Well today is the big day. Valve has now formally revealed the Steam Deck, a portable handheld gaming console powered by a new version of their Linux-based SteamOS operating system.
"We think Steam Deck gives people another way to play the games they love on a high-performance device at a great price," says Valve founder Gabe Newell. "As a gamer, this is a product I've always wanted. And as a game developer, it's the mobile device I've always wanted for our partners."
Since it's based on Linux, we now know a big reason why Valve has been investing in Linux gaming with the likes of Steam Play Proton. It will play your Linux native titles, with support boosted by Proton. Not only that, Valve said "we're vastly improving Proton's game compatibility and support for anti-cheat solutions by working directly with the vendors". This is pretty amazing, as anti-cheat was the big missing piece. In their FAQ, they make it clear that they are working directly with BattlEye and EAC to get support for Proton.
Anti-cheat support is coming too! That's huge!
The new SteamOS has been optimized for handheld and touchscreen gaming, while it will also have a desktop mode for those who want it. SteamOS 3.0 is also being based upon Arch Linux, with the desktop mode being powered by KDE Plasma.
We also know why Valve has been heavily investing in AMD GPU drivers for Linux too now then. It's a custom APU they partnered with AMD on for Zen 2 + RDNA 2.
Quick specs:
- Powerful, custom APU developed with AMD
- Optimized for hand-held gaming
- Full-sized controls
- 7" touchscreen
- WiFi and Bluetooth ready
- USB-C port for accessories
- microSD slot for storage expansion
- 3 different storage options available
The Steam Deck will also have a dock, much like you see with the Nintendo Switch with more ports to play with like USB, wired networking and enabling external displays. More tech info can be seen here.
It's an open system too, since it's basically a PC in your hands. Valve said "you can install third party software and operating systems".
Valve also did a session with IGN where they answered some questions. IGN also has hands-on video to give a better look at the device.
Steam Deck starts at $399, with increased storage options available for $529 and $649. The two higher models have bigger storage space, plus the two higher models actually use an NVMe drive for faster loading time and the top end has an anti-glare screen too.
Reservations open July 16th at 10 AM PDT; shipping is slated to start in December 2021. Currently it's limited to United States, Canada, European Union, and the United Kingdom with more regions becoming available in 2022.
For developers, Valve put up a video overview:
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Direct Link
Direct Link
See more on the Steam Deck website and the Steam Deck store page.
Is this the holy grail of Linux gaming? Could be.
Article taken from GamingOnLinux.com.
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Quoting: slaapliedjeQuoting: JozuaOoh, if there is a way to load the Steam Buddy tool onto this and easily import GOG games... that would be absolutely amazing.It is just Linux on there, so I don't see why you couldn't load up anything that works on Linux. I think it might be time for Lutris to get a BPM mode as well.
This is actually everything I wanted as a gaming system. Dockable too!
Yessssss Lutris making a BPM mode would be so awesome!
Also by the looks of it the main interface in SteamOS3 looks pretty slick... I hope they update the Steam client with that BPM eventually too
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slaapliedje Jul 23, 2021
Quoting: JozuaThere is a post on the steam community forums saying that they are indeed bringing it to normal Steam.Quoting: slaapliedjeQuoting: JozuaOoh, if there is a way to load the Steam Buddy tool onto this and easily import GOG games... that would be absolutely amazing.It is just Linux on there, so I don't see why you couldn't load up anything that works on Linux. I think it might be time for Lutris to get a BPM mode as well.
This is actually everything I wanted as a gaming system. Dockable too!
Yessssss Lutris making a BPM mode would be so awesome!
Also by the looks of it the main interface in SteamOS3 looks pretty slick... I hope they update the Steam client with that BPM eventually too
I hope they add 32:10 support...
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Quoting: CatKillerQuoting: AppelsinChecking out the Steam Deck page from Norway gives the following, happy message:My understanding is that it's all because they fundamentally aren't a hardware retailer. Those would have distribution centres in most countries they do business in, and agreements with brick-and-mortar shops to cover things like returns and revenue sharing. And a bunch of people employed specifically to handle logistics.
QuoteThis item is not available for reservation in your country
Valve is somewhat repeating the commercial and marketing success of the Steam Link and Controller. "Let's not sell this to people with lots of money, eager to spend!" Seriously...
