Steam Deck is coming: Valve’s Nintendo Switch rival explained

It is formal: Valve is established to get on Nintendo with a handheld console of its very own – and it is coming this 12 months.

Valve has verified the existence of Steam Deck by means of a recently launched web site. The console guarantees to renovate traditional Computer gaming into a handheld encounter equivalent to the Nintendo Change. Here’s all the things we know about the unit, such as the value, specifications and release date.

What is Steam Deck?

Steam Deck is a transportable Computer video games console that follows the same basic design template as the Nintendo Change: it comprises a 7-inch touchscreen with controls on possibly side and a seperate docking station that you can use to connect the unit to external screens and TVs. In other phrases, it is an all-in-a person Computer gaming unit that places portability at the forefront.

Here’s the formal online video:

The Steam Deck makes use of Valve’s present digital distribution service, this means all your video games will be freely obtainable on the new unit. The components also supports Windows OS, which indicates you could probably enjoy Xbox Sport Move titles and non-Steam Computer sport downloads way too.

Steam Deck specs

Valve is touting Steam Deck as the most effective gaming handheld in the globe. The device is run by a customized Zen two + RDNA two chipset from AMD that can comfortably deal with the most graphically demanding online video video games on the sector.

The 7-inch display reportedly has a native resolution of 1280 x 800 pixels which is not vastly impressive. Even though which is a little greater than the Nintendo Change Lite (1280×720 pixels) its display screen is also one.five inches bigger.

Here’s how the Steam Deck specifications compares to the hottest version of the Nintendo Change:

	Steam Deck	Nintendo Change OLED Product
Exhibit	7-inch Lcd	7-inch OLED
Processor	AMD Tailor made APU CPU: Zen two 4c/8t, two.4-3.5GHz (up to 448 GFlops FP32) GPU: eight RDNA two CUs, one.-one.6GHz (up to one.six TFlops FP32)	NVIDIA Tailor made Tegra processor
RAM	16GB	8GB
Storage	64GB	64GB
Inbuilt sensors	six-Axis IMU, High definition haptics comments	Accelerometer, gyroscope, and brightness sensor
Exterior storage	Supports SD, SDXC and SDHC	Supports microSD, microSDHC and microSDXC
Functioning technique	SteamOS 3. (Arch-primarily based)	Nintendo Change technique computer software
Body weight	669g	320g
Dimensions	298mm x 117mm x 49mm	241.3mm x one hundred and one.6mm x 14mm
Dock connectors	one x USB-A 3.one Port, two x USB-A two. Ports, Ethernet, DisplayPort one.4, HDMI two.	3 x USB Port (USB two. suitable), AC adapter port, Ethernet, HDMI two.

As you can see, the Steam Deck is a bigger beast than the Change, each in phrases of measurement and processing energy. The Zen two + RDNA two APU will offer an approximated overall performance of one.six TFLOPS, while the onboard memory sits at an impressive 16 GB of LPDDR5 RAM.

This will translate to significantly far more sensible and immersive graphics than the Nintendo Change could at any time hope to deal with. But all that energy arrives at a value…

Steam Deck pricing

The Steam Deck will initially be made available in three iterations:

• 64GB model: $US400
• 256GB model: $US530
• 512GB model: $US650

In Australian dollars, which is a commencing value of $539 which doesn’t audio way too terrible. Nonetheless, the moment GST and other taxes are factored in, never be stunned if the precise launch value is properly north of $600 in Australia. That is even now a whole lot less than a good gaming Computer or laptop computer however.

In addition to a greater potential, the far more highly-priced versions involve extras like more quickly storage and an anti-glare etched glass display screen. The core specifications are the same across all three types however.

Steam Deck release date

In accordance to Valve, the Steam Deck is established to launch “December, 2021”. A specific date has nonetheless to be introduced, having said that. We be expecting it to be sometime prior to Xmas to capitalize on vacation consumers.

How do I get a person?

Valve is currently inviting consumers to reserve their Steam Deck for a downpayment of $five. Nonetheless, the console is not currently readily available for reservation in Australia. Presumably, you will be in a position to obtain a person through Valve or its suppliers sometime after launch.