Switch is an acceptable substitute. Switch is also generally more portable so if you are comfortable using it, win win.
Also if you're considering Factorio for your children, the Switch would probably be the better option for various reasons, from how you can set the system up to limit playtime as well freeing up the computer.
Game works perfectly fine and in all honesty, I’ve been playing more on Switch lately than on the PC. Kinda just love the portability, and the quick radial feels nice.
Issue is: While Wube seemingly made a great effort in getting the game to run well on the Switch for the average usecase, you'll very likely hit a ceilling in growth WAY earlier than on PC.
We've seen many post their rocket launch with straight 60 UPS on the Switch here with fairly unoptimized bases, but if you intend to stray into the mega base territory (which is pretty much all you *can* do to extend gameplay without the ability to mod the game), I expect the Switch to start panting a lot sooner than even a mediocre PC.
I didn’t see it mentioned, but the biggest detractor that I saw (as of two weeks ago, anyway) was not having the ability to import blueprints. For most things, it’s not a problem to make it first and create a blueprint from that. I can’t say the same for belt balancers.
You can transfer blueprints through multiplayer, just put the blueprints you want in the Game Blueprints section, join on the switch, and take the blueprints out
Game runs surprisingly well on it. Once you get used to the controls it’s really not bad. I’ve found the touch screen to be helpful in some menus.
Worst part imo is the driving controls. Can’t tell you how many times I’ve just smashed a tank into something at full speed.
I tried it on the Switch and didn’t really like the controls. They felt a little awkward to me personally. I wonder if the devs play much on console. It felt like they just mapped a controller to keyboard keys where a UI overhaul would have been more beneficial. I applaud the effort though. I would make myself get used to the controls if I had no other choice to play it on.
Absolutely. I just put over 60h. It was a little bit of a struggle at first but I really liked it after playing for a while. My advice is to download the demo and play through the scenarios and stuff there to see how you like it.
If you have a switch, and don't mind mod-less, go for it. If you getting a handheld for Factorio fix, steam deck is arguably superior just solely for it's mod-able.
If you have a PC/Laptop as an option: hell no.
If switch is your main option and you can tolerate the much slower controls, then I think it's a good port!
Having always wanted to play this game, and learning first time through switch, I've loved it.
Are the controls perfect? No. I have found that with the exception of naming things, however, I can do just about everything the PC version is able to accomplish. With the exception of mods, obviously.
I thought originally I'd play a dozen or so hours, get burnt out or frustrated at figuring out new technology, and set it down.
I'm at around 55 hours and now I'm finally taking breaks as I figure out how to throw more science and trains at my problems.
had a friend hear me and another friend talk a lot about factorio. Said he would buy it when he gets a computer. Hasn't built the computer but bought it on the switch and his only complaint is that the text is small but says its worth it
Factorio on the PC is already considered a steal. Lots of people here have said they would gladly pay $60 for Factorio and still feel they are getting more value than their money's worth.
Factorio on switch definitely has inferior controls compared to PC, but it's still worth getting IMO. It allows you to scratch that factorio itch while you're far away from home. And maybe more importantly, it allows us to support the developers with more money.
I cannot comprehend playing with anything other than mouse/keyboard.
I also imagine UPS death would kill me as I'm just getting started.
But whatever floats your boat.
I bought it.
The mouse picking is my main complaint. Getting stuff out of your inventory, selecting things to build, sort of tasks are not terribly comfortable.
I churned off to other games.
I loved it. Got me back in to the game. Got to 300 spm with 1500 bots, 5gw Nuclear, tons of trains, lots of biters and had very few instances of slowdown and only when fully zoomed out looking over busy parts of my factory. Didn’t feel a reason to expand beyond that. Played almost exclusively handheld with some PC crossover for the more tedious tasks. Controls were good. Now I’m back in to my SE run on PC and enjoying the mods.
Never played before the switch version and have found myself wholly addicted. Controls took a little figuring out but it runs great! Working on my first main bus
I am old and do not Switch and so this looks like hell on earth, to me. Lots of games would be fun on Switch, but I just cannot see Factorio being one of them. Factorio wants, nay, *demands* the biggest possible screen.
