Valve has officially showcased its first handheld console, the Steam Deck. With it, you can soon play your Steam games not just at home, but also on the go. Some users even believe that this could be the “real” Nintendo Switch Pro.
This has been presented: Valve unexpectedly introduced a gaming console that allows you to play Steam games. Other operating systems could also be possible on the console.
So far, there have also been the first reactions to the “Steam Deck”, and the responses are quite positive, but there is also some criticism. MeinMMO introduces you to the new handheld console and shows the first reactions to the new Steam console.
Steam Deck Specs: What’s in the handheld console
What is Steam Deck, anyway? Steam Deck is a new portable gaming device from Valve. The device runs on SteamOS and not on Windows and allows you to install all games from your Steam library on the console. The advantage is that games for the “Steam Deck” do not need a port, but can run through the “Proton” interface on the “Steam Deck”.
The device initially resembles the Nintendo Switch or other handheld consoles like Sony’s PlayStation Vita or the PSP.
The prices for the devices start at around 400 Euros, theoretically allowing you to play your Steam games anywhere. Valve’s CEO Gabe Newell recently explained that the price of the Steam Deck is “painful” for Valve.
What hardware does the device use? Inside the console, an AMD processor with a graphics chip is used. Here we present the device once again in detail:
- Valve uses a Zen 2 processor from AMD with a graphics chip. The combination is supposed to run all your games smoothly. Additionally, it has 16 GB of RAM.
- You can choose between 64 GB, 256 GB, and 512 GB of internal storage. The console also has an additional memory card slot.
- The device has a 7-inch display, with a resolution of 1280×800 pixels, making it slightly larger than the Nintendo Switch (720p).
- Besides that, you get 2 thumbsticks, 4 triggers (2 bumpers and 2 analog), 4 grip buttons, and 2 trackpads. Additionally, there are 8 extra buttons (ABXY/View/Options/Steam/Quick Access), a D-pad, and buttons for power and volume. The buttons are arranged around the display.
- You can also connect the device to a docking station. This way, you can connect the device to a TV or charge the console. The price of the docking station is not yet known.
The first reactions are positive and compare Steam Deck with the Nintendo Switch
What are the first reactions? The first reactions to Valve’s new console are quite positive. Many are excited about the prospect of being able to play their game library on the go, and they also find the open system that “Steam Deck” aims to offer intriguing.
Especially casual gamers or those who do not want to buy a powerful gaming PC are pleased with Valve’s announcement. For instance, the user Specimen_Seven writes (via reddit.com):
That is really fantastic. I don’t play enough high-resolution PC games to justify a high-end PC, but a lot of the games I enjoy playing are simply beyond the capabilities of my MacBook. This is the perfect solution for me.
Why are there comparisons with the Nintendo Switch? There are now numerous comments comparing the “Steam Deck” with the Nintendo Switch. For example, there is a reddit thread in the gaming subreddit with now 10,000 upvotes, where users are amused by the comparisons of Steam Deck and Nintendo Switch (via reddit.com).
Especially those who were waiting for a possible Nintendo Switch Pro and were disappointed by the OLED variant are quite taken with the introduced Steam Deck. For instance, the user Mozambeepbeep writes on reddit (via reddit.com):
I was also waiting for a significant Switch upgrade. This looks like it will cover [the Steam Deck] for me, both portable and PC games. Plus, you could potentially run emulators too? Yes, I’m really excited.
However, these are primarily external similarities. Because you will still not be able to play official Nintendo games on a “Steam Deck”. So Nintendo does not have to fear competition here.
What concerns are there? Because some users want to wait for long-term support first. Because Steam has discontinued support for its own hardware like the Steam Controller or the Steam Machines, which also run on SteamOS. Here, some fear that Valve might make the same move sooner or later. For example, a user writes on reddit (via reddit.com):
And Valve will ignore [Steam Deck] in a year or two, just like they did with Steam Link, Steam Controller, and Steam Console.
Can you see the console live yet? Yes, the editorial team of IGN has already been able to try out the console. We have embedded the YouTube video here for you:
On the Steam Deck, you can theoretically even install Windows
Valve itself states in its official statement: “The Steam Deck is a PC on which you can install third-party software and operating systems.”
Theoretically, you could install Windows or a standard Linux instead of the pre-installed SteamOS. SteamOS is already a customized Linux with a Steam interface.
Probably not all games will work: It is also important to know that not all games are officially supported on Steam for Linux and SteamOS yet.
About 15% of all games support SteamOS. From personal experience with Linux and Proton, we can say that especially games that require third-party software such as Ubisoft’s Uplay or EA’s Origin still face issues.
How much does “Steam Deck” cost and when will it be available?
How much does the console cost? Prices start at 419.00 Euros and go up to 679.00 Euros. The more expensive variants offer you faster and, above all, more storage. This should be particularly worthwhile for those of you who own a very large game library.
You can pre-order the console directly from Valve (via Steampowered.com).
When will the console be available? From July 16, 2021, at 7 PM, you can reserve a “Steam Deck”. The console should be orderable from December 2021.
If you are looking for current Steam games that also run on weak machines, we have some tips for you. In our list, we present the best MMORPGs on Steam that also run on weak PCs. Here you will find some really good MMORPGs like Star Wars: The Old Republic, in which you can spend dozens of gaming hours.
