Valve delays Steam Deck, now starts shipping February 2022

Yikes, can't say that this isn't expected with all the chip shortages (and now shipping container shortage?), not exactly something in Valve's control but still, ya hate to hear it.

Valve Time^tm

Don't worry, it is not March, nor 2023, but 02/2022 so Valve will definitely release the Steam Deck :D

No surprise here, and no big deal. Gives them more time to show it off, and us more time to put aside the dosh without digging into our Christmas budget.


Last edited by Salvatos on 10 November 2021 at 8:11 pm UTC

They can blame the IC shortage, but PROTON is not ready and a lot of big games won't run.

They can blame the IC shortage, but PROTON is not ready and a lot of big games won't run.

That only matters if your target audience doesnt understand that and the fact that most of the big tech channels have already promised videos on how to install windows on it when it launches i dont think thats much of a concern to the mainstream market.

I wonder if it will now ship on Two's-day (Tuesday 22/2/2022)

They can blame the IC shortage, but PROTON is not ready and a lot of big games won't run.

That only matters if your target audience doesnt understand that and the fact that most of the big tech channels have already promised videos on how to install windows on it when it launches i dont think thats much of a concern to the mainstream market.

"Big tech channels" is relative. I heard someone earlier saying Linus Tech Tips video about problems running Linux got 1.1 million views; also that he's one of the biggest tech channels. There are, what, over 100 million users on Steam? Most people buying one of these do not watch tech channels, big or otherwise, and are not going to install nuttin' on their new little gaming box except games downloaded from Steam.

So it will be good if Proton is running games well. A couple extra months could make a significant difference.


Last edited by Purple Library Guy on 10 November 2021 at 8:54 pm UTC

A couple extra months could make a significant difference.

It does mean that 5.16 (with lots of handy dandy stuff for Van Gogh and the Deck) will be out before it launches, rather than probably out before it launches. So that's probably made someone a lot more relaxed.

More time (if not much) to work on the software side of things, which is more important than the hardware IMHO, especially since it will be running linux and customers expect their games to just work.

The worst thing about this is that the release of the software stack (OS, big picture, anti-cheat, etc.) will also be delayed, although it has nothing to do with deliveries

Damn, Valve, do not take away from your customers at least a Big Picture and SteamOS!!!

omg, they will miss the christmas! this is a HUGE deal, most of the sales happen in christmas!
source:
https://www.vgchartz.com/tools/hw_date.php

i hope not many people cancel their pre order because they were planing to give it to someone else as christmas present, and cant anymore!

omg, they will miss the christmas! this is a HUGE deal, most of the sales happen in christmas!
source:
https://www.vgchartz.com/tools/hw_date.php

i hope not many people cancel their pre order because they were planing to give it to someone else as christmas present, and cant anymore!

People who managed to get december date probably didn't buy it by accident and to cancel it afterwards. If they cancel it because of that then I say more and sooner for the rest of us down the line.

Eh, it was either going to be delayed due to shortages or Valve time. At least the former is likely to resolve itself. :P

Don't worry, it is not March, nor 2023, but 02/2022 so Valve will definitely release the Steam Deck :D

Yeah, my first reaction was it's like a one year delay, but then I realized it's just a few months away.

omg, they will miss the christmas! this is a HUGE deal, most of the sales happen in christmas!
source:
https://www.vgchartz.com/tools/hw_date.php

i hope not many people cancel their pre order because they were planing to give it to someone else as christmas present, and cant anymore!

1. Nobody was going to decide to buy it this holiday season and get it before next year anyway; the reservations were already booked months ago.
2. If anyone expected to have it delivered before Christmas, they were delusional to begin with. Valve’s original plan was to start taking actual orders from the reservations and shipping them sometime in December, and we all know that global shipping is fucked at the moment, not to mention the usual end-of-year congestion. Basically, if that was their plan, lucky for them that they found out a month early that it was definitely not going to happen.

omg, they will miss the christmas! this is a HUGE deal, most of the sales happen in christmas!
source:
https://www.vgchartz.com/tools/hw_date.php

i hope not many people cancel their pre order because they were planing to give it to someone else as christmas present, and cant anymore!

People who managed to get december date probably didn't buy it by accident and to cancel it afterwards. If they cancel it because of that then I say more and sooner for the rest of us down the line.

fair enough, i just think we cant afford to lose sales, its the do it or die moment for linux gaming.

on the other hand, the less people who nuke steamOS from it to install windows because an certain game didnt worked, the better.
i think they delayed because they realized proton was not ready for the prime time, it still need more games , hopefully they wont delay it again and this will have more positive side effects than negative.

omg, they will miss the christmas! this is a HUGE deal, most of the sales happen in christmas!
source:
https://www.vgchartz.com/tools/hw_date.php

i hope not many people cancel their pre order because they were planing to give it to someone else as christmas present, and cant anymore!

1. Nobody was going to decide to buy it this holiday season and get it before next year anyway; the reservations were already booked months ago.
2. If anyone expected to have it delivered before Christmas, they were delusional to begin with. Valve’s original plan was to start taking actual orders from the reservations and shipping them sometime in December, and we all know that global shipping is fucked at the moment, not to mention the usual end-of-year congestion. Basically, if that was their plan, lucky for them that they found out a month early that it was definitely not going to happen.

sometimes i forget that other countries are unlike Brasil, they dont buy stuff at the last minute...

omg, they will miss the christmas! this is a HUGE deal, most of the sales happen in christmas!
source:
https://www.vgchartz.com/tools/hw_date.php

i hope not many people cancel their pre order because they were planing to give it to someone else as christmas present, and cant anymore!

People who managed to get december date probably didn't buy it by accident and to cancel it afterwards. If they cancel it because of that then I say more and sooner for the rest of us down the line.

fair enough, i just think we cant afford to lose sales, its the do it or die moment for linux gaming.

on the other hand, the less people who nuke steamOS from it to install windows because an certain game didnt worked, the better.
i think they delayed because they realized proton was not ready for the prime time, it still need more games , hopefully they wont delay it again and this will have more positive side effects than negative.

I really wouldn't worry about cancelled orders, if those happen they won't make a dent. There is so much more people at the end of the queue. It shouldn't matter if this product is suppose to be even remotely successful. If few people canceling would be an issue then the whole Deck has bigger problems already. Once it's out and the reviews are favorable (as the teasers and generally reports from people who had the chance to try one) suggest, people will start ordering them more freely.


Last edited by Solitary on 11 November 2021 at 12:22 am UTC

Linus Tech Tips video about problems running Linux got 1.1 million views;

Yes however Linus was having issues, James seemed to have had a relatively decent experience.

Also Linus fails to read a few obvious things on the screen, in POP!Os it clearly says its going to remove EVERYTHING if he goes ahead and installs steam, obviously a bug, but you should always take a photo of said stuff so you can reinstall it afterwards and save the install.

BUT that is probably asking too much from a casual user who is obviously of whats happening on screen.

Also when Linus installs Manjaro he complains about no audio but fails to understand how audio device switching works on Plasma and he clearly shows a screen where he DOESN'T have this exotic windows only support soundboard selected. (if he selected it he'd at least get sound)

But I think Linus is a good example of your typical user who would install Linux and proceed to not read or understand a single damn thing like their looking at Chinese writings or something! (even tho its all in English, go figure)

I've met people from ages 24 and up who fail to read and comprehend EXTREMELY basic instructions and details on screen. Its like their brain fails to work when looking at the monitor, its puzzling!