Well today is the big day. Valve has now formally revealed the Steam Deck, a portable handheld gaming console powered by a new version of their Linux-based SteamOS operating system.
"We think Steam Deck gives people another way to play the games they love on a high-performance device at a great price," says Valve founder Gabe Newell. "As a gamer, this is a product I've always wanted. And as a game developer, it's the mobile device I've always wanted for our partners."
Since it's based on Linux, we now know a big reason why Valve has been investing in Linux gaming with the likes of Steam Play Proton. It will play your Linux native titles, with support boosted by Proton. Not only that, Valve said "we're vastly improving Proton's game compatibility and support for anti-cheat solutions by working directly with the vendors". This is pretty amazing, as anti-cheat was the big missing piece. In their FAQ, they make it clear that they are working directly with BattlEye and EAC to get support for Proton.
Anti-cheat support is coming too! That's huge!
The new SteamOS has been optimized for handheld and touchscreen gaming, while it will also have a desktop mode for those who want it. SteamOS 3.0 is also being based upon Arch Linux, with the desktop mode being powered by KDE Plasma.
We also know why Valve has been heavily investing in AMD GPU drivers for Linux too now then. It's a custom APU they partnered with AMD on for Zen 2 + RDNA 2.
Quick specs:
- Powerful, custom APU developed with AMD
- Optimized for hand-held gaming
- Full-sized controls
- 7" touchscreen
- WiFi and Bluetooth ready
- USB-C port for accessories
- microSD slot for storage expansion
- 3 different storage options available
The Steam Deck will also have a dock, much like you see with the Nintendo Switch with more ports to play with like USB, wired networking and enabling external displays. More tech info can be seen here.
It's an open system too, since it's basically a PC in your hands. Valve said "you can install third party software and operating systems".
Valve also did a session with IGN where they answered some questions. IGN also has hands-on video to give a better look at the device.
Steam Deck starts at $399, with increased storage options available for $529 and $649. The two higher models have bigger storage space, plus the two higher models actually use an NVMe drive for faster loading time and the top end has an anti-glare screen too.
Reservations open July 16th at 10 AM PDT; shipping is slated to start in December 2021. Currently it's limited to United States, Canada, European Union, and the United Kingdom with more regions becoming available in 2022.
For developers, Valve put up a video overview:
Direct Link
See more on the Steam Deck website and the Steam Deck store page.
Is this the holy grail of Linux gaming? Could be.
Article taken from GamingOnLinux.com.
Quoting: GuestDid anyone ever hear valve say anything about their asian players? no surprise, my country is not included.
I would like the opportunity to ask: how is the linux scenario in asian countries?
slaapliedje Jul 17, 2021
Quoting: elmapulWSL is trash. I know, I'm forced to use the abomination at work every day. Oh, yeah I finally got to upgrade to WSL2...then went back to 1 because I don't have time to figure out why WSL2 needs it's own networking and breaks on the VPN...Quoting: slaapliedjeQuoting: CatKillerFunny thing is, with Windows 10, the opposite can be true as well, where games haven't been updated to work with it, and you're hosed if you run anything newer than Windows 7. Linux in this case with Proton/Wine has way better compatibility.Quoting: mylkaI agree with you that it's something that needs to be addressed head on, but it seems clear that compatibility will be indicated in some fashion (that's how the rumours started in the first place). I think that Valve's aspiration to remove all barriers without specific game dev intervention is unrealistic.Quoting: Purple Library GuyQuoting: mylkai think they should make it more clear, that they do not sell a WINDOWS PC and you may not be able to play some games and you wont be able to install windows software like you do on windowsNobody expects a thing like a Nintendo Switch to be a Windows PC. I don't think they need to sweat that a whole lot.
but switch owners expect to play their switch games
steam deck players wont be able to play all their steam games
However, the fact that not all PCs can play all PC games has been known to PC gamers for decades. My current desktop can play every game I can throw at it, but my ultrabook, my NUC and my now-retired Sandy Bridge machine simply can't. It is a pain that there are additional technical barriers if game devs don't make their products work on this machine, but the existence of titles that can't be run shouldn't be a surprise to anyone.
except for, wsl...
and most people dont care that much about old games as they do care about new games
This is actually everything I wanted as a gaming system. Dockable too!