Valve doesn't have any of that. They're a shop that sells software. They've got a couple of empty rooms in the countries that they have developers in where they can store boxes, and they get the postman to take them from there and deliver them to customers.
It's why they tried to get other people to make Steam Machines, why they're content to sell limited numbers of the premium Index, and why they're so relaxed about other companies making Steam Decks. If they want to sell as many units of the Steam Deck as they can they'll need to get all the trappings of a hardware retailer; otherwise they'll be limited to just selling a few units in a handful of countries.
Yeah, but the thing is, they're selling it (or rather, it'll be available for order) all over Europe, except three countries, since we're not "part of the EU". Though they've inlcuded the UK, which afaik has even more hurdles atm with regards to import/export than EEA (we're EU, but we're kinda not).
They may be relaxed about it, but that seems to me to lead down the same Road to Success that they've done with their previous HW ventures. Especially the initial phase is critical, I should think. That's when it's hot, and people would buy it just because it's something new (and they can't get a hold of the PS5).
They were relaxed about Steam Machines. And it crashed (but there was a lot of causes for that crash).
They were relaxed about Steam Link. And it flopped. 3 people were allowed to buy it.
They were relaxed about Steam Controller. And it's a niche product most people only vaguely remember having seen a post on some gaming site about.
Bottom line is that I'm "worried" that this will go the way of the Link and Index. People get all exited about it, but then Valve doesn't want to sell it to anyone, and it dies one the vine. Here's *the* chance for Linux gaming going big, and Valve needs to move units to make that happen.
And if publishers can release games on the Switch natively, they can release them on *Native Steam Deck Linux* too (unless Valves somehow, inadvertently, makes it seem a better idea to just install Windows on it). But that relies on a lot of units being sold. 150 000 units accross the US and EU isn't enought to entice anyone.
/somewhatranty
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Quoting: Appelsin150 000 units accross the US and EU isn't enought to entice anyone.They had 110,000 pre-orders in the first 90 minutes. I'm going to go out on a limb and predict more than 150,000 total sales. Call me a starry-eyed optimist.
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Quoting: Purple Library GuyQuoting: Appelsin150 000 units accross the US and EU isn't enought to entice anyone.They had 110,000 pre-orders in the first 90 minutes. I'm going to go out on a limb and predict more than 150,000 total sales. Call me a starry-eyed optimist.
My intent was more along the lines of "150 000 units that Valve are willing to sell", while they could have moved ten times that :) I'd have preordred one, if I was allowed.
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Quoting: AppelsinYeah, but the thing is, they're selling it (or rather, it'll be available for order) all over Europe, except three countries, since we're not "part of the EU". Though they've inlcuded the UK, which afaik has even more hurdles atm with regards to import/export than EEA (we're EU, but we're kinda not).It's not like I don't agree that they're going to have to do better, it's just that the limits of where they're selling them are because they aren't doing it themselves. The postmen in the countries that they've got developers go wherever the postmen go.
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Quoting: CatKillerQuoting: AppelsinYeah, but the thing is, they're selling it (or rather, it'll be available for order) all over Europe, except three countries, since we're not "part of the EU". Though they've inlcuded the UK, which afaik has even more hurdles atm with regards to import/export than EEA (we're EU, but we're kinda not).It's not like I don't agree that they're going to have to do better, it's just that the limits of where they're selling them are because they aren't doing it themselves. The postmen in the countries that they've got developers go wherever the postmen go.
I find it very unlikely that Valve, a US company with a few hundred employees, just happens to have developers in each of the 27 EU member states and the UK. Plus, it doesn't sound practical or cost saving to ship a few thousand units in bulk to a person in each of those countries, only for them to re-package and mail out individual units using local post services.
There has to be a different reason, and I think it's because they haven't done the research to figure out if different regulations apply in those countries, and they don't think it's worth it for just an additional three (small) countries.
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Quoting: fleskI find it very unlikely that Valve, a US company with a few hundred employees, just happens to have developers in each of the 27 EU member states and the UK.
We know they've got developers in the UK and we know they've got developers in Germany (read it somewhere recently, but can't remember where, so no citation. Apologies) so then it's just getting a courier to deliver them. No customs hassle taking them to anywhere in the EU (that being one of the purposes of the EU), but there could well be going outside of the EU.
QuotePlus, it doesn't sound practical or cost saving to ship a few thousand units in bulk to a person in each of those countries, only for them to re-package and mail out individual units using local post services.
