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Valve Announces Steam Deck, a $399 Handheld Gaming PC

Steam Deck combines a custom AMD processor, built-in controls, trackpads, and SteamOS in a portable PC expected to begin shipping in December.

By NexusArc Staff Published Jul 15, 2021 394 words

Image: Valve.

Valve has announced Steam Deck, a handheld gaming PC designed to run a player’s existing Steam library away from a desktop. The device starts at $399 and pairs a seven-inch touchscreen with built-in gamepad controls, two trackpads, and a custom AMD processor.

Reservations open July 16, with the first units expected to ship in December. Valve is offering three storage configurations: 64 GB for $399, 256 GB for $529, and 512 GB for $649. The faster-storage versions include additional accessories or display treatment, but all three use the same core processor and memory.

A portable PC rather than a closed console

Steam Deck runs SteamOS, Valve’s Linux-based operating system, and opens directly into a handheld version of the Steam interface. Valve says players can suspend a game, use cloud saves, chat with friends, and access the store much as they would on a regular PC.

The company is also describing Deck as an open computer. Owners can reach the desktop, install other software, and connect peripherals or an external monitor through USB-C. An optional dock is planned, although Valve has not announced its price today.

Custom AMD hardware powers every model

Inside is an AMD accelerated processing unit combining four Zen 2 CPU cores with RDNA 2 graphics. The system includes 16 GB of LPDDR5 memory and targets its built-in 1280-by-800 display. Those specifications do not promise that every PC game will run at maximum settings, but they give developers a consistent portable target.

The controls include full-size analog sticks, a directional pad, face buttons, shoulder controls, four rear buttons, gyro input, and pressure-sensitive trackpads. That last feature is important for PC games designed around a mouse, where traditional controller input may not be enough.

Compatibility will be the central question

A large Steam library includes games built for Windows, varied control schemes, and anti-cheat systems that may not behave identically on Linux. SteamOS uses Valve’s Proton compatibility layer to run many Windows titles, but the announcement does not establish that every game will work without adjustment.

Steam Deck arrives as both hardware and a test of Valve’s broader PC ecosystem. Its entry price puts it near mainstream consoles, while its open software and existing game library distinguish it from a conventional handheld. The quality of compatibility, battery life, and real-world performance will determine whether that promise holds when units reach players in December.