The launch of the Steam Deck is nearly upon us. If you’re nonetheless on the fence, or questioning what all of the fuss is about, we’ve corralled nearly every thing you possibly can probably need to know concerning the hottest PC recreation machine of 2022.
What is the Steam Deck?
The Steam Deck is Valve’s foray into the world of transportable gaming, a machine broadly modeled after Nintendo’s excellent Switch console design, however operating on typical PC {hardware}. That means it runs a full desktop working system and, in concept, can play extra video games than any transportable recreation machine ever constructed.
This is much from the primary transportable recreation machine with full PC components. But with Valve baking the extremely in style Steam platform proper into the {hardware}, and introducing it at an unprecedented low worth, its introduction may simply be the largest shift within the PC gaming market in years.
How highly effective is the Steam Deck?
Valve
The Steam Deck makes use of a custom-designed “APU”, a mix CPU-GPU structure constructed by AMD. The CPU is the equal of a Zen 2 laptop computer processor with a 4/8 core setup of major and secondary cores maxing out at 3.5GHz. The GPU is an integrated 8-core RDNA 2 design, a few of the similar structure used within the newest consoles just like the PS5 and Radeon graphics cards, however right here carried out for working on the low energy necessities of a transportable machine.
All Steam Deck models use 16GB of RAM, which isn’t replaceable by the consumer. Depending on which model of the Steam Deck you purchase, you’ll get 64GB of eMMC storage, 256GB of sooner NVMe SSD storage, or a 512GB improve, all coming in normal and user-replaceable m.2 modules (like some modern laptops). Storage might be additional expanded with a cellular phone-style MicroSD card slot.
Other related specs embody a 7-inch, 1280×800 LCD touchscreen operating at 60Hz, 5Ghz Wi-Fi and Bluetooth 5.0, a normal headphone/microphone jack, and USB-C for charging and outputting video at as much as 4K 120Hz. The latter would require the Steam Deck Dock, sold separately and not arriving until later this spring. The Steam Deck shouldn’t be being provided with a cellular connection choice, and it has haptic trackpad suggestions, however not full vibration motors.
Valve
That’s loads of specs and numbers, however how does the Steam Deck deal with precise video games? That’s a sophisticated query. The brief reply, a minimum of in line with preliminary hands-on testing, is “surprisingly well.” The Steam Deck handles 2D low-power video games like a champ, as you may anticipate, however it’s additionally surprisingly adept on the newest AAA 3D video games. It may even — technically — do ray tracing, although gamers will most likely need to flip it off for many video games to keep away from a steep efficiency penalty.
While it received’t match the blistering graphics and velocity of a full gaming desktop, it seems it could deal with most model new video games at 30 frames per second at its native display screen decision. Some, particularly these which might be coded to run natively on Linux, can simply hit 60fps even with graphical goodies enabled.
How large is the Steam Deck?
In a phrase: large. At 298 x 117 x 49mm (about 11.7 x 4.6 x 1.9 inches), the {hardware} completely dwarfs the Nintendo Switch, which is simply 9.4 inches broad with roughly the identical sized display screen for the brand new OLED mannequin. The Steam Deck is much bigger than even the legendarily “bulky” transportable machines of previous, just like the Sega Game Gear or the Nintendo Wii U touschscreen controller, and it’s significantly larger than different PC-based transportable machines just like the Aya Neo.
If you want a fast and straightforward measurement comparability, the Steam Deck is roughly two Xbox controllers broad. It is, should you’ll forgive the technical business jargon, a chunky boi.
Why is it so freakin’ large? There are a couple of causes. One, a lot of the precise energy of the Steam Deck is coming from components designed for laptops, which have limiting components on miniaturization. Comparing them to Arm-based {hardware} just like the Switch (which makes use of Nvidia chips initially designed for telephones) isn’t precisely truthful. The Steam Deck additionally wants a reasonably sizeable battery, and sufficient house to maintain all these parts cool when you’re enjoying.
