The earliest customers to pre-order the Steam Deck were set to recieve their units in the matter of a single month, as Valve's take on a portable gaming PC was planned for release this December. However, that is no longer the case, as they've sent out an email to affected customers saying that the Steam Deck's launch is being pushed back by two months. This is supposedly due to material shortages, with Valve claiming that they were unable to get the parts to manufacture units and get them sent out by next month. The Steam Deck is now due to ship out in February 2022.

The launch of Steam Deck will be delayed by two months. We're sorry about this—we did our best to work around the global supply chain issues, but due to material shortages, components aren’t reaching our manufacturing facilities in time for us to meet our initial launch dates.

Based on our updated build estimates, Steam Deck will start shipping February 2022. This will be the new start date of the reservation queue—you will keep your place in line but dates will shift back accordingly. Reservation date estimates will be updated shortly after this announcement.

Again, we're sorry we won’t be able to make our original ship date. We'll continue working to improve reservation dates based on the new timeline, and will keep you updated as we go.

Source

 

[lordrand11]

I ended up canceling my order this will just end up like trying to get a ps5 all over again

I'm keeping mine as it's guaranteed that I'll receive one by launch.

 

[mathew77]

I'm keeping mine as it's guaranteed that I'll receive one by launch.

"Guaranteed", huh?!.. You're pretty optimistic.

 

[Xzi]

"Guaranteed", huh?!.. You're pretty optimistic.

Not really, that's what the reservation system is for. If he got a reservation for the launch window (which was December but is now Q1 2022), then he's guaranteed to get one at launch. Even if it happens to be delayed again.

 

[ganons]

Screw you Valve! I was looking forward to watching a RelaxingEnd unboxing video of it soon!

The easiest YouTube videos you can make. No audio or voiceover needed.

 

[tech3475]

The easiest YouTube videos you can make. No audio or voiceover needed.

At this point, I think having kevin macleod background music is a legal obligation on Youtube.

 

[Thorhax]

More time to finish ironing out the OS and compatibility, sounds good to me.

 

[MasterJ360]

I'm keeping mine as it's guaranteed that I'll receive one by launch.

Thats fine I'm not a fan of prolonged delayed pre orders

 

[Thorhax]

Thats fine I'm not a fan of prolonged delayed pre orders

yeah, I mean that $5 preorder was really hard to swallow.

 

[Guacaholey]

More time to finish ironing out the OS and compatibility, sounds good to me.

It's pretty much just Arch, so good luck with that.

 

[MasterJ360]

yeah, I mean that $5 preorder was really hard to swallow.

So whats your point? your worrying about my money now? I don't care if that shit was $1 if a preorder gets pushed im canceling it lol...

 

[lordrand11]

"Guaranteed", huh?!.. You're pretty optimistic.

Absolutely. They aren't Wal-Mart or Target or Gamestop. This is the manufacturer and I trust they handle themselves better and that anyone that pre-ordered will be guaranteed theirs.

Thats fine I'm not a fan of prolonged delayed pre orders

No worries. I'm not usually a fan of preordering period having previously been an ASM for Gamestop and seeing the stupidity of the companies at launch.

 

[HarveyHouston]

Ouch! Are preorders still available? I was really hoping to get one for Christmas, but I guess better late than never.

 

[onibaku]

I didn't actually get an email or message notifying me of the delay, did that happen to anyone?

 

[Dr_Faustus]

Don't complain and be happy.

Remember Cyberpunk77

Oh you mean how it was delayed numerous times and still came out to be a flaming pile of garbage? Yeah, that does not really work here.

The real problem here is delay vs the inevitability that the hardware will no longer exceed in its purpose or value in the constantly evolving market. If the delay takes too long, the hardware could reach close to obsolescence making it far less desirable than when it was first poised to release. (Anyone remember the Pandora?)

Delaying tech always has this issue, and the longer the delay the less it will be relevant compared to the technology that will continue to come out around the corner and blow this system out of the water. No one wants to be caught behind the curve (and pay 500+ dollars for it too) especially when its purpose is for gaming. PC gaming no less.

If I had taken the opportunity awhile ago to preorder a Deck I would have cancelled my order as well now. By the time it could come out its competitors in the market might actually have a better upper hand on the situation. This is not a good situation for Valve no matter how you look at it.


Also insert "Valve Time" Joke here.

 

[mattyxarope]

I didn't actually get an email or message notifying me of the delay, did that happen to anyone?

Check your ship date. Everyone got pushed backed with no exceptions.

 

[subcon959]

If valve used weak and out of date hardware like Nintendo did when the Switch launched all you cry babies would get your steam decks on time.

A lot of people will be getting theirs about 18 months after preordering. There's still a chance this could be a similar situation as the specs were great in July 21, but will they still seem that great towards the end of 2022? It's hard to believe this initial 2 month delay will be sufficient to mitigate the component shortages.

 

[djpannda]

A lot of people will be getting theirs about 18 months after preordering. There's still a chance this could be a similar situation as the specs were great in July 21, but will they still seem that great towards the end of 2022? It's hard to believe this initial 2 month delay will be sufficient to mitigate the component shortages

Well seeing we are just 1 month ago from the original launch it, it wouldn’t be weird if let’s say they “pending one component that still on on a boat.. heck it it just might be code for a delay because of the software side. “IF “ it’s just two month it’s not that bad as it was a staggered release anyway.

 

[subcon959]

Well seeing we are just 1 month ago from the original launch it, it wouldn’t be weird if let’s say they “pending one component that still on on a boat.. heck it it just might be code for a delay because of the software side. “IF “ it’s just two month it’s not that bad as it was a staggered release anyway.

I'm more inclined to believe that it's to do with the software not meeting the deadline since we haven't heard a peep about SteamOS.

 

[djpannda]

I'm more inclined to believe that it's to do with the software not meeting the deadline since we haven't heard a peep about SteamOS.

thats truth, its weird that they announced Deck Verified, to test 10,000,000 games in 2 months. It can also be they still working on Compatibility for major titles because you know thats the first thing people with Bitch bout "I cannot play fort nite/Palidains/whatever the kids are playing Nowadays, this is Garbage !

 

[tech3475]

A lot of people will be getting theirs about 18 months after preordering. There's still a chance this could be a similar situation as the specs were great in July 21, but will they still seem that great towards the end of 2022? It's hard to believe this initial 2 month delay will be sufficient to mitigate the component shortages.

As I said before, my Q2 is now a vague 'after Q2' so it may be that they're confident with Q1 but not thereafter and technically they have until March to ship those....or take the mick and mean Q1 of the financial year.