Steam Deck: Release Date, Specs and Other FAQ

The Valve Corporation has championed the digital gaming market for PC gamers. For years, they’ve attempted to enter the foray of hardware gaming consoles with the Steam Machine in 2015. 

However, due to poor sales and complications with incorporating Linux, Valve had to shift gears by slowly phasing out the hardware to invest in new technology. Adamant Steam gamers want their games outside their PCs, so they created the Steam Deck to fulfill that desire. 

What is the Steam Deck Release Date?

The Steam Deck was announced in the summer of 2021 and released on February 25, 2022, in Europe and North America. Valve released three versions of the Steam Deck, with prices ranging based on storage capacity:

• 64GB: $399 and includes a carrying case.
• 256GB: $529 and has faster storage and an exclusive Steam Community profile bundle alongside the carrying case.
• 512GB: $649 with all previous benefits, plus anti-glare glass and an exclusive virtual keyboard theme.

When announced, preorders flooded in with overwhelming positivity. However, Valve couldn’t keep shipping promises to meet demand when the global chip shortage caused the tech sector to improvise operations. The Steam Deck is still on sale and performing better than the Steam Machine.

What Are the Specs of the Steam Deck?

Many compare the Steam Deck to the Nintendo Switch because of its design. It is a handheld device with a 7-inch touchscreen with a 1280 x 800px resolution. With a refresh rate of 60Hz and 16GB of RAM, it can confidently and beautifully display your favorite Steam games on the go. Here are some of the other notable features:

• Expandable storage space with a microSD slot
• AMD processor 
• Integrated graphics
• Variable battery life depending on the game intensity, ranging from two to eight hours
• Headphone jack
• HDMI 2.0 port, three USB 3.1 ports, USB-C port, DisplayPort 1.4 hookup and ethernet port

What Games Can I Play on a Steam Deck?

You must log in to your Steam account to use the Steam Deck. Games you have purchased and downloaded will be available on the console.

Though it supports plenty of Steam games. However, there are some it doesn’t support. While it can play AAA games, specific titles or VR offerings remain incompatible or undetermined. Verify with ongoing lists of accessible games to ensure that what you want in your palm exists. New games continue receiving approval, so the library will continue to expand.

Will There Be a Steam Deck 2?

Valve hasn’t confirmed any rumors that there will be a second-generation Steam Deck. The original Deck is still in its infancy, and some believe it is too early to make speculations. Most major console developers choose to re-release the console with updated specs more soon than they would release an entirely new installment.

Gamers suspect the price and game compatibility to increase as technology becomes more advanced. Though the Deck has received mostly positive reviews, battery life is one of the most significant complaints. Because this is a focal point of criticism, avid fans hope this will be a priority in future development. 

Frames-per-second (FPS) is another concern despite the decent graphic capability. However, if the graphics get an upgrade, it will only increase the pressure for a strong battery.

Is the Steam Deck Worth Buying?

The Steam Deck is a noteworthy success compared to Valve’s hardware experiences of the past. Despite certain fan-favorite games being unsupported, the number of games translatable to the Deck is enough to warrant the price tag for the hours you could sink into it. If you’re a staunch PC gamer but don’t love the idea of carting your expensive build everywhere, the Steam Deck may be a viable option for on-the-go gaming experiences.