I was being somewhat facetious referring to them as "postmen." But, no, it's not particularly efficient. To get efficient they'd need a whole bunch of logistics infrastructure that they don't have, but the likes of Nintendo, Sony, Samsung, and whoever, do. Or hire out to a company that does have that kind of logistics coverage and that can get products in shops.
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Mohandevir Jul 23, 2021
Quoting: CatKillerQuoting: fleskI find it very unlikely that Valve, a US company with a few hundred employees, just happens to have developers in each of the 27 EU member states and the UK.
We know they've got developers in the UK and we know they've got developers in Germany (read it somewhere recently, but can't remember where, so no citation. Apologies) so then it's just getting a courier to deliver them. No customs hassle taking them to anywhere in the EU (that being one of the purposes of the EU), but there could well be going outside of the EU.
QuotePlus, it doesn't sound practical or cost saving to ship a few thousand units in bulk to a person in each of those countries, only for them to re-package and mail out individual units using local post services.
I was being somewhat facetious referring to them as "postmen." But, no, it's not particularly efficient. To get efficient they'd need a whole bunch of logistics infrastructure that they don't have, but the likes of Nintendo, Sony, Samsung, and whoever, do. Or hire out to a company that does have that kind of logistics coverage and that can get products in shops.
Imo, the pre-orders was just a means to "test the waters". Now that they know there is a lot of interest, they should gear up for mass production accordingly. That's what I would do, at least.
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Quoting: MohandevirImo, the pre-orders was just a means to "test the waters". Now that they know there is a lot of interest, they should gear up for mass production accordingly. That's what I would do, at least.Yeah, hope so. When the rumours started, it was clear that this could be a device that sold 10s of thousands or 10s of millions, without a way of telling in advance which it would be because it's so dependent on implementation specifics and market conditions, both of which are unknown. I just want everyone that wants one to be able to get one.
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Philadelphus Jul 24, 2021
Quoting: CatKillerI just want everyone that wants one to be able to get one.Indeed. I liked that Valve said they're handling production for different regions separately, so it's not like, say, North America can just buy of 99% of all the Decks produced.
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slaapliedje Aug 3, 2021
Quoting: EikeQuoting: damarrinTo rain a little on everyone's parade (mine included), people on another gaming website I go to have been saying en masse how it's an instant Windows install for it to be even remotely useful. That's what the "general public" thinks, unfortunately :-(
Well, while I fear too many will, taking loud people on the net for the "general public" might also lead to the impression that most people wouldn't like to have a Covid vaccination...
Or that the earth is flat! :P
Yeah, I don't see a whole lot of people buying it just to format and install Windows on it. There are plenty of Windows Mobile PCs out there. Windows could potentially also stink for the controls that the Valve guys have been tweaking and perfecting to run under Linux. Windows' game input can consume a full satchel of richards as far as I'm concerned. Only Windows would force me to disable drivers in device manager because it can't figure out that my mouse is not a game pad, or even allow me to re-order the game controllers it does detect, so that I can actually get the controller to work. This happens on a lot of games in Windows... Never had such an issue in Linux.
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slaapliedje Aug 3, 2021
Quoting: CatKillerIt sounds to me (from the original IGN interview they had with Gabe before it was announced) that they did the 5 dollar pre-order to be able to tell people about when they'd be able to receive their order. I think mine said Q1 2022. And I got it in maybe 10m after it opened. Granted I had a lot of 'can't process your order at this time' and just kept trying.Quoting: MohandevirImo, the pre-orders was just a means to "test the waters". Now that they know there is a lot of interest, they should gear up for mass production accordingly. That's what I would do, at least.Yeah, hope so. When the rumours started, it was clear that this could be a device that sold 10s of thousands or 10s of millions, without a way of telling in advance which it would be because it's so dependent on implementation specifics and market conditions, both of which are unknown. I just want everyone that wants one to be able to get one.
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Quoting: slaapliedjeOr that the earth is flat! :P
Yeah, I don't see a whole lot of people buying it just to format and install Windows on it. There are plenty of Windows Mobile PCs out there. Windows could potentially also stink for the controls that the Valve guys have been tweaking and perfecting to run under Linux. Windows' game input can consume a full satchel of richards as far as I'm concerned. Only Windows would force me to disable drivers in device manager because it can't figure out that my mouse is not a game pad, or even allow me to re-order the game controllers it does detect, so that I can actually get the controller to work. This happens on a lot of games in Windows... Never had such an issue in Linux.
