The Nintendo Switch (OLED model) wasn't the "Pro" upgrade many expected it to be with 4K support and new internals but before its announcement, other handhelds aimed to take the role of the "Switch Pro". The AYA NEO and GPD Win 3 are among those devices shooting for that nickname since they are able to run recent AAA PC games on the go, given that they are handheld gaming PCs. Their efforts and popularity, although niche, enticed companies like Lenovo and Tencent to make similar concepts or patents; indicating that these indie companies might have more serious competition in the future.

It seems like this will indeed be the case and these handheld gaming PC manufacturers will need to brace themselves as Valve is itself entering this market with a Valve-branded handheld gaming PC. This news was actually reported back in May and today we have the official confirmation. In a Steam post today, Valve revealed the Steam Deck, an AMD-based handheld gaming PC that is expected to begin shipping in December 2021 in select regions.

The software giant partnered with AMD to create a custom APU for the handheld that is said to be "optimized for handheld gaming". "It is a Zen 2 + RDNA 2 powerhouse, delivering more than enough performance to run the latest AAA games in a very efficient power envelope," reads the announcement.

It will run on SteamOS 3.0 (Arch-based) and there will be several models of the Steam Deck, which differ on the storage capacity, with the base model starting at $399. However, every model will include a microSD slot for additional storage capacity. For more details about the models available and their price, refer to the image below:

You can find additional specs details in the images below (click/tap to enlarge):

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And just like the AYA NEO and GPD Win 3, the Steam Deck will also have a dock which will be sold separately. This accessory will provide ports for external displays, wired networking, USB peripherals, and power. More details about the dock's pricing will be announced at a later date but you can find some specs details in the thumbnail below:

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Valve says that the Steam Deck will start shipping this December to the United States, Canada, the European Union and the United Kingdom, with more regions coming in 2022. However, to be able to purchase one, you will need to book a paid reservation which will let you pre-order when the time comes. This reservation fee will also count towards the Steam Deck purchase price.

"The main reason for reservations is to ensure an orderly and fair ordering process for customers when Steam Deck inventory becomes available," writes Valve in the announcement FAQ. "The additional fee gives us a clearer signal of intent to purchase, which gives us better data to balance supply chain, inventory, and regional distribution leading up to launch."

Reservations for the Steam Deck will open Friday July 16th, 10am PDT. For more details about the new handheld gaming PC, head to the source link and official Steam Deck website linked below.

Are you interested in getting one?

SOURCE
Steam Deck Official Website

 

[the_randomizer]

I mean...you just setup a Steam Library on an SD card's drive letter, install games to different cards, and then you can just swap them and refresh Steam. I keep a Steam SSD that functions basically the same without having to have some folio of slow, flimsy SD cards that I'd have to swap. Can easily keep games on my gaming PC, gaming laptop, and GPD Win 3 without having to re-download or take up space on each device.

Maybe I'm wrong, but isn't it inadvisable to install Steam games to SD cards due to low read/write speeds?

 

[LightyKD]

I'm gonna wait to see how they price the official dock, and which third-party docks will actually fit it. Steam Deck is considerably thicker than Switch, after all.

Since it's a PC any USB-C dock should work. The issue is drivers since Linux and all. I have 3 docks with card readers but until I get the deck in my hands I have no clue which one I want to use.

I low-key want to know how to do this

Easy. I tell Steam to setup my card reader's drive letter as a install location for games. Then I install a game and copy all of the non game data from the first SD card to another that I set aside as a "Boot Card". For every card you use, make sure they are called the same thing ("STEAM CARD" in my case) and are seen by Windows under the same drive letter.

Install more games to other cards but make sure you copy everything minus the game folder back to your "boot card". Eventually your "boot card" should have all the files needed to let Steam know that said games are installed to said location. From this point on, when you start your machine, just make sure your "boot card" can be seen before Steam starts and you will be able to swap cards as needed. Hopefully Valve will make a nice workaround for this but that's my "secret".

 

[Kioku]

Maybe I'm wrong, but isn't it inadvisable to install Steam games to SD cards due to low read/write speeds?

It's something I'm going to try and avoid. If anything, I'd use the MicroSD for small games, like indie titles and even emulation.

 

[the_randomizer]

It's something I'm going to try and avoid. If anything, I'd use the MicroSD for small games, like indie titles and even emulation.

Yeah, I would avoid it

 

[Xzi]

Since it's a PC any USB-C dock should work.

Any hub will work (connected via cable), but not all docks will fit this beast in the slot where the USB-C plug resides.

The specs say 49mm wide, nearly two inches. I'm thinking that's measured at the grips though, its widest point. Hard to say exactly how wide the middle of this will be, but I very much doubt it's gonna fit in docks made for Switch or phones.

 

[zoogie]

Hopefully, this thing will gobble up enough of the public's money to make snagging a PS5/XSX actually possible.

 

[Xzi]

Hopefully, this thing will gobble up enough of the public's money to make snagging a PS5/XSX actually possible.

Well you don't pay for it until it ships, so probably not. On that note though, I wonder how many people are putting in reservations for Steam Deck just on the off chance they can't obtain a PS5/XSX this year.

 

[Pepsiman94x]

think of how fantastic an emulation beast this thing could be. I think it'll be brilliant.

 

[LightyKD]

1) Anyone know if there is a distro of Steam OS 3.0?

2) Any way to run Android apps on this OS?

3) Who is planning to try some lightweight VR on this thing?! Honestly I'll be happy if I can play Star Trek Bridge Crew on the deck! Got my Starfleet uniform ready!