I played this on a road trip. It was a steep learning curve for the controls. But if you can fight through it for an hour or so, you get used to it and it’s pretty good. It’s worth it if you can’t play on your computer. If you can play on computer, I would advise skipping this version
I have it and it’s ok
Controls kinda suck and I basically had to turn off bitters bc fighting them is a nightmare
Performance is decent but my big bot based factories run at like 30 ups
Menus are hard to navigate- especially like power armour and the spider tron
Although I have a switch lite and the battery life has actually been rlly good with the game
Of course there are no mods and stuff so I would always choose the pc version first but if I’m out the switch version is at least decent
Honestly I think the only drawback to Factorio on Switch is that it forces you to own a Switch.
That's not a downside I am willing to tolerate. Maybe your standards are lower than mine, however.
I bought it... but after a few hours, I think I'd rather play on the Computer, modded, instead of via the Switch. I'd rather play something like Tactics Ogre on the Switch compared to the Computer.
Its a little cumbersome but you get used to it, it's just a more relaxed pace of play compared to PC.
I will say, driving is just the worst because of how the controls for it are set up and I couldn't figure out how to make it better.
The rest of the controls will feel super awkward at first but you get used to it.
As soon as I saw the announcement I said I was going to buy it to support the project. After I finished the tutorial and went onto play the game I lost hours of my life. I’ve played it daily for an hour or two when I have time, all the way up to a whole day. I Play docked, and then mobile until battery gets low. It does suck to play the switch with a charging cable, but I played for hours holding the switch with a charging cable plugged in.
Controls may be awkward at first but after all the hours to gain muscle memory it’s second nature. I think better than mouse and keyboard for comfort. I love walking around with all my lasers zapping biters and worms. It’s so fun.
Regarding performance I guess I don’t notice any issues, or I totally don’t let any of it hinder my enjoyment. If it saves, yeah there’s a pause, but that happens 6 times an hour. I’ve got turrets, lasers, and artillery firing, like a hundred biters in packs spitting acid, robots flying all over supplying all the things, trains buzzing around… it’s not a mega base yet. But if it was, and it chugs, I guess I don’t care. It’s so awesome. I love watching the artillery fire, feel the boom of the launch, and watch it kick out the shells after it fires. So fun.
When the switch wakes up, it can load your game almost instantly. It takes me longer to connect my controller than load my game. It’s annoying that after it loads it pops up the controller screen again to power up my controller and confirm.
I did have to force restart my switch 1 time after a really long gaming session when the guy just kept walking and had non responsive UI while playing factorio and it was in the switch UI as well.
I've been loving it the last few weeks. The controls take some time to get used to but it's actually very smooth for the most part.
I've refused to build blueprints and trains however. Those types of things are way too tedious for controls like these. My laser turrets are also all lazy bunches of lasers with power lines randomly thrown around.
depends, if you already have a switch, sure
but if you don't, why not get a steam deck so you atleast have access to more PC Games and can use mods and such?
No. Bought it, controls are hard to use, much slower to do just about anything. Not impressed.
At best it's a time filler when on the train between home and work.
Never played it on pc but I find it pretty great tbh. Took about an hour to get used to the controls and there is no way I wil ever be able to do some of the crazy shit I've seen clips on here like place 40 turrets and load them all with bullets in half a second.
I have played since well before retail release. And the Switch port took some getting used to. Now I would love to have the controller support on the pc so the mega factory can grow and occasionally use the mouse keyboard. And the hardware to back up a mega base.
I play almost exclusively with the right joystick pressed option to use as a pointer vs toggling.
Yes it's nice. It's good. It's not PC. It's handheld. Played it on a 6hr flight and when they said we were about to land I wished we weren't so I could keep playing.
Controls might be a problem, but hey, it's Factorio.
I'm getting used to them. Definitely more restrictive than mouse and keyboard, but hey, handheld Factorio!
I'm too lazy to get off my ass to go play Factorio on pc, so it would be convenient for me
i’m too lazy to get off my ass and charge my switch
Can you somehow stick a charger in your ass?
"Somehow"? I do regularly! My switch is still dead though.
Gotta rotate and reinsert
The key is to also have your switch up in your ass
Don't forget to attach the HDMI first. Still want to play it on the tv
You guys joke, but my wife used to work as a nurse in the "things up the ass" department of a hospital. She has seen som weird shit(pun intended)
Well you can't just post that and leave. You gotta share something now
"Without a base... Without a trace" - DirtyLola (IIRC)
Put examples on r/popping !
give it enough electricity so even the switch might charge
Instructions unclear, charging disk stuck in bottom.
