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Thinking about buying a Steam Deck this Christmas? Have you heard about it but aren't sure what it is exactly? Are you unsure whether it's a console or a computer? In this article, we explain everything you need to know about the Steam Deck and whether it's worth it.
Valve He's done it again. He's revolutionized the gaming world for the third time. First, it was with his cutting-edge games Half Life that demonstrated the potential of the interactive medium to tell stories. Then with Steam, its online store and platform that has reconfigured computer games. And now, with Steam Deck, have achieved an (almost) comparable impact.
It is true that the idea of Steam Deck It's not exactly new: there have been many projects to create portable console-shaped computers (even before it came out). Nintendo Switch, whose design is quite similar, although with a completely different philosophy).
STEAM DECK REVIEW – We put it to the test with several games!
These projects were usually of crowdfunded startups, which either took a long time to come out and had a very limited impact, are prohibitively expensive or directly they stayed on the road.
Valve is a company with enough muscle to be able to create a product so technically complex and ambitious at a reasonable price, with the logistical capacity to produce and ship without dying in the attempt.
And although it hasn't been easy, the Steam Deck has already gained cruising speed to the point of becoming, symbolically, the "fourth" console if you're looking to buy or gift a console this Christmas: PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, Nintendo Switch… and Steam Deck.
Everything you need to know before buying a Steam Deck :
Steam Deck is a computer shaped like a portable consoleIt features a 7-inch display in the center of the body, a button layout reminiscent of any console (with a few ideas of its own), and a size and weight suitable for use as a handheld.
But in reality, it is a computer, with its own operating system, SteamOS, based on Linux. However, Valve has designed it to be used as a portable console, and to bring the world of PC Gaming, and its huge Steam store, to new users who may not be used to playing on a computer.
The Steam Deck interface is expressly designed to be easy to use, allowing you to access games quickly without worrying about other settings (which are also present). But it also has a desktop mode which is basically like any other computer… with Linux, of course.
But if we want to tinker with the machine later, we can do things that are unimaginable on a console: Install office and multimedia programs, install other operating systems such as Windows, install other game launchers such as Xbox Game Pass, install mods…You set the limit.
For example, you can switch to desktop mode, open a browser and Install Epic Games Store, Steam's big "rival," and add non-Steam games to your library (just like you would on a regular PC). All while you have Spotify playing in the background or browse a tutorial in Chrome.
But if you're happy to play the games you own or buy directly from Steam, you'll also have games to give away!
Before continuing, an important fact: Steam Deck It is purchased online and sells only in United States, Canada, United Kingdom, and the European Union.
For now, NOT for sale in Latin America or Central AmericaThey are starting to ship to some Asian countries like Japan.
Steam Deck has three different models, at different prices, each with different features. Their main difference is storage: the cheapest model only has 64GB of eMMC storage, which is slower than SSD drives.
This model has an eMMC storage of 64 GBWhile the processor and GPU are the same, its storage capacity means that you'll definitely need a microSD card to increase its capacity to store games and apps.
This model already has an NVMe SSD hard drive, with more read and write speed, 256 GB. It may be a bit tight, but at least you'll be able to download games like Uncharted Legacy of Thieves Collection, which takes up more than 130 GB…
The most expensive model doubles the storage, an SSD of 512 GBIt also includes an anti-reflective screen, a slightly different case, and additional digital content (icons, virtual keyboard types, etc.).
The display of all three models is the same (IPS LCD with optical lamination), but only the most expensive one has an additional anti-reflective etching treatment. It has a resolution of 1200×800 (16:10), 60Hz, but will reach up to 8K at 60Hz, or 4K and 120Hz, through an external display.
All Steam Deck models charge via USB-C, offering between 2-8 hours of gameplay. It offers Wi-Fi and Bluetooth 5.0 connectivity and all come with a carrying case and charger.
They all have the same size and weight: 298 mm x 117 mm x 49 mm, and 669 grams approximately.
Steam Deck inside
Steam Deck is powered by a custom processor AMD, optimized for portable gaming. Its RDNA 2 graphics card and Zen 2 architecture ensure you can play the latest AAA games efficiently.
Obviously, it is not comparable to what a latest generation graphics card can offer you, such as a RTX 4090, which alone is worth more than four times the price of a 64GB Steam Deck.
