Valve announced its latest project, the Steam Deck, a portable console that lets gamers take their Steam Library on the go.
Taking everyone by surprise, Valve has announced its own version of the Nintendo Switch. The Steam Deck is a handheld console specifically designed to make those overflowing Steam libraries portable. The Steam Deck comes equipped with beefier hardware than you'd expect, as Valve's main selling point for the device is convenience. Steam Deck owners will simply need to sign into their Steam account to have access to their entire library, all playable in either handheld or docked mode.
In terms of hardware, the Steam Deck comes fitted with the latest in both CPU and GPU hardware. The console's custom APU, built-in collaboration with AMD, is the Zen 2 + RDNA 2 and Valve assures potential buyers that it will deliver "more than enough performance to run the latest AAA games in a very efficient power envelope."
The Steam Deck features a 7-inch touchscreen display, trackpads for precision movement and a built-in gyro scop for basic motion controls. In terms of storage, buyers can choose between a 64GB eMMC hard drive, a 256GB NVMe SSD or a 512GB NVMe SSD. Better yet, the Steam Deck can take a microSD card for further storage space. The device comes equipped with a 40Wh battery, which should ensure a good few hours of gaming; Valve insists that in lighter-use scenarios, the Steam Deck should last between 7-8 hours.
All of Steam's features will be available on the Steam Deck. Players will be able to browse the store, chat with Steam friends and of course, play games. Beyond playing in handheld mode, players can also use the Steam Deck's dock to pair the device with a display, very similar to the Nintendo Switch. Valve also specifies that a powered USB-C hub could be used in place of the dock, which will be sold separately.
In terms of availability, the Steam Deck will start shipping in December 2021 to the United States, Canada, the European Union and the United Kingdom with more regions to follow in 2022.
As for pricing, the 64GB Steam Deck, which comes with a carrying case, is available for $399. The 256GB NVMe SSD Steam Deck is $529 while the most expensive version, which comes with a 512GB NVME SSD and premium anti-glare etched glass, will set you back $649. The device can be wishlisted on Steam now.
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