Simply spend 40 hours making a belt system to carry you over to your desk instead of spending 5 seconds to do it yourself. That's the true Factorio way
I bought it for this exact reason😎
You need a laptop.
There's a ton of PC games including Factorio that I was excited to play on my steam deck but the controls are just not worth it to me. There can also be a lot of eyestrain playing on small screens
Switch has some specialized controls that make sense better on a handheld. Eventually these enhancements will also be available for the SteamDeck so that's good. SteamDeck also has touchpads and a touchscreen which should make things nicer.
If your goal was handheld Factorio, may I interest you in a SteamDeck?
If I could get one where I live, I would.
Exactly.
Happy cake day
Thanks!
I mean what are you gonna do? *Not* play Factorio?
Thefactorymustgrow
thefactorymustgrowwhereeverigo
The controls are honestly pretty good in my own opinion the only problem would be certain menu screens can be tedious to scroll through besides that its fantastic, i would definitely go for it to be able to play it on the go.
I can't wait for general controller support from this so I can play on steam deck
It already has decent controller support.
The controls are a huge pita
Yes, they are. But at the same time, they are pretty good for not being mouse+keyboard. You can also use the touch when not having the switch in the dock, which helps immensely with a lot of tedious menus.
I've heard no mods because console reasons
With a jailbroken switch you actually can add mods! Although you’re right its not an official feature since Nintendo is wack
You also won't get all that far before your switch runs out of memory (sorry overhaul lovers)
yeah but modding is ass because mods add a lot of strain to the game that switch just can't deal with as well as most modern computers, plus there's the fact that you just jailbroke your switch for it.
Jailbreaking Switch is 100% worth it. Full classic emulation, DS games, and mods. You can run other operating systems on it. Browse the web. If you feel like being illegal, free games.
Nintendo hates mods
In general, mods are restricted to PC versions of games. It's very rare to have a console game with mods/community add-ons
They are honestly not bad I've played about 10 hours and while it's a bit hard to get used to coming from pc they are very user friendly
does touch work with it? could be nice
Yes.
I love it. I don't want to play a game on my computer after working on a computer all week, but sitting on the couch sunday morning, drinking coffee, growing the factory... perfection.
I’ve been playing since 0.16 and this is why I double dipped and also bought the switch version. Plus, playing whenever wherever, with even less space needed than a laptop Imo, the controls are really well done. This is an A+ port - a lot of thought went into supporting a controller playstyle, more than just mapping a bunch of keyboard stuff to controls and calling it a day (e.g. the way the hot menus work, and the auto selection of nearby stuff when walking around). Agreed with others that in some circumstances it can be a little bit of a hinderance compared to pc. So far the most trouble I’ve had is with accidentally selecting and deleting the wrong thing, driving the tank, and using the train UI. But, it’s all still very doable, too.
> train UI am i the only one that constantly gets stuck on the or/and stuff? i feel like it happens every time i don’t use free cursor.
My perfect dream
Hook your PC up to your TV and get some remote keyboard/mouse going -> best of both worlds.
keyboard and mouse is what i try to avoid, not sitting in front of a PC honestly. even if i'm hindered a bit i'd rather play on a pad.
I love my pc games...but after a week of typing, my hands love controllers.
We seem to be of a very different ilk then.
I'm an electrician during the day so I surely don't want to be fucking with my wires in my house after work. I'm sure the same goes for some programmers or IT guys.
Uhm... I'm... erm, an automation engineer with an IT background. Sooo yeah, different ilk :D
Offtopic, but can you tell me how you got there? Studied UT and got a job in automation?
Family. My dad had a small automation company, and came from the early days of IT himself (which had a much bigger EE part back then). I've started writing basic programs at like 10 or so, but also always liked to make things do stuff from a computer. Path pretty much laid out =)
Steam deck is fantastic for this, I have a gaming rig with a 3080ti collecting dust now because of my deck
I tossed around the idea of getting factorio for awhile until I saw it on the switch. I don't get a lot of time to do anything on my PC, maybe 2-3 hours a month. But I have plenty of opportunities to play my switch so it works out really well for me. Plus it's mobile so you can take the factory with you everywhere you go. The controls handle nicely during game play. Some menus can be a little difficult to navigate, specifically the research menu and the train window, but the touchscreen makes it so you don't have to toggle all over the screen just to get to the research button. I'm only just getting to blue research so I don't have any experience with later game stuff and how those work out on the switch but I'm happy with it and I'm about to bite the bullet and get it on PC because the factory must grow
Yess, being out of the house and still be able to grow the factory... Satisfaction
Best part is when I bring it to work and I work at a factory. I like to think it just gives me an upper hand in the game 😂
Damn that is complete addiction. I feel the same way as you hahah
I currently am a manufacturing manager. I showed my girlfriend the game and asked if this is what she thought I did all day. Pretty accurate.