Steam Deck is a Mid-range gaming PC…with the advantage that you can use it as a portable console, and that currently, there's no technical ceiling. There are games that aren't compatible with the Steam Deck, but that's because of its Linux compatibility layer, not because it's not powerful enough.
And the list of compatible games continues to grow every day… There are currently more than 6,000 games available to play on Steam Deck.
These are the Steam Deck full technical specifications:
As you can see, storage can be an issue, especially if you choose the cheapest 64GB model, which won't fit almost any modern AAA game. To do this, you'll have to use microSD cards.
Another option is change the SSD internal of the console for another SSD of greater capacity that we have purchased (if you buy the 64 GB model, you will have the advantage of being able to take advantage of its 64 GB eMMC and Install our own SSD in the M.2 SSD socket, which will be empty).
In any case, you should know that these SSDs have to be a specific size. They have to be of the 2230 type (22 x 30 millimeters), instead of the usual 2242. Although there is a mod, using these larger NVMe can cause serious damage to your Steam Deck.
In any case, remember that Replacing the Steam Deck's SSD voids your warranty., so it's best to use microSD cards unless you're very confident you can do so safely...
As for the controls, the Steam Deck features the usual setup: two analog sticks, A, B, X, Y buttons, a D-pad, dual triggers, and a power/sleep button. The screen is multi-touch.
But it also brings its own new features. The most characteristic are the two trackpads, reminiscent of those of the defenestrated Steam Controller These are, in short, mouse-replaceable controllers, and are similar in function to a laptop's trackpad. On the back, it also has four programmable buttons, like many "professional" controllers.
The great thing about these buttons is that you can even dedicate them to operating system functions, like taking a screenshot, and you can even easily download community-made configurations that use the Steam Deck's gyroscope and other features.
Finally, you can connect any PC controller to it. Most of controls consoles are also compatible with Steam Deck, so you can play more comfortably if you connect it to a TV or monitor,
Yeah. Steam Deck is a PC. A PC that looks like a console, but is a 100% computer.
It is a peculiar PC, though. It has a desktop mode that is basically any Linux PC, to which you can connect a keyboard and mouse via USB (wireless included), and connect it to a display via HDMI through a dock, official or not, or a USB-C HUB (at least 60W),
When we start Steam Deck, we access the GameOS mode designed directly to start your games as quickly as possible, similar to the mode Big Picture Steam, designed to be easily navigated with joysticks and buttons. It's a very refined and accessible interface, like that of any console.
If we press the Power button, a menu will appear with different options, including accessing desktop mode, which allows us to tinker further, and access Discover, the store where we download applications like Spotify and many others that turn the Deck into a fully-fledged computer.
If you already have a Steam account, log in and you will automatically be able to download all your games from your Steam library (and play compatible games). You'll also be able to access chat with your Steam friends and the store, all with a very easy-to-use, console-like interface.
Basically, you have two options: think of it simply as a portable console to play Steam games on (which makes it very similar to a Switch), or think of it also as a computer to tinker with, install mods, Install Windows…
Steam Deck, a priori, is very similar to Nintendo Switch. Although the idea of a gaming computer in the form of a portable console predates the Switch, which came out in 2017. But the impact it has had Nintendo Switch among the public, and that it is the only portable one available at the moment, made us all think of "the Switch" the first time we saw "the Deck".
For the user, Steam Deck covers the same need as Switch: being able to play all kinds of games, including indie games but also big AAA games, with the convenience of a handheld console.
And while neither fits in your pocket and Deck is considerably larger and heavier, both are easily transportable in a backpack if you want to take it on vacation or on public transport.
Even the Steam Deck can be used connected to a monitor or TV, as long as you purchase a USB-C Hub or a "dock" official or compatible (something that Switch already offers as standard, except for Switch Lite).
Let's say the concept is based on a common idea... even though they technically have nothing to do with each other. As we said before, the Steam Deck is a computer, and offers many more features than any other console, especially Switch which offers virtually no multimedia functionality.
The difference in power It's huge: Steam Deck can run without breaking a sweat newest AAA games on the market, including titles such as Marvel's Spider-Man, while Switch is much more limited in that sense, and even struggles to run some of its latest games, such as Pokémon Scarlet and Purple.
That, of course, is reflected in the price. You can buy a Switch for 300 euros, 350 for the OLED, or 220 for the Lite model, which is only portable. And it's not hard to find one cheaper. On the other hand, Steam Deck costs 420 euros the cheapest model (for which you will definitely need to buy a micro SD separately), and if you want a dock to connect it to a TV, it is around 50/100 euros more.
