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Steam Deck

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Not to be confused with Elgato's Stream Deck devices.
Steam Deck
DeveloperValve Corporation
TypeHybrid video game console
Release dateDecember 2021 (2021-12)
Introductory price
MediaDigital distribution
Operating systemSteamOS
System on a chipAMD custom APU
CPUZen 2, 4-core, 8-threads,
variable frequency @ 2.4-3.5 GHz
Memory16 GB LPDDR5 @ 5500 MT/s
Storage
Removable storagemicroSD
Display
GraphicsRDNA 2 with 8 CUs,
variable frequency @ 1.0-1.6 GHz
SoundStereo, headphone jack, digital output when docked
InputVolume +/−, power buttons
TouchpadMulti-touch capacitive (x2)
ConnectivityBluetooth, WiFi 802.11a/b/g/n/ac
PowerLithium-ion battery
  • Voltage:
  • Capacity: 40 Wh
Online servicesSteam
Dimensions298 by 117 by 49 millimetres (11.7 in × 4.6 in × 1.9 in)
Mass669 grams (1.475 lb)
Websitewww.steamdeck.com

The Steam Deck is an upcoming hybrid video game console and tablet computer developed by Valve Corporation. It is expected to be released in December 2021.

History

Rumors that Valve was working on a portable gaming unit had emerged in May 2021, based on updates made within the Steam code pointing towards a new "SteamPal" device, and comments made by Valve's CEO Gabe Newell related to Valve developing games for consoles. Ars Technica had been able to confirm that new hardware was in development at Valve.[1]

Valve revealed the Steam Deck on July 15, 2021, with pre-orders beginning that week. The Deck is expected to ship in December 2021 to the United States, Canada, the European Union and the United Kingdom, with other regions to follow in 2022.[2] Pre-orders were limited to those with Steam accounts opened before June 2021 to prevent resellers from controlling access to the device.[2]

According to Newell, they wanted to be "very aggressive" on the release and pricing strategy as they considered the mobile market as their primary competitor for the Deck. However, their focus was on the unit's performance; Newell stated "But the first thing was the performance and the experience, [that] was the biggest and most fundamental constraint that was driving this."[3] Newell recognized that the base pricing was somewhat higher than expected and "painful", but necessary to meet the expectation of gamers that would want the Deck.[3] Newell continued that he believed this was a new product category of personal computer hardware that Valve and other computer manufacturers would continue to participate in if the Steam Deck proved successful, and thus it was necessary to keep the unit's price point reasonable to demonstrate viability.[4]

Hardware

The Steam Deck includes a custom accelerated processing unit (APU) built by AMD based on their Zen 2 and RDNA 2 architectures, with the CPU running a four-core/eight-thread unit and the GPU running on eight compute units with a total estimated performance of 1.6 TFLOPS. Both the CPU and GPU use variable timing frequencies, with the CPU running between 2.4 and 3.5 GHz and the GPU between 1.0 and 1.6 GHz based on current processor needs.[5][6] The Deck includes 16 GB of LPDDR5 RAM.

The unit will ship in three models based on internal storage options. The base model will include 64 GB eMMC internal storage unit. A mid-tier model will include 256 GB of storage through a NVMe SSD device, while the high end unit will include a 512 GB NVMe SSD storage unit. Additional storage space is available through a microSD card slot, which also supports microSDXC and microSDHC formats.[2][5]

The Deck's main unit is designed for handheld use. It includes a 7 inches (180 mm) touchscreen LCD display with a 1280x800 pixel resolution that runs at a native 720p,[7] and features two thumbsticks, a directional-pad, ABXY buttons, two shoulder buttons on each side of the unit, four additional buttons on the rear of unit, as well as two trackpads under each thumbstick.[2][5] The thumbsticks and trackpads use capacitive sensing, and the unit further includes a gyroscope to allow for more specialized controls on the handheld mode.[5] The unit also includes haptic feedback.[6]

The Deck supports Bluetooth connectivity for input devices, and includes an integrated WiFi network support to meet IEEE 802.11a/b/g/n/ac standards.[7][6] The Deck supports stereo sound out via a digital signal processor, and includes both an integrated microphone and a headphone jack.[6]

The Deck includes a 40 watt-hour battery, which Valve estimates that for "lighter use cases like game streaming, smaller 2D games, or web browsing" can last between seven and eight hours.[2] Valve estimated that by keeping frame rates to around 30 frames per second more intensive games such as Portal 2 could be played for six to seven hours.[7]

The Deck will include a separate dock unit, purchased separately. The dock unit can be connected to an external power source to power the Deck, and to an external monitor via either HDMI or DisplayPort protocols to route output from the Deck to that monitor.[6] Though limited by the processor speed, the display output from the Deck via the dock can reach as high as 8k resolution at 60 Hz or 4k resolution at 120 Hz.[6] The dock will also support network connectivity and support for USB connections for controllers or other input devices.[2] The Deck can also work with any third-party docking station that supports similar type of interfacing for portable devices.[7]

Software

The Deck will use an Arch Linux-based, customized version of SteamOS that includes support for Proton, a compatibility layer which allows most Microsoft Windows games to be played on the Linux-based operating system.[2][6] While the Deck will be designed for playing Steam-based games, the Deck can be loaded with third-party software, such as alternative storefronts like Epic Games Store or EA Play. The user can even choose to replace SteamOS with a different operating system.[5]

The Deck's software will support Steam's Remote Play features, allowing the user to link their Deck to a local computer running Steam and stream the game running on that computer to the Deck.[8]

References

  1. ^ Mackovech, Sam (May 25, 2021). "Exclusive: Valve is making a Switch-like portable gaming PC". Ars Technica. Retrieved July 15, 2021.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g Peters, Jay (July 15, 2021). "Valve's gaming handheld is called the Steam Deck and it's shipping in December". The Verge. Retrieved July 15, 2021.
  3. ^ a b Bailey, Kat (July 15, 2021). "Gabe Newell: Hitting Steam Deck Price Was 'Painful' but 'Critical'". IGN. Retrieved July 15, 2021.
  4. ^ Chalk, Andy (July 15, 2021). "Gabe Newell expects Steam Deck to sell 'millions of units' but the pricing was 'painful' to pick". PC Gamer. Retrieved July 15, 2021.
  5. ^ a b c d e Moore, Bo (July 15, 2021). "Steam Deck: The First Hands-On With Valve's Handheld Gaming PC". IGN. Retrieved July 15, 2021.
  6. ^ a b c d e f g Phillips, Tom (July 15, 2021). "Valve announces Steam Deck, a £349 handheld PC". Eurogamer. Retrieved July 15, 2021.
  7. ^ a b c d McCaffery, Ryan (July 15, 2021). "Steam Deck FAQ: Valve Answers the Biggest Questions". IGN. Retrieved July 15, 2021.
  8. ^ Marshall, Cass (July 15, 2021). "The cheapest Steam Deck has a great price, but you're gonna need more storage". Polygon. Retrieved July 15, 2021.
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