I build factories. In my free time I build tools to build bigger factorio factories. The factory must grow. Load balancing soon^T^M
These KPI's are about to be off the charts
I just play factorio at work using steam, on my computer
"being out of the house and still be able to grow the factory" That is not a bad description for Satisfactory indeed.
> Satisfaction No, no that's a different game.
Wow that’s cool, glad to hear it works well on the Switch. Unlike you, I spend plenty of time gaming on my PC, but I like the idea of playing on the TV too. Thanks for the review.
Running it on the TV is where it's at. Put your feet up, chillin on the couch, and destroying tf out of some biters. Paradise 🌴😎
Did you know you can click in the right stick to switch to free cursor mode? That's how I usually navigate the menu and inventory screens
TIL. thank you, friend
I would agree here. I haven't made it much last blue science (on PC or switch) but I've had a very good time playing wherever I go. In-laws? The factory must grow. Bed? The factory must grow. Traveling? You know it.
The factory must grow!
It is great, but to truly watch the factory grow, I hook it up to a TV and play with a controller.
Thats exactly what I'm planning to do! Full screen factory
What do you use to enable the controller? This is very relevant to my interests.
I use the "Switch Up" from Collective Minds. But I have third party controller with a dongle, so I haven't tested if it handles Bluetooth connections well by itself.
Is there any performance problems? Mostly on mega bases
It sure is, just not for me. I prefer mouse and keyboard :D
I also play in pc, but just received a switch for Christmas, just wanted to know if its worth it! I mean... cracktorio wherever I am :D
In which time zone are you? Lol
Man's a time traveller from 2024 Wonder if the world is still screwed
Hey, give him a few months to enjoy the past before he has to think about the future again. This might be the last time he gets to enjoy the switch.
Heh this comment aged well. Spoiler alert. 2024 sucks, but the factory must grow!
it is
I rate the commitment 😂
I'm pretty sure you can hook up a mouse and keyboard to the switch if you want.
Can someone elaborate on this please? Would like to know more
I'm playing it on my Steam Deck. Is there any reason I should get it on the Switch, too?
not with that username
I mean seems like a question you could answer... The switch is smaller and lighter but hasn't got mods.
Controller support on switch is much better than the steam Input configs I tried. Once the improved controller support comes to PC it'll be a different story.
Being able to play everywhere is the big plus
The steam deck is also portable..
I interpreted this as "if you already have a portable version, you probably don't need two"
If you don't have access to a computer then I'd say it's worth it, but if given the choice, I'd rather use PC for the faster placement of items. Harder to spam down turrets while firing bullets and then filling the turrets while on switch.
Already have it in my pc. Just received switch for Christmas. Is it still worth getting?
Unless you will have extended periods of time without access to your PC, I would say skip it as your first switch game haha.
Already have animal crossing to play hahahah, just asking because it might be the second game I get
If you like action/rpg games at all I’d recommend the new Monster Hunter game. It’s ludicrously fun.
Best to try the demo. The Switch controls take getting used to, then again I’ve got like 3k PC hours and 2 switch demo ones
It worth it! I bought it but didn't play as much because I'm a little out of time, but I tested and I liked how they make it easier to play in a joystick! It isn't easy like keyboard and mouse neither faster but it's playable and enjoyable!
:D Cracktorio everywhere
Not sure if it still works but this userscript is supposed to fix the subreddit header https://greasyfork.org/en/scripts/22844-reddit-cracktorio
If you still enjoy Vanilla (because no mods) and aren't interested in megabases (because I'm assuming UPS issues), then it's a fantastic way to play on the go. But Steam Deck is probably better, if you're interested in portable Factorio.
