Valve launched a handheld gaming device called Steam Deck on February 25th of this year; Steam is a miniature all-in-one portable gaming computer! Just log into your Steam Deck and your Steam Library will show up, complete with all games – exactly where you left them. The handheld Steam Deck is priced at $399, a pretty fair deal when you consider that it is basically a handheld computer.
Steam Deck is a Zen 2 + RDNA 2 powerhouse that is capable of running the latest AAA games very efficiently. No matter what you are comfortable with, this gaming device comes with thumb sticks and trackpads, a 7-inch touch screen and grip buttons to make extended gaming sessions very comfortable.
There are 3 storage options to choose from – 64GB, 256 GB and 512GB – the prices vary for each. There is no in-game difference or any changes in graphics quality or frame rate; you will instead be getting extra accessories such as exclusive Steam community profile bundle, premium anti-glare glass, exclusive virtual keyboard theme and so on. Steam Deck also provides a microSD slot for additional storage space.
Essentially a gaming console, Valve’s device can also turn into a portable PC. You can plug it into your TV or a monitor, install apps and software, browse the web, watch videos and even install other game stores on it. Steam Deck is Bluetooth-ready, and its USB-C port can handle all sorts of I/O. This is where Steam Deck differs from Nintendo’s Switch, its main rival.
The console runs on SteamOS and is built on Linux. A software called Proton will let you run Windows PC games on the console; and if you want, you can even uninstall Steam’s operating system and simply install Windows! Valve calls Steam Deck a “small PC with a controller” and by the sounds of it, looks like it might be true!
Though lags have been reported on the Steam Deck, the company is rolling out regular updates in hopes to fix these. A ready example of this is how Valve listened to its community of users about the annoyingly noisy fan and sent a Beta update their way to fix it.
You can reserve your own version of the handheld for select regions. According to the official website, the device has started shipping in the order the reservations were made.
Are you excited to get your hands on this portable gaming ‘PC’? Share with us!
0 Comments