Valve, Microsoft, Nintendo, Apple
On prime of all that, the Steam Deck wants house for a ton of controls. In addition to the usual controller format (all of the stuff you’d discover on an Xbox controller) and a touchscreen, it consists of the identical haptic touchpads previously seen on the Steam Controller, plus two rear-mounted finger buttons on either side. It’s a major growth of inputs versus one thing just like the Switch.
But extra apparently, the Steam Deck {hardware} can also be designed to be accessible, upgradable, and repairable by the consumer. In a primary for a mainstream transportable recreation machine, Valve is encouraging customers to improve the storage if it fits their fancy, and will be providing repair parts to iFixit for direct sale to consumers. Valve even revealed its personal teardown video!
That type of {hardware} flexibility is encouraging, and we’ll most likely be seeing a ton of fascinating consumer mods to the Steam Deck.
How lengthy does the Steam Deck battery final?
It relies upon. Valve claims that the Steam Deck’s built-in 40-watt battery can run for “2 – 8 hours of gameplay.” Obviously battery life is extraordinarily variable for any type of transportable gadget.
Initial hands-on testing of the Steam Deck present that Valve’s prediction is broadly correct. Intense 3D video games can run a full battery down in as little as 90 minutes, with most video games seeing between three and 6 hours of playback time. Adjusting variables, like much less intense graphics settings and decrease brightness, will lengthen the battery life. The Steam Deck comes with a 45-watt USB-C charger, and wishes about three hours (with out enjoying) for a full recharge.
How does the Steam Deck management mouse and keyboard video games?
We talked about all the additional house within the Steam Deck devoted to controls, notably an ultra-sensitive haptic trackpad for every of the consumer’s thumbs. The {hardware} additionally has gyroscopic controls, permitting the participant to maneuver the unit itself to help in issues like aiming or steering. Valve has been refining its strategies for controlling PC video games with console-style {hardware} inputs for the higher a part of a decade; loads of the design work that went into the Steam Controller has been refined and improved for the Steam Deck.
Valve
All that being mentioned, we’d be mendacity if we instructed you that controlling a recreation designed completely for mouse and keyboard with controller inputs and touchpads is straightforward. Most main titles have (or may have) controls supplied for by both Valve or the builders themselves. But “pure” PC video games, and people who don’t have a console-style management setup, will profit from some experimentation and tweaking by the consumer.
Fortunately, Steam’s interface and management choices are incredibly refined and user-customizable. And even should you don’t really feel like diving in and tweaking 100 totally different variables your self, Steam has entry to a database of management schemes for every recreation, custom-made and shared by a group of gamers.
Which Steam video games can the Steam Deck play?
The Steam Deck runs SteamOS out of the field, a Linux-based working system custom-made and maintained by Valve. It can run roughly any recreation with a Linux model with out subject.
Of course, even with a number of years of progress, the Linux gaming scene continues to be a great distance behind Windows. For video games with no native Linux model, the Steam Deck makes use of the open source Proton compatibility layer, and it will likely be the true check of whether or not the hand-held sinks or swims. Proton permits the Steam Deck to run Windows video games while not having the complete Windows working system. It’s based mostly on Wine (Wine Is Not an Emulator) and tweaked by Valve and Codeweavers for gaming efficiency.
Valve
But again to that core query: Which Steam video games, and particularly which Windows video games, can the Steam Deck run? The reply is, apparently, “most of them.” Even video games requiring the Proton compatibility layer are operating surprisingly properly on the Steam Deck {hardware}.
Valve is testing its library of video games on the Steam Deck to see which may run on it. The firm has published a tool to let you see which of the games in your library run with none tweaks wanted (“Verified”), which can want some graphics and/or management settings (“Playable”), and which simply received’t run (“Unsupported”). You can log in together with your Steam account to test the titles in your library.
Of course, with tens of hundreds of video games on the Steam platform, even Valve can’t check all of them instantly. The firm is specializing in the preferred titles in the intervening time. A semi-random choice of Steam video games (my library) confirmed 45 video games as Steam Deck Verified, 27 as Steam Deck Playable, and 11 video games as Unsupported, with a whopping 245 video games untested on the time of writing. Assuming that the ratio stays regular for my whole library — an enormous assumption, admittedly — roughly 85% of my present video games must be playable on the transportable {hardware}.