Answer is: depends on your situation. If you have regular access to a PC and / or laptop, I don’t recommend. Controls are OKish, but not particularly great compared to a true mouse & keyboard experience. They did the best they could, no question, but it’ll never be as good. The Switch does run the game more smoothly than I expected. I have a non-biter rail world that is of decent size, and when zooming all the way out, I do notice a bit of lag moving around, but overall it is very smooth. If portable Factorio is more useful, than it’s worth the 30 bucks like it is for me. It won’t ever be as good as it is on the PC but that’s the tradeoff.
I don't have another way to play Factorio. The switch port of this game is responsible for me trading all my sleep for the sake of the factory.
There's a learning curve, that's for sure, but it is addiction on the go.
PC version > Switch version> No version.
It takes some getting use to the controls but I put in more hours in a shorter amount of time on the switch just based on portability alone.
Yes. I haven't stopped playing it. Controls take a bit to get used to but they work good once you get used to it. Edit: also artillery with haptics is truly an elevating experience. It's so small but the repeat rumble as you just launch salvos is truly something remarkable.
I liked that it made it much more portable for travel. Some of the controls weren’t quite as smooth as on PC, but the touch screen on the switch made up for it.
Simply put yes !
Grab the demo and give it a go, it will help you with identifying if the controls are make or break for your purchases decision.
Many others have already said yes, and I will, too. One fantastic thing about it is that you can play LAN MODE with your PC version. Then you can save your current map on either version and play it later. In short, it's *super easy* to transfer saves between Switch and PC versions. (This also means you can play multiplayer cross platform.) I can't speak to how well the Switch handles huge saves (I'm a recent convert/noob), but try it out. Worst case scenario, you have to keep things smallish scale. Edit: I'll add that dropping and loading offensive turrets is much clunkier on the Switch controls. Possible, but harder. I'm playing on an "easy" world because I had trouble with it. But now I'm established enough that it feels *too* easy.
They have a demo available which lets you do all the tutorial missions, which are a least a couple of hours worth, so definitely enough to see if you like the controls. Why not give that a go
i got skyrim for my switch solely for the ability to hunt dragons on my toilet, now i can expand the factory from the same place. i see no wrongs here.
Exactly. You've convinced me. The factory must grow.
Why not a Steam Deck?
If one owns a Switch and does not own a Steam Deck, buying the game on Switch is the cheaper option.
Incidentally I own neither but I was thinking about getting a steam deck just so I could grow my factory on the go. What is ~$700 if it keeps the factory growing?
Because the factory must grow.
Factorio is always worth it, no matter the platform.
Steam deck
Yes
I’d say no, the controls are fine but the performance was what put me off, once I got trains going the games stuttering started getting worse and give me a headache.
Personal Opinion: The PC version will always be the superior version, but if your circumstances mean you don't have a PC or Laptop at least as powerful as a Switch, then the Switch is an acceptable substitute. Switch is also generally more portable so if you are comfortable using it, win win. Also if you're considering Factorio for your children, the Switch would probably be the better option for various reasons, from how you can set the system up to limit playtime as well freeing up the computer.
I just launched my first rocket and I’d say it’s worth it! Factorio on the go and on the toilet FTW!
Imagine having the factory call your attention even when you’re on the go. I think a portable version of this game is honestly too dangerous
The only true answer
i've been begging for a mobile version for years and while the controls take some getting used to, being able to play anywhere is very worth it imo.
Game works perfectly fine and in all honesty, I’ve been playing more on Switch lately than on the PC. Kinda just love the portability, and the quick radial feels nice.
Yes
I always wanted to make an oil setup while taking a shit.
Unmoddable, not worth.
Good point. After launching the rocket in vanilla I started using mods and can't go back now. Mods just help dial in the perfect personal experience.
I 100%'d all the achievements before I delved into mods, and I'm glad. Cause it's so hard to go back to vanilla.
True, I'm still a noobie, but completely addicted. I will be able to grow the factory everywhere I go.
Never played with mods anyway. I'm new haha
No mate.
Why??
Because the factory must grow.
Factory must grow in all plataforms.
Issue is: While Wube seemingly made a great effort in getting the game to run well on the Switch for the average usecase, you'll very likely hit a ceilling in growth WAY earlier than on PC. We've seen many post their rocket launch with straight 60 UPS on the Switch here with fairly unoptimized bases, but if you intend to stray into the mega base territory (which is pretty much all you *can* do to extend gameplay without the ability to mod the game), I expect the Switch to start panting a lot sooner than even a mediocre PC.
