Steam Deck FAQ and What We Know So Far
What we know so far
- It is a full gaming PC
- Can also be plugged into your TV
- Starting Price is £350/$400
- Any windows app can be installed on the Steam Deck
- You can install any Windows game on the device
- You can install third-party desktop clients on there like Epic and Origin
- 7" touchscreen
- 16 GB LPDDR5 RAM
- Refresh rate 60Hz
- microSD slot for storage expansion (UHS-I supports SD, SDXC and SDHC)
- USB-C port for accessories
- Wi-Fi, Dual-band, 2.4GHz and 5GHz, 2 x 2 MIMO, IEEE 802.11a/b/g/n/ac
- Bluetooth 5.0
- 2-8 hours of gameplay on the battery (40Whr)
- The only difference between models is the speed and size of the storage
- You need to purchase a docking station to use the Steam Deck like a PC (adding monitor/keyboard and mouse)
- You will be able to suspend games in the background (similar to the Switch) then quickly resume your game where you left off (quick suspend / resume feature)
- Has a built-in mic
- Has built-in speakers
- Has a headphone jack
- Save games will sync to your Steam library so you can continue your progress from any device
- Support for third party docking stations and USB hubs
- Capacitive trackpads that allow mouse-like gameplay in a handheld device
- Internal gyro that allows you to move the Steam Deck itself to interact with the game
As you can see, so far the Steam Deck has ticked most boxes for a lot of people; details regarding VR support is vague as of writing this article, but details are likely to change and further features are likely to be announced closer to the launch of the console in December 2021.
FAQs
Is this just a glorified Steam link unit?
No, it's a fully stand alone PC and handheld device.
Can you use this to play VR?
At the moment the short answer is no, as Valve are saying it's not powerful enough, but we’ll wait and see.
Is the Steam Deck just used to play Steam games?
No, you can surf the web, watch videos and even install other games/game stores on the Steam Deck.
When can I buy it?
You can put a reservation deposit down as of now and they will begin shipping them out in December 2021.
Does it come with a docking station?
No, those will be sold separately.
What will the docking station be used for?
For external displays, wired networking, USB peripherals, and power. More information will be coming soon.
How much is it?
- £349/$399 for 64GB and with a carrying case.
- £459/$529 for 256GB (SSD) with carrying case, faster storage and an exclusive Steam Community profile bundle.
- £569/$649 for 512GB (SSD) with carrying case, faster storage and an exclusive Steam Community profile bundle, anti-glare etched glass and a virtual keyboard theme.
Are there any games it will not run?
Currently all games work on this that are Windows based (apart from VR). This includes AAA high-performance titles like Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order.
What is the highest resolution it will play games at?
1280 x 800px (16:10 aspect ratio)
Can I wipe the Steam Deck and put my own OS on there?
Yes, you can install Windows directly onto the device if you wish.
Do I need to buy anything else to get this to work?
No, but you will need either a Steam library or some Windows based games (alongside a Windows license) to play.
Will developers need to implement controller support for every game?
No, as it has native mouse support with touchpads.
If you have a question about the Steam Deck, please post a comment below and one of our staff will look into it for you and add it to the FAQ if required.
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