Valve has announced the Steam Deck, a handheld gaming PC set to arrive later this year.
The Steam Deck has a form factor akin to a larger Nintendo Switch but with the capabilities of a full gaming PC.
The machine uses a modified version of Valve’s SteamOS, including a new console-like interface for navigation of the store and your Steam library and can run both Windows and Linux-based games.
It also provides access to an unrestricted computer desktop where any third-party applications can be installed (including non-Steam games or launchers). Specs wise it has:
– A 7-inch 1280×800 60Hz LCD multi-input touchscreen
– A custom AMD APU featuring a 4-core, 8-thread Zen 2 CPU (2.4-3.5Ghz) paired with 8 RDNA 2 CUs for the GPU (1-1.6Ghz)
– 16 GBs of LPDDR5 RAM (5500 MT/s)
– Storage: 64Gb eMMC, or 256Gb NVMe SSD, or a 512Gb high-speed NVMe SSD
The result is 2TFLOPS of power which is about the equivalent of the original PS4 & Xbox One. However as it’s using much more modern architecture, memory and faster drives combined with games outputting at 720p for the smaller screen – it can run games like “Control,” “Death Stranding” and “Doom Eternal” much more smoothly.
Valve says the intent is to give players access to their entire Steam library on the go. The controller setup includes buttons, triggers, and full-sized capacitive joysticks with small trackpads as well. There’s also four mappable back buttons on the rear.
The Steam Deck also has Bluetooth support for any device you could connect to a regular PC (including Apple AirPods) and can be docked and hooked up to an external display, as well as a mouse and keyboard.
The dock is sold separately, but any third-party USB-C adapter should reportedly work fine. All models will allow you to install and play games off of a Micro SD card to expand storage capacity further.
Three models are available differing only due to storage size and speed – not CPU/GPU power: 64Gb Version – $399, 256Gb Version – $529, 512Gb Version – $649. The bigger one also has an anti-glare etched glass screen treatment.
The Steam Deck is currently set for a holiday 2021 launch. Pre-orders will roll out in the near future and check out IGN’s feature video showcasing the pad in action.