 

[Xzi]

1) Anyone know if there is a distro of Steam OS 3.0?

https://repo.steampowered.com/steamos/dists/

"Clockwerk" is 3.0.

2) Any way to run Android apps on this OS?

Someone else would have to chime in, but I assume there are some pretty easy options for that on Arch Linux.

3) Who is planning to try some lightweight VR on this thing?! Honestly I'll be happy if I can play Star Trek Bridge Crew on the deck! Got my Starfleet uniform ready!

Might as well since it's an option for me. With re-projection enabled it can probably get by on low settings (and the lowest FoV setting for my Pimax 5K lol), but that's still very impressive for any portable device.

 

[Something whatever]

Since it's a PC any USB-C dock should work. The issue is drivers since Linux and all. I have 3 docks with card readers but until I get the deck in my hands I have no clue which one I want to use.


Easy. I tell Steam to setup my card reader's drive letter as a install location for games. Then I install a game and copy all of the non game data from the first SD card to another that I set aside as a "Boot Card". For every card you use, make sure they are called the same thing ("STEAM CARD" in my case) and are seen by Windows under the same drive letter.

Install more games to other cards but make sure you copy everything minus the game folder back to your "boot card". Eventually your "boot card" should have all the files needed to let Steam know that said games are installed to said location. From this point on, when you start your machine, just make sure your "boot card" can be seen before Steam starts and you will be able to swap cards as needed. Hopefully Valve will make a nice workaround for this but that's my "secret".

going to try that, I have a crap ton of 64gb SD cards

 

[shanefromoz]

Will these be sold in Australia?
Or at least available to Australia?

 

[nine0nine]

it's strange that a few weeks ago, according to the internets, Nintendo simply had to release a Switch pro because 720p gaming on an LCD was outdated and would make your eyes implode, then this appears and an 800p LCD is the greatest thing since free blowjobs, but there you go.

At $400, and assuming it'll be actually buyable I see this as being more of a threat to xbox than the switch, especially as a second console for rich kids who already have the PS5. Although I haven't done the research, I would guess that the xbox library of 'exclusives' is somewhat overlapped by the PC games market, so for the few games which you can't get on PS5, you could probably opt for this over the series x

It's probably gonna be DOA in japan too, so sales wise they can forget those numbers, if anyone is counting and you can certainly rule out the kids market that Nintendo owns.

The Steam Deck will be 11.7 inches long and 4.6 inches tall and it will come out to just under 2 inches thick. For comparison, the standard Nintendo Switch is 9.4 inches long, 4 inches tall and 0.55 inches thick. Meanwhile, the Steam Deck will weigh in at 1.47lbs, just less than twice the weight of a Switch with the Joy-Con controllers attached (0.88 pounds).

 

[Xzi]

it's strange that a few weeks ago, according to the internets, Nintendo simply had to release a Switch pro because 720p gaming on an LCD was outdated and would make your eyes implode, then this appears and an 800p LCD is the greatest thing since free blowjobs, but there you go.

The screen resolution isn't the issue, it's the overall power of the hardware. Switch struggles to push 20 FPS in some third-party games, docked or not. Steam Deck won't have any problem maintaining 60 FPS at 720p for most games, or even 60 FPS at 1080p with a few settings tweaks.

 

[mattyxarope]

The screen resolution isn't the issue, it's the overall power of the hardware. Switch struggles to push 20 FPS in some third-party games, docked or not. Steam Deck won't have any problem maintaining 60 FPS at 720p for most games, or even 60 FPS at 1080p with a few settings tweaks.

I'd say temper your expectations - more than likely, judging on similar devices like the Aya Neo, the Deck will probably run medium settings, 30fps, 720p for most AAA games. Then again, it all depends on the game.

 

[Kioku]

I'd say temper your expectations - more than likely, judging on similar devices like the Aya Neo, the Deck will probably run medium settings, 30fps, 720p for most AAA games. Then again, it all depends on the game.

The Aya was running a Vega GPU.

 

[Xzi]

I'd say temper your expectations - more than likely, judging on similar devices like the Aya Neo, the Deck will probably run medium settings, 30fps, 720p for most AAA games. Then again, it all depends on the game.

Yeah of course some games are more demanding than others, and sometimes it doesn't even have much to do with their graphical fidelity. Thankfully the days of absolute ass PC ports seem to be drawing to a close, and anything that has had a bit of TLC put into it I'm sure will run great on these specs. Control, for instance, can run on much weaker hardware than what Steam Deck has on offer, so with the right graphics settings 60 FPS should be achievable.

 

[the_randomizer]

The screen resolution isn't the issue, it's the overall power of the hardware. Switch struggles to push 20 FPS in some third-party games, docked or not. Steam Deck won't have any problem maintaining 60 FPS at 720p for most games, or even 60 FPS at 1080p with a few settings tweaks.

It can't be worse than than a GPD Win or some other crap device from AliExpress. Most of them can't even run modern Snes emulators (cycle-accurate ones) at full speed.

 

[ov3rkill]

Honestly, at this moment, I'm just hyped for the RDNA 2 GPU of this APU since there's hasn't been or at least AMD hasn't announced an APU for desktop with RDNA 2. Maybe it'll be announced or released later this year or next year but having this on a portable device is something to look forward to. Waiting for reviewers to get their feedback on this device. Also waiting for Valve's announcement on region availability for the device especially with the shortages of chips and the limited supply and supplier of semiconductor.

 

[wiindsurf]

What a terrible forgettable name though...
And that's before you realise "steam deck" sound like some "As Seen On TV" sauna room equipment or something for the laundry...
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