A priori, Switch is much cheaper… But the Switch games They aren't. If you want to play the latest Zelda, Mario, or Pokémon games, you'll have to shell out 50-60 euros. And if you want to play the 2017 Zelda, Mario, or Pokémon games, it's the same, because Switch games barely drop in price.
On the other hand, it's much easier to find game deals on Steam. Whether it's because of the number of games from 10 or 15 years ago that are already on the cheap, or because of the many more generous Steam offers which Valve usually organizes.
In short, Steam Deck is a bigger initial investment, but if you buy a Switch you're going to have to prepare yourself to spend a fortune on each exclusive game.
Yes, on Switch there are also free to play games, indies and offers, but It will be much cheaper for you to have a large game catalog on Steam Deck.Obviously, without the Nintendo exclusives, of course.
The SteamOS client, in GameOS mode, is very clear and accessible. By default, launching the Steam Deck with the power button will take you to this interface. the closest thing to using a portable console. Sign in with your Steam account (or create a new one) and you'll have access to all of this:
If you have a Steam Deck, you can make a choice: stay in this Game Mode and play only the games you can buy in the store… or switch to desktop mode and dedicate yourself to "tinkering."
Desktop mode is using the Steam Deck like the PC it is. You're probably used to Windows or MacOS and the world of Linux It may seem strange to you, but here you can…
In fact, if you don't like Linux you can install Windows 11 (recommended on a microSD card) and, upon startup, start directly in Windows 11 if you turn it on by pressing the Volume button – at the same time as the Power button to access lips and choose the SD.
However, keep in mind that if you install Windows, you may have some problems reading text, which will appear very small, and navigating without a mouse, even if you can use trackpads.
Remember, in any case, that in order to connect Steam Deck to a monitor or TV, to play on a larger screen or if you prefer to play some games with a keyboard and mouse, you need a USB-C hub with specific specifications (at least 60W) or a dock.
There is an official one from Valve, for 99 euros, which includes several HBMI ports and an Ethernet port, but there are also unofficial but compatible ones, which are cheaper and even have the possibility of connect an M.2 SSD.
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What are the best accessories What can you buy for the Steam Deck? There are several accessories you should purchase to enhance your experience, just as you would with any gaming console or PC.
The only thing that's truly essential is extra storage. Expanding your storage capacity is essential if you want to play large games that can take up more than 50 GB, especially on the 64GB and 256GB models.
All Steam Decks come with a carrying caseHowever, you can find other cases and covers online, such as a silicone case that molds to the Deck, like a cell phone case, to protect it from drops and bumps.
If you want to connect the Steam Deck to your TV or monitor, Valve sells a official docking station also perfect for leaving it charging.
It has details such as the USB-C connector at the correct angle and with the appropriate length, Ethernet connection or the rubber molded seat to avoid scratches, and costs 99 euros.
However, there are many alternatives at a much lower price that perform the same function. From an Amazon USB hub of at least 60 W, which only costs 18 euros, to a dock with the same functions as the official Valve one for 39 euros, to a dock that includes SSD drive input, although this one already costs 129 euros.
As for controllers, SteamOS, and therefore the Steam Deck, is compatible with virtually any wired or wireless controller. The Xbox controller, the PS4 controller, the PS5 controller, the Xbox 360 controller, the Switch controller… are all valid. Here's a selection of controllers that work for both. for PC (and Steam Deck) as consoles.
Finally, here we leave you another useful list of Steam Deck accessories: external batteries, headphones, keyboard and mouse…
Valve has created a website so you can directly check whether a game has been verified or not, that is, whether it is fluent, that it be totally compatible with a controller, that it has a legible text size and that it is compatible with Proton, the Linux compatibility layer. You can consult more information at this link.
Valve uses a four-icon system: Verified (green check) is that you can play it without having to adjust anything. Playable (yellow check) is that it may require some manual adjustments by the user. Not compatible indicates that it doesn't work, at least not currently. And a '?' indicates that compatibility has not yet been tested.
Let's take a practical example. Do you want to play Monster Hunter Rise at 60 fps (something impossible on Switch)? If you enter its Steam page, you will find this in the information blocks on the right:
Yellow icon. Monster Hunter Rise is playable on Steam Deck, but if you click there it will warn you that Text entry requires manual activation of the on-screen keyboard.