Quoting: GuestQuoting: BielFPsQuoting: GuestDid anyone ever hear valve say anything about their asian players? no surprise, my country is not included.
I would like the opportunity to ask: how is the linux scenario in asian countries?
i dont know much, but my country has around 3.07% market share in linux(desktop) , could probably be the one of the highest in asia.
were it is?
slaapliedje Jul 18, 2021
Quoting: JozuaOoh, if there is a way to load the Steam Buddy tool onto this and easily import GOG games... that would be absolutely amazing.It is just Linux on there, so I don't see why you couldn't load up anything that works on Linux. I think it might be time for Lutris to get a BPM mode as well.
This is actually everything I wanted as a gaming system. Dockable too!
Quoting: CatKillerQuoting: mylkaI agree with you that it's something that needs to be addressed head on, but it seems clear that compatibility will be indicated in some fashion (that's how the rumours started in the first place). I think that Valve's aspiration to remove all barriers without specific game dev intervention is unrealistic.Quoting: Purple Library GuyQuoting: mylkai think they should make it more clear, that they do not sell a WINDOWS PC and you may not be able to play some games and you wont be able to install windows software like you do on windowsNobody expects a thing like a Nintendo Switch to be a Windows PC. I don't think they need to sweat that a whole lot.
but switch owners expect to play their switch games
steam deck players wont be able to play all their steam games
However, the fact that not all PCs can play all PC games has been known to PC gamers for decades. My current desktop can play every game I can throw at it, but my ultrabook, my NUC and my now-retired Sandy Bridge machine simply can't. It is a pain that there are additional technical barriers if game devs don't make their products work on this machine, but the existence of titles that can't be run shouldn't be a surprise to anyone.
you cant play a game, because you hardware is too old. thats sth all pc gamers know
but this is a new kind of "the game dont work"
hitman absolution comes in my mind. the games DRM makes it impossible to play with proton
it should run smoothly if you take a look at the system Requirements. thats new to windows users and valve should make that very clear
yes it is a problem you can easily fix with a DRM FREE .exe (the game was free on gog. steam still has DRM), but still could cause some troubles for customers
Quoting: F.UltraQuoting: AppelsinQuoteCurrently it's limited to United States, Canada, European Union, and the United Kingdom with more regions becoming available in 2022.
Nothing for Norway then (or Switzerland, or Iceland or Luxemburg)? Or is this just a ploy to make us join the EU?
Nah it's a conspiracy to dismantle 7th of June 1905 and bring you guys back in the caring arms of Mother Svea
Söta bror is devious, indeed!
Quoting: TuxeeQuoting: AppelsinQuoteCurrently it's limited to United States, Canada, European Union, and the United Kingdom with more regions becoming available in 2022.
Nothing for Norway then (or Switzerland, or Iceland or Luxemburg)? Or is this just a ploy to make us join the EU?
Last time I checked Luxembourg was still part of the European Union. Did they leave in silence?
They are? Then you've just corrected a misunderstanding I've had since early school xD I though they were outside, like us. I could have sworn they've always been mentioned in the same breath as the non-EU-member-trade-agreements we have and such things. But that may have been for other reasons then. TIL something basic x)
Quoting: damarrinTo rain a little on everyone's parade (mine included), people on another gaming website I go to have been saying en masse how it's an instant Windows install for it to be even remotely useful. That's what the "general public" thinks, unfortunately :-(
I think realistically only a very tiny percentage of people are interested in installing OSes at all. And many of those who do, would prefer Linux. Regular user simply isn't interested or not even sure how to install an OS, no matter Linux or Windows. So I wouldn't worry about the above at all.
So if you want to analyze the "general public" - it's a major plus that device is coming with Linux preinstalled, because that's what they'll be using.
Last edited by Shmerl on 19 July 2021 at 8:26 am UTC
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