Apart from mass hype, what can we actually expect when the Steam Deck releases tomorrow? Here's what's going on.
Starting at 10 AM PST / 6PM UTC, Valve will begin sending out emails to people in the first batch of reservations. So keep an eye on your emails and Steam app notifications. Once you get it, you have 72 hours to make the full purchase otherwise it goes to the next person in the queue.
When this happens, the embargo on all coverage also ends. Valve said they sent out a Steam Deck to "roughly 100 media outlets" (including yours truly). So expect loads of very different takes on it.
As for the Dock, Valve aren't yet giving out more details but they did say it won't be as early as they hoped. It will be available sometime "in late spring".
How is compatibility looking the day before release? Pretty darn good actually! You can check how your library currently stacks up on the new official page. 783 titles are at least Playable right now split across:
- 409 - Verified
- 374 - Playable
We don't know yet what kind of splash Valve will make, I imagine some sort of sale will happen on Verified games - at least that's what I would expect at the very least. It's also possible we might see some new game announcements too, but what? Well, there's been a few hints to that.
AMD recently put up a video on Twitter to show it off, with Jack Huynh very clearly showing off a Destiny 2 t-shirt, which is either a hint of something to come or Huynh is just a big fan. It does make you think though, their marketing would need to have signed off on it, why wear a branded t-shirt of a game you can't even play on it hmm?
On top of that we've also seen that Apex Legends has a Steam Deck testing depot (SteamDB), so they're clearly doing something. That's bad news for me, since I told our Discord community if it worked with Proton on Linux / Steam Deck that I would livestream it everyday for a month and I fear I will be held to that…
Warhammer: Vermintide 2 is another that's clearly testing for the Steam Deck (SteamDB) and there's probably others we've not seen yet.
Article taken from GamingOnLinux.com.
https://store.steampowered.com/news/app/1146310/view/3123812991768478119
QuoteWhen this happens, the embargo on all coverage also ends. Valve said they sent out a Steam Deck to "roughly 100 media outlets" (including yours truly).
Last edited by Eike on 24 February 2022 at 3:39 pm UTC
Ludological Feb 24, 2022
QuoteI told our Discord community if it worked with Proton on Linux / Steam Deck that I would livestream it everyday for a month and I fear I will be held to that…
Otherwise....
Once more games are verified, the Deck will stand a second chance.
I'm keeping my expectations low on purpose. I only ask to be mistaken :P
Mohandevir Feb 24, 2022
Quoting: MayeulCI don't want to be that person, and I'm very excited about the Steam Deck, but it's probably going to bomb in the mainstream media (remember steam machines? not that bad, but I expect the same kind of comments), so I wonder if we'll ever see these "testing" branches materialize.
Once more games are verified, the Deck will stand a second chance.
I'm keeping my expectations low on purpose. I only ask to be mistaken :P
This time the hype is real. The vast majoity of reviewers are already onboard. Compared to this, the steam machines never generated much hype. Reviewers were unconvinced at best... They were unsure who it was targeted at and the price point... Through the roof!
This time, I'm quite sure the hardware will succeed. It offers the right price point and the quality to create an opening. What is unsure is how many of them will just wipe SteamOS in favor of Windows.
Philadelphus Feb 24, 2022
The Steam Deck, on the other hand, is a solution to a problem that doesn't really have a great solution yet. (How do I play my library of PC games on the go/while away from my main gaming rig?) Yes, there are laptops and other handheld computers, but both are more expensive and typically running Windows, which ironically works against them in this case due to its terrible fit on a portable device. Valve's offering an OS made to work with games, while also serving as a general-use system if need be. The fact that it can't play every game at the time of release is less important, both because Valve are committing to getting as many working as possible, and because the requirement of a Steam account to buy one means that most people getting a Deck likely already have a gaming machine of some sort (so if a game doesn't work on the Deck, they're not locked out of playing it completely, and they likely have other games that do work while they wait).
Mohandevir Feb 24, 2022
https://www.gamespot.com/articles/elden-ring-confirmed-to-run-on-steam-deck/1100-6501024/
Last edited by Mohandevir on 24 February 2022 at 7:56 pm UTC
ElectricPrism Feb 24, 2022
As always, hats off to Valve. This is going to be fun.
Quoting: MohandevirElden Ring Verified on Steam Deck? Just read a headline about it... Liam? Can you Confirm? Did I miss something?Looks like it: https://steamdb.info/app/1245620/info/ (Click Information, scroll down to Steam Deck Compatibility)
Hmm.. looking at that timestamp, test_timestamp: 25 February 2022 – 00:00:00 UTC, Valve time machine confirmed?
Last edited by whizse on 24 February 2022 at 8:28 pm UTC
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