The Steam Deck Is Here and It’s the Handheld Gaming PC We’ve Been Begging For

Step aside Nintendo Switch.

Well, it turns out the rumours that Valve and Steam were creating their own handheld gaming device were true. Today, the duo announced the Steam Deck is ready to shake up handheld gaming forever.

Introducing Steam Deck: powerful, portable PC gaming starting at $399. Designed by Valve, powered by Steam. Shipping December 2021.

Learn more at https://t.co/ZOTx3KUCVK and reserve yours tomorrow. #SteamDeck pic.twitter.com/jcgbaKfT9c

— Steam (@Steam) July 15, 2021

You might remember we wrote an article about the rumours a couple of months back, and the working title for the device then was SteamPal, so you can imagine everyone’s relief that they have gone for the much cooler—and more normal—name of Steam Deck.

Like the Switch, the Steam Deck has got all the specs with two thumbsticks, a D-pad, touch trackpads (like on a laptop), face buttons and shoulder and back buttons. To top it all off there is a beautiful seven-inch LCD touch screen (1280x800 with a 60Hz refresh rate for all you tech heads) and boasts a battery life of up eight hours depending on how hard you’re pushing it.

Again, following Nintendo’s lead, the Steam Deck can be docked for charging as well as transfer onto a bigger TV or monitor for those times when the seven-inch screen just doesn't cut it. The Steam Deck dock will be sold separately though 'cos nothing’s free these days.

What really separates the Steam Deck from the Switch though is the capabilities of the device. Games that you play on your PC through Steam can be played on the Steam Deck, no questions asked—something that the Switch doesn’t have the power to do.

How much does the Steam Deck cost?

Glad you asked. There are three price points based on storage size. The base model is 64GB and costs $US400 ($539), the 256GB is $US530 ($714), while the mega 512GB version costs a whopping $US650 ($875). That’s more than a new PS5.

When is the Steam Deck coming to Australia?

The official Steam site says the Steam Deck will be shipping from December 2021 but (why is there always a but?) Aussies look like they’ll need to wait ‘cos reservations are only open for people in the US, Canada, Europe and the UK.

Once again, we’re forgotten down under, but we’ll keep you updated on when this changes.

Header Image: Steam