I once plugged in one of Microsoft's own USB joysticks, a Sidewinder, and Windows detected it as a Palm handheld computer and installed it as such. Manually sorting it all out was a right pain.
Last edited by Supay on 4 August 2021 at 7:16 am UTC
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slaapliedje Aug 4, 2021
Quoting: SupayQuoting: slaapliedjeOr that the earth is flat! :P
Yeah, I don't see a whole lot of people buying it just to format and install Windows on it. There are plenty of Windows Mobile PCs out there. Windows could potentially also stink for the controls that the Valve guys have been tweaking and perfecting to run under Linux. Windows' game input can consume a full satchel of richards as far as I'm concerned. Only Windows would force me to disable drivers in device manager because it can't figure out that my mouse is not a game pad, or even allow me to re-order the game controllers it does detect, so that I can actually get the controller to work. This happens on a lot of games in Windows... Never had such an issue in Linux.
I once plugged in one of Microsoft's own USB joysticks, a Sidewinder, and Windows detected it as a Palm handheld computer and installed it as such. Manually sorting it all out was a right pain.
Buahahahahahahaha!
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Quoting: slaapliedjeQuoting: EikeQuoting: damarrinTo rain a little on everyone's parade (mine included), people on another gaming website I go to have been saying en masse how it's an instant Windows install for it to be even remotely useful. That's what the "general public" thinks, unfortunately :-(
Well, while I fear too many will, taking loud people on the net for the "general public" might also lead to the impression that most people wouldn't like to have a Covid vaccination...
Or that the earth is flat! :P
Yeah, I don't see a whole lot of people buying it just to format and install Windows on it. There are plenty of Windows Mobile PCs out there. Windows could potentially also stink for the controls that the Valve guys have been tweaking and perfecting to run under Linux. Windows' game input can consume a full satchel of richards as far as I'm concerned. Only Windows would force me to disable drivers in device manager because it can't figure out that my mouse is not a game pad, or even allow me to re-order the game controllers it does detect, so that I can actually get the controller to work. This happens on a lot of games in Windows... Never had such an issue in Linux.
I think it would be beneficial for Valve to not be too loud about "you can install Windows". If it runs like a console, most people won't care that it's Linux on it. Unless you say "it's Linux" and some go "ugh, Linux?! That's for nerds, I'm installing Windows".
Most poeple don't care that the PS4 is technically running a version of FreeBSD (afaik).
1 Likes, Who?
slaapliedje Aug 7, 2021
Quoting: AppelsinHa, yeah... but installing an OS is for nerds too... I'm betting far less people install Windows over Linux on this than a bunch of the uneducated console videos I've seen say. Most of them outright are like 'Linux is for servers and stuff, no one uses it on their desktops' Or 'just install Windows, we know it works.' Or similar. Most of them have no idea what Linux is outside of 'that text thing'.Quoting: slaapliedjeQuoting: EikeQuoting: damarrinTo rain a little on everyone's parade (mine included), people on another gaming website I go to have been saying en masse how it's an instant Windows install for it to be even remotely useful. That's what the "general public" thinks, unfortunately :-(
Well, while I fear too many will, taking loud people on the net for the "general public" might also lead to the impression that most people wouldn't like to have a Covid vaccination...
Or that the earth is flat! :P
Yeah, I don't see a whole lot of people buying it just to format and install Windows on it. There are plenty of Windows Mobile PCs out there. Windows could potentially also stink for the controls that the Valve guys have been tweaking and perfecting to run under Linux. Windows' game input can consume a full satchel of richards as far as I'm concerned. Only Windows would force me to disable drivers in device manager because it can't figure out that my mouse is not a game pad, or even allow me to re-order the game controllers it does detect, so that I can actually get the controller to work. This happens on a lot of games in Windows... Never had such an issue in Linux.
I think it would be beneficial for Valve to not be too loud about "you can install Windows". If it runs like a console, most people won't care that it's Linux on it. Unless you say "it's Linux" and some go "ugh, Linux?! That's for nerds, I'm installing Windows".
Most poeple don't care that the PS4 is technically running a version of FreeBSD (afaik).
Hell, I remember there were videos of people showing off KDE to randoms in the mall, back before Windows 7 was released, and people actually thought it WAS Windows 7.
4 Likes, Who?
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