The cheapest version costs $399 and comes with 64GB of eMMC storage, the mid-tier model Valve sent me goes for $529 and has a 256GB NVMe SSD, and there is a $649 version with a 512GB NVMe SSD. In desktop mode, the handheld console can be used to browse the web, launch non-Steam games, and even run apps.
After all, that’s what this is: the heart of a computer in the body of a portable console.
Alternatively, you can pair the portable device to a phone, tablet, monitor, or TV wirelessly using Steam Link and stream your gameplay onto a larger screen or even smaller format.Īnother trick is for the Steam Deck to transform into a full-blown Linux machine with a desktop interface. With the official dock, it gains ports for connecting to an external display (monitor, TV), peripherals (mouse/keyboard), and Ethernet. Much like the Nintendo Switch, the Steam Deck can transform from a portable console into a stationary one when connected to the official dock (arriving in late spring) or a USB-C dock with HDMI-out.
When you’re connected, the Steam Deck will automatically save your game progress to the cloud so it carries over to your PC or another Steam device. Valve has no plans of adding 5G or LTE configurations, so you will need a mobile hotspot for online gaming when you’re away from home. On that point, Valve’s handheld uses a modified version of SteamOS 3.0 based on Arch Linux, a distro the company chose because it allows for rapid updates.īecause games run natively, the Steam Deck works offline. It’s powered by an AMD chip and uses a Proton compatibility layer to allow for Windows games to run on Linux. There’s a lot going on here so let’s go over some of the basics: the Steam Deck is a 7.0-inch handheld game console that plays Steam games.
Many popular games aren’t compatible at launch, software bugs, Short battery life, it is big and a tad heavy, runs warm, can get loud Valve Steam Deck: What is it?
So impressive that this once-skeptic is a full believer. Most of your favorite games won’t run properly-or at all-and the software is still very much a work in progress, but despite what might sound like deal-breaking issues, what Valve has achieved is undeniably impressive. For now, much of that potential is untapped. It supports various inputs, can connect to your TV or monitor, and will soon pair with a dock that effectively turns it into a home console.Įven after spending several weeks with the device, it still feels as if I’ve only scratched the surface of its potential. Using a powerful yet efficient AMD chip combined with super-fast RAM, the Steam Deck delicately balances performance, thermals, and battery life to deliver a satisfying gaming experience with minimal compromises.īut it isn’t just a console: it’s a full-blown computer with a desktop mode that lets you browse the web, stream music, and watch videos. I’ve played dozens of hours on the Steam Deck and can say with some certainty that the necessary tech has arrived. If you’re wondering why now, that is partly because the technology to shrink a gaming PC into a handheld console hasn’t existed. Valve’s Steam Deck is exactly that-a portable device ergonomically similar to the Nintendo Switch that is capable of playing PC games. But here it is, straight from the dreams of dedicated PC gamers who have long yearned for a handheld console. It’s not every day that I get to review a device so unique that it could revolutionize mobile gaming.