Support us on Patreon to keep GamingOnLinux alive. This ensures all of our main content remains free for everyone. Just good, fresh content! Alternatively, you can donate through PayPal. You can also buy games using our partner links for GOG and Humble Store.
We do often include affiliate links to earn us some pennies. See more here.

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.
35 Likes
About the author -
author picture
I am the owner of GamingOnLinux. After discovering Linux back in the days of Mandrake in 2003, I constantly came back to check on the progress of Linux until Ubuntu appeared on the scene and it helped me to really love it. You can reach me easily by emailing GamingOnLinux directly. Find me on Mastodon.
See more from me
The comments on this article are closed.
16 comments
Page: 1/2»
  Go to:

whizse Feb 24, 2022
View PC info
  • Supporter
Beyond a Steel Sky got some Deck fixups and is apparently waiting to be verified. I don't think that's been covered?
https://store.steampowered.com/news/app/1146310/view/3123812991768478119
Eike Feb 24, 2022
View PC info
  • Supporter Plus
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
It hasn't happened yet, but the idea that some big multiplayer games like Apex Legends and Destiny 2 are working on support is huge. I don't even really like those games or the service model, but I can see how important they are!
pete910 Feb 24, 2022
View PC info
  • Supporter Plus
I would like to be a fly in Valve HQ at the moment, Bet they are all running round like headless chickens. Gabe will probably be looking a little apprehensive too


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....

MayeulC Feb 24, 2022
I 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
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
Steam Machines were a (to be brutally honestly) inferior "solution" to a non-existent "problem". (How do I play all my PC games at home → on the Windows desktop I already own; why would I need another desktop that plays fewer games?) For Linux gamers they were superfluous, for Windows and Mac gamers they were a downgrade. It's completely inevitable that they didn't go anywhere.

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
Elden Ring Verified on Steam Deck? Just read a headline about it... Liam? Can you Confirm? Did I miss something?



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
We've already received massive benefits from Steam Deck in the form of Proton working well on all our desktop games, and countless improvements to our platform.

As always, hats off to Valve. This is going to be fun.
whizse Feb 24, 2022
View PC info
  • Supporter
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
While you're here, please consider supporting GamingOnLinux on:

Reward Tiers: Patreon. Plain Donations: PayPal.

This ensures all of our main content remains totally free for everyone! Patreon supporters can also remove all adverts and sponsors! Supporting us helps bring good, fresh content. Without your continued support, we simply could not continue!

You can find even more ways to support us on this dedicated page any time. If you already are, thank you!
The comments on this article are closed.