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:
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.
Quoting: AppelsinQuoteCurrently it's limited to United States, Canada, European Union, and the United Kingdom with more regions becoming available in 2022.
Nothing for Norway then (or Switzerland, or Iceland or Luxemburg)? Or is this just a ploy to make us join the EU?
Last time I checked Luxembourg was still part of the European Union. Did they leave in silence?
Quoting: SalvatosI wish I had any idea what those specs mean in Intel/Nvidia terms.The CPU is about the level of a Kaby Lake i7. The GPU is architecturally competitive with Ampere, but sliced really thin: no comparable product has been released yet for actual numbers on that part. We don't know how good Valve's chassis design is at keeping it from thermal throttling. The power budget for the whole thing is 15 W.
At its resolution you can likely expect it to be a competent gaming machine, but not a monster. You'll have to turn off the most exuberant and expensive effects. We'll know more when Valve send Liam one to try.
Quoting: GuestOr to stream them from something more powerful. This thing might be overpowered for dosbox level games, but it will be underpowered for a lot of modern games. Depending on your definition of modern. Just don't expect miracles from it.
No miracles, but... Did you watch the IGN hands-on? Seems it can do quite a lot, probably due to the comparatively low resolution.
Quoting: SadLQuoteWe’re working with BattlEye and EAC to get support for Proton ahead of launch.
So we can hope for something good on that front before December (hopefully)! Which is really exciting!!!
I read "ahead of lunch" first. :D
Quoting: DorritWhy do you guys think they went with Arch? Is it for not needing to eventually reinstall a new OS version?They don't trust canonical after their initial plans to drop 32bit i guess. Arch begun emerging in Valve projects after that (futex), if i remember correctly.
Canonical planning to drop 32bit support with Ubuntu 19.10 onwards
Valve looking to drop support for Ubuntu 19.10 and up due to Canonical's 32bit decision (updated)
Quoting: GuestThat's a marketing video. It's supposed to make it look like the best thing since sliced bread. What's more, it's from IGN. So I really wouldn't trust what's being said.
Well, firstly I trust more in what's being shown than what's being said.
Then, they do mention critique points, e.g. about the buttons.
So I wonder... why do you say it's a marketing video?
Are there signs of IGN being paid for it?
rustybroomhandle Jul 16, 2021
Quoting: GuestNothing shown was particularly impressive to me either. Portal2 isn't really the most power hungry of games, but it does explain why they put a Vulkan backend of sorts (adapted DXVK) into it: would make a massive difference on a handheld
There are videos showing Doom Eternal and Control running on it too. You forget that it's a 1280x800 display, so would require less power than a 1080p display, for example.
Quoting: rustybroomhandleQuoting: GuestNothing shown was particularly impressive to me either. Portal2 isn't really the most power hungry of games, but it does explain why they put a Vulkan backend of sorts (adapted DXVK) into it: would make a massive difference on a handheld
There are videos showing Doom Eternal and Control running on it too. You forget that it's a 1280x800 display, so would require less power than a 1080p display, for example.
Death Stranding, too.
Quoting: GuestMore likely Valve only allowed IGN to look at it if everything reported was favourable, and in return IGN have seen a lot of traffic driven their way. That's not exactly an uncommon arrangement. A critique point is also another trick: it's a critique, but once tried oh everything is perfectly fine and the device is wonderful (you can trust us because we raised a critique). Seen that many, many times before.
That might or might not have been the case here, but I can't see how it justifies a definitive "That's a marketing video."
I'd trust my local game magazine (especially Gamestar) not to do such arrangements, but I don't know much about IGN.
We'll see what the box can do...
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