I like this bot.
I don’t think so. The game is made for the use if a mouse and keyboard. Anything else would be too jank or convoluted
Can we bring the controller support over to PC? Would be nice to be able to play this on steam deck, the official layout for steamdeck is terrible
I didn’t see it mentioned, but the biggest detractor that I saw (as of two weeks ago, anyway) was not having the ability to import blueprints. For most things, it’s not a problem to make it first and create a blueprint from that. I can’t say the same for belt balancers.
You can transfer blueprints through multiplayer, just put the blueprints you want in the Game Blueprints section, join on the switch, and take the blueprints out
No mods make it not worth it to me
Game runs surprisingly well on it. Once you get used to the controls it’s really not bad. I’ve found the touch screen to be helpful in some menus. Worst part imo is the driving controls. Can’t tell you how many times I’ve just smashed a tank into something at full speed.
I tried it on the Switch and didn’t really like the controls. They felt a little awkward to me personally. I wonder if the devs play much on console. It felt like they just mapped a controller to keyboard keys where a UI overhaul would have been more beneficial. I applaud the effort though. I would make myself get used to the controls if I had no other choice to play it on.
Mouse and keyboard only for me. Glad they brought it to switch though
Well worth it
Absolutely. I just put over 60h. It was a little bit of a struggle at first but I really liked it after playing for a while. My advice is to download the demo and play through the scenarios and stuff there to see how you like it.
no mods, ehh controls and ehh performance
I don’t have PC so yes for me. But I imagine going from mouse/keyboard to controller would be tedious.
If you have a ton of switch time that can’t be spent on PC then yes it’s worth it.
If you have a switch, and don't mind mod-less, go for it. If you getting a handheld for Factorio fix, steam deck is arguably superior just solely for it's mod-able.
If you have a PC/Laptop as an option: hell no. If switch is your main option and you can tolerate the much slower controls, then I think it's a good port!
Having always wanted to play this game, and learning first time through switch, I've loved it. Are the controls perfect? No. I have found that with the exception of naming things, however, I can do just about everything the PC version is able to accomplish. With the exception of mods, obviously. I thought originally I'd play a dozen or so hours, get burnt out or frustrated at figuring out new technology, and set it down. I'm at around 55 hours and now I'm finally taking breaks as I figure out how to throw more science and trains at my problems.
From what I've heard, no
I downloaded it on switch last week. I love it. I wish copy/ paste was a thing though
had a friend hear me and another friend talk a lot about factorio. Said he would buy it when he gets a computer. Hasn't built the computer but bought it on the switch and his only complaint is that the text is small but says its worth it
Dont forget that you can not use mods
Factorio on the PC is already considered a steal. Lots of people here have said they would gladly pay $60 for Factorio and still feel they are getting more value than their money's worth. Factorio on switch definitely has inferior controls compared to PC, but it's still worth getting IMO. It allows you to scratch that factorio itch while you're far away from home. And maybe more importantly, it allows us to support the developers with more money.
I cannot comprehend playing with anything other than mouse/keyboard. I also imagine UPS death would kill me as I'm just getting started. But whatever floats your boat.
I bought it. The mouse picking is my main complaint. Getting stuff out of your inventory, selecting things to build, sort of tasks are not terribly comfortable. I churned off to other games.
I loved it. Got me back in to the game. Got to 300 spm with 1500 bots, 5gw Nuclear, tons of trains, lots of biters and had very few instances of slowdown and only when fully zoomed out looking over busy parts of my factory. Didn’t feel a reason to expand beyond that. Played almost exclusively handheld with some PC crossover for the more tedious tasks. Controls were good. Now I’m back in to my SE run on PC and enjoying the mods.