Otherwise, the game displays controller icons, all settings can be accessed using the controller controls, and it has default graphics settings that work well on the Steam Deck.
In that tab, you'll find the information you need. If it's green, you don't have to worry about anything. If it's yellow, you may need to take some action. manual configuration.
Cyberpunk 2077, for example, is Playable (yellow)Steam warns you that the game's launcher or configuration tool may require the use of a touchscreen or virtual keyboard, or may have difficult-to-read text, and may display minor graphical issues.
Otherwise, it's perfectly enjoyable: the game adapts the controller icons and you can access the entire game with the Steam Deck buttons. In fact, it has been one of the Most played games on Steam Deck, where you can play it 40 fps with FSR 2.1!
Talking about which are the best Steam Deck games is almost like asking which are the best best games of the last 20 years. Currently, there are over 6,000 games that run on the Deck.
Steam's library has been home to tens of thousands of games for 15 years, and virtually every major title to hit PC in recent memory has been released through Steam, making it playable on the Steam Deck.
Here you will find everything: old games, the latest AAA blockbusters, indie games... Even many Microsoft games and the latest Sony games, which were once exclusive to the Xbox and PlayStation ecosystem, can now be played on PC via Steam, many of which are also verified on Steam Deck.
For this list, we have selected 20 of the best-rated titles within the verified section of Steam Deck (in no particular order). This will last you months... and let's not even talk about games from other launchers...
The Steam Deck isn't Valve's first attempt at making console-like hardware. They announced the Steam Machine in 2015, but unlike the Deck, it wasn't manufactured by Valve, but by other publishers (such as Alienware and Asus) based on fixed specifications.
She was accompanied by a commander, the Steam Controller, somewhat controversial as it changed the button layout, replacing the second stick with a trackpad… These controllers ended up being discontinued and Valve stopped producing them, but their design has clearly inspired the current Steam Deck configuration.
For its part, the Steam Machine experiment of offering highly optimized gaming PCs for playing, Seducing console gamers, did not come to fruition.
Steam Deck, on the other hand, immediately caught the attention, and despite its complicated beginnings, the many software improvements that Valve has released in its first year of life make it a very versatile product, which adapts to different profiles:
As we have indicated, there are three models of Steam Deck. All of them have to be purchased exclusively from the Steam Deck store. They all take time between 1 and 2 weeks to reach you by mail.
As of October 2022, Valve no longer has waiting list, having strengthened its production and shipping lines. However, there is a possibility that if there are many orders (especially around Christmas), these delivery times may be longer.
Who is each Steam Deck model for? Well, it's a relatively complex answer, but we understand the following:
All models come with a carrying case. The mid-range 256GB model comes with an exclusive Steam Community Profile Bundle, and the most expensive model includes that digital content plus an exclusive virtual keyboard theme.
Steam Deck, for now, isn't a product like the Nintendo Switch, which you can walk into a store and find on the shelves and take home. At least, in our country.
Currently, the only way to purchase it is through Steam, Valve's store. They handle shipping if you live in United States, Canada, United Kingdom, and the European Union (including Spain). At the moment, Steam Deck NOT shipping to Latin American countries.
In Asian countries, including Japan, South Korea, Taiwan, and Hong Kong, Komodo will be responsible for distribution. Reservations are now open, with a separate waiting list from the North American and European ones.
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To date, Valve has not officially announced a "Steam Deck 2," but Gabe Newell's company has suggested that they plan to revise their machine.
Steam Deck was announced in the summer of 2021, started shipping in February 2022, but has only picked up speed since October 2022. So, a new model of Steam Deck, with real changes to its hardware, It may take years to arrive.
Or maybe not. Perhaps Valve will consider releasing a more premium model, with even better performance, at a higher price, for those who want an even more powerful experience. In the end, given the common catalog, it wouldn't be unreasonable.
But with new models generating a lot of interest, such as the Razer Edge 5GValve isn't going to rest on its laurels. This Razer model is cheaper, $399, and although it is not a real rival, since it only works via streaming, it wants to appeal to the same sector with a similar alternative.
According to estimates, Steam Deck would have sold more than one million units in its first six months, during which production has been limited and there has been a waiting list.
It is clear that the sales of Valve's device are not comparable to those of Switch or PS5, but it cannot be said that it is a niche product either, and it is becoming more and more popular among gamers, won over by The convenience of playing thousands of PC games on the Steam Deck.
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