[ Further reading: Why does the Steam Deck run Linux? Blame Windows ]
Can the Steam Deck run Windows?
Yes! Technically. While the Steam Deck’s {hardware} is designed to run SteamOS for each its base software program and its interface, it’s an open platform, and Valve will permit customers to put in Windows (or different working methods) if they need. Dual-boot configurations is perhaps trickier, however will nonetheless be potential.
Valve
That won’t be one of the best thought. Without the {custom} integration of {hardware} and software program from Valve, the Steam Deck operating Windows will definitely undergo from poorer efficiency and battery life. It may additionally produce other points, like outputting video and audio through generic drivers. That is perhaps price it for gamers who need entry to the complete gamut of video games out there for Windows.
Can the Steam Deck play non-Steam video games like Fortnite?
Yes and no. The Linux-based SteamOS helps putting in any Linux software program, together with Linux-based different recreation launchers like Itch.io or Lutris. So if a recreation provides a Linux model, the Steam Deck can deal with it.
However, operating video games designed for Windows that don’t combine with the Steam retailer and software program, like Epic’s Fortnite, Blizzard’s World of Warcraft, or the Windows-based Xbox Game Pass, will current a number of layers of hurdles. It may technically be potential, however put together for lots of potential issues. Companies that compete with Valve and Steam aren’t going to bend over backwards to assist the Steam Deck: Epic has already mentioned it won’t build a version of Fortnite for the portable machine.
The nuclear choice by way of recreation assist is, in fact, to get across the Linux-based SteamOS and set up Windows — see the earlier part.
Can the Steam Deck stream video games like Xbox Game Pass?
Yes! In addition to streaming video games out of your gaming PC utilizing Valve’s Steam Link system, both domestically or with Remote Play. With the Steam Deck’s built-in browser, recreation streaming companies like Xbox Game Pass Cloud Gaming, Nvidia GeForce Now, and Google Stadia ought to run proper out of the field.
Can the Steam Deck run emulators?
Yes! The Steam Deck will run any emulator with a Linux model (like Dolphin) natively, and emulators designed to run on Windows might be run through Proton. With Proton, emulating older 2D console video games shouldn’t be a difficulty, however operating an emulator by way of a compatibility layer may current vital slowdowns for 3D console video games.
How a lot does the Steam Deck value?
The Steam Deck comes in three price tiers, with the one main distinction being storage. It’s surprisingly inexpensive, beginning at simply $400 — lower than half the worth of different PC-based transportable machines.
- Steam Deck 64GB — $399
eMMC-based storage, comes with a carrying case - Steam Deck 256GB — $529
Faster NVMe SSD storage, carrying case, and additional digital goodies to your Steam profile - Steam Deck 512GB — $649
Even sooner storage, upgraded anti-scratch glass display screen, deluxe carrying case, and extra digital Steam items
Remember when making your alternative: You can improve the storage your self with a normal M.2 SSD drive within the 2230 measurement, although that SSD type issue might be tough to search out in standalone type.
When can I get a Steam Deck?
The Steam Deck technically launched on February 25th, type of. That’s when those that reserved the {hardware} have the chance to begin shopping for it, with three days to decide. The Steam Deck will begin arriving within the fingers of gamers on February 28th, with the same old delivery variables in impact.
Valve
Here’s the true bummer: Valve began accepting pre-orders for the Steam Deck proper after it was introduced, in July of final yr. So the earliest reserves for purchasing the {hardware} had been despatched in (fingers out, carry the one) eight months in the past. While Valve is little question making each single Steam Deck it could, the reality of the current chip shortage signifies that even a few of these early reserves won’t get one on launch day.
If you order a Steam Deck as we speak, don’t anticipate to see it in your doorstep till after the second quarter of 2022 on the earliest. If evaluations are optimistic — and preliminary suggestions exhibits that they most likely can be — it is perhaps onerous to discover a Steam Deck all by way of this yr and into the following.
Michael is a former graphic designer who’s been constructing and tweaking desktop computer systems for longer than he cares to confess. His pursuits embody folks music, soccer, science fiction, and salsa verde, in no explicit order.