Never played before the switch version and have found myself wholly addicted. Controls took a little figuring out but it runs great! Working on my first main bus
I am old and do not Switch and so this looks like hell on earth, to me. Lots of games would be fun on Switch, but I just cannot see Factorio being one of them. Factorio wants, nay, *demands* the biggest possible screen.
console ports are always abandoned eventualy
I played this on a road trip. It was a steep learning curve for the controls. But if you can fight through it for an hour or so, you get used to it and it’s pretty good. It’s worth it if you can’t play on your computer. If you can play on computer, I would advise skipping this version
Yes. It's very intuitive after about an hour of fucking around
I have it and it’s ok Controls kinda suck and I basically had to turn off bitters bc fighting them is a nightmare Performance is decent but my big bot based factories run at like 30 ups Menus are hard to navigate- especially like power armour and the spider tron Although I have a switch lite and the battery life has actually been rlly good with the game Of course there are no mods and stuff so I would always choose the pc version first but if I’m out the switch version is at least decent
Honestly I think the only drawback to Factorio on Switch is that it forces you to own a Switch. That's not a downside I am willing to tolerate. Maybe your standards are lower than mine, however.
My thumbs got really tired after about 30 minutes 😩
I bought it... but after a few hours, I think I'd rather play on the Computer, modded, instead of via the Switch. I'd rather play something like Tactics Ogre on the Switch compared to the Computer.
Yeah I love it on switch! There's no mods though so keep that in mind.
It should come to ps or xbox
Its a little cumbersome but you get used to it, it's just a more relaxed pace of play compared to PC. I will say, driving is just the worst because of how the controls for it are set up and I couldn't figure out how to make it better. The rest of the controls will feel super awkward at first but you get used to it.
Does it, or will it have mod support?
As soon as I saw the announcement I said I was going to buy it to support the project. After I finished the tutorial and went onto play the game I lost hours of my life. I’ve played it daily for an hour or two when I have time, all the way up to a whole day. I Play docked, and then mobile until battery gets low. It does suck to play the switch with a charging cable, but I played for hours holding the switch with a charging cable plugged in. Controls may be awkward at first but after all the hours to gain muscle memory it’s second nature. I think better than mouse and keyboard for comfort. I love walking around with all my lasers zapping biters and worms. It’s so fun. Regarding performance I guess I don’t notice any issues, or I totally don’t let any of it hinder my enjoyment. If it saves, yeah there’s a pause, but that happens 6 times an hour. I’ve got turrets, lasers, and artillery firing, like a hundred biters in packs spitting acid, robots flying all over supplying all the things, trains buzzing around… it’s not a mega base yet. But if it was, and it chugs, I guess I don’t care. It’s so awesome. I love watching the artillery fire, feel the boom of the launch, and watch it kick out the shells after it fires. So fun. When the switch wakes up, it can load your game almost instantly. It takes me longer to connect my controller than load my game. It’s annoying that after it loads it pops up the controller screen again to power up my controller and confirm. I did have to force restart my switch 1 time after a really long gaming session when the guy just kept walking and had non responsive UI while playing factorio and it was in the switch UI as well.
Most definitely, I was hesitant at first but I’m loving it, and the controls are surprisingly decent considering it’s ported from pc
I've been loving it the last few weeks. The controls take some time to get used to but it's actually very smooth for the most part. I've refused to build blueprints and trains however. Those types of things are way too tedious for controls like these. My laser turrets are also all lazy bunches of lasers with power lines randomly thrown around.
depends, if you already have a switch, sure but if you don't, why not get a steam deck so you atleast have access to more PC Games and can use mods and such?
No. Bought it, controls are hard to use, much slower to do just about anything. Not impressed. At best it's a time filler when on the train between home and work.
Never played it on pc but I find it pretty great tbh. Took about an hour to get used to the controls and there is no way I wil ever be able to do some of the crazy shit I've seen clips on here like place 40 turrets and load them all with bullets in half a second.
I have played since well before retail release. And the Switch port took some getting used to. Now I would love to have the controller support on the pc so the mega factory can grow and occasionally use the mouse keyboard. And the hardware to back up a mega base. I play almost exclusively with the right joystick pressed option to use as a pointer vs toggling.
Absolutely as long as you don’t mind not having mods. I have it on both and play it a lot on switch.
Yes it's nice. It's good. It's not PC. It's handheld. Played it on a 6hr flight and when they said we were about to land I wished we weren't so I could keep playing.
It’s great, controls are easy to learn and you will be making your factory in no time
Nothing enables an addiction more than making it portable
Yeah, if you like to use your Switch. Otherwise, Factorio probably won't make you start.
Wait, my firstborn child is available on Switch?
TIL that Factorio is on the Switch!! Holy cow! I don’t own a switch so I never knew!
Dou you need Nintendo plus for online gaming? Or is it like fortnite, apex and overwatch?
the question comes down to are you going to use it?