Steam Deck officially announced by Valve

Zarathustra[H] said:
Why are codpiece pouches not a thing? :p
Click to expand...

external-content.duckduckgo.jpg


You have Steam Deck unit, me lord!
 
DPI said:
For me this is the biggest thing to this device: the expansion of the incentive structure for native linux gaming and development. It's not about whether it's the perfect mobile gaming hardware, or even about mobile gaming. It's the corollary effects of being another big axe chipping away at Windows' gaming stranglehold.
Click to expand...
Someone's got the right idea. I can already tell that I'll have some issues with the device. But this has the potential to lay some groundwork for big changes in the future. If we're not going to get the HL3 we dreamed of, then we'll have to settle for blood.
 
sc5mu93 said:
eMMC in base model is disappointing. Hopefully, they used standardized M.2 sticks for the higher end ones. If soldered on, disappointing.
Valve comes up with interesting stuff. Wish they would focus on getting VR 1) affordable* and 2) wireless.


*and not require FB account.
Click to expand...
If the base model can be upgraded with a m.2 that would be golden. Be interest with the teardown.
 
Okatis said:
Gabe confirmed via email that even the base model has a replaceable m.2 slot.
Click to expand...

Well, for now, we have no idea if the base model has the m.2 slot and you can only upgrade the models with M.2 SSDs.
And M.2 2230 is pretty expensive to the point that Base Model + 512 M.2 2230 pretty much becomes the same price and 512GB version has the anti-glare screen on top of it lol.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Axman
like this
USB ports, HDMI and even a DP port - very intriguing. Will a VR or AR headset become available later to plug into it? With expansion ports all sorts of devices could be made for it, add ons, connecting of devices, cameras, mics etc.

If battery life is 2-8 hours playing a game, what will it be doing business type tasks using a keyboard? 12 to 20 hours?

Since PC based, it will have one of the largest asset of any gaming device, programmability/software.

I see huge potential and possibilities plus Valve now has a device or start for a wireless VR headset in the future.
 
SPARTAN VI said:
Wait, then where did this come from:
Click to expand...
Some speculate it was intended to mean in a user-accessible/friendly manner, or perhaps it was to encourage a more even purchasing spread across models. I did wonder myself whether that person's statement was really telling the whole story so was interesting seeing Gabe's response to it.
 
Just got back from vacation to see this. I wonder how well it performs compared to my GPD Win 3.
 
noko said:
USB ports, HDMI and even a DP port - very intriguing. Will a VR or AR headset become available later to plug into it? With expansion ports all sorts of devices could be made for it, add ons, connecting of devices, cameras, mics etc.

If battery life is 2-8 hours playing a game, what will it be doing business type tasks using a keyboard? 12 to 20 hours?

Since PC based, it will have one of the largest asset of any gaming device, programmability/software.

I see huge potential and possibilities plus Valve now has a device or start for a wireless VR headset in the future.
Click to expand...


why man? you'll enjoy Ps vr quality?

this doesn't support thunderbolt or usb 4, so no gpu upgrades
 
Gabe said it had an m.2 slot, but it could be disabled, locked to a certain drive, or they just really don’t want you to open it.
 
Axman said:
Yeah, big jump from 2242 to 2230. But you can bet companies will ramp up production.
Click to expand...

Over the steam deck? Extremely unlikely.

We've got two points of information at this point, a video claiming the only storage upgrade is via SD card, and an extremely basic e-mail from Gabe claiming M.2 2230. My guess is that both statements are true. Nothing about this device looks user serviceable. If if that m.2 slot is there, it's probably difficult to access, requiring special tools and knowledge, and probably also voids your warranty to access. That means upgrading the SSD is going to be a fairly niche market. People will do it, sure, but enough to affect market conditions? I don't see that happening.
 
Sorameth said:
Gabe said it had an m.2 slot, but it could be disabled, locked to a certain drive, or they just really don’t want you to open it.
Click to expand...
Sounds about right. I wouldn't jump to any conclusions about the upgradeability of the device. Sounds pretty clear to me that they intend for the SD to be the only upgradeable storage. We'll be lucky to get anything more than that (email from Gabe withstanding).
 
t1337duder said:
Sounds about right. I wouldn't jump to any conclusions about the upgradeability of the device. Sounds pretty clear to me that they intend for the SD to be the only upgradeable storage. We'll be lucky to get anything more than that (email from Gabe withstanding).
Click to expand...

I agree with this. Gabe said it has an M.2 slot. That is literally all he said. That's probably a true statement. He didn't say it was user accessible or upgradeable.
 
I managed to score the 512gb model (honestly I would have preferred a 1TB for that price, along with the other upgrades that I mentioned - at minimum using Zen3 powered 4c/8t, but preferably a Zen 3 or even a fallback Zen 2 currently available 8c/16t CPU, for the high end + as many RDNA2 cores that can be crammed in. I'm paying $650 and I'd have been willing to even pay a bit more if there were major upgrades beyond that, after all) but, despite me starting at exactly 1pm and running into all the problems described with the servers, I got smacked with the "attempt to order too much stuff to fast, we're going to limit you. Come back later" type message. I can only hope that my model will be part of the first batch in 2021 since I started early, and not one of the 2022 batches - I wrote to Steam Support in light of these issues and have not received anything as of yet, but I'll ask for clarification when they contact me as I'm sure they're overburdened ; however, I'll be nonplussed if incorrect penalties meant having to lose my place in line.

Ultimately it behooves Valve to make these as upgrade-able, tweakable, and powerful as possible. GIven that these are never going to be as light, as power-sipping etc... as some mobile SoC they should lean into it and give the cooling, battery, and upgrade able resources necessary to justify its price. The people who want it to slip in small pockets or whatnot will never be satisfied, so don't let those factors cause cheaping out on cooling, upgrade, or power. Valve is at they're best when they use open (source, spec, API) tech and make it user-focused after all. Even with the basic model as is listed it will be a great mobile gaming platform for streaming and a wide variety of tasks, but it can go even farther if Valve has the fortitude to support it well.

P.S. - Does Nintendo have a patent on removable controllers, or is there another reason why the controls can't be removed, JoyCon (or Razer Kishi or any of the aftermarket - controller plugs into phone/tablet - devices) style?

Edit: I see that apparently people have spoken with the great GabeN himself via email and he's mentioned that not only is the NVME M.2 slot available in the base version, its also meant to be user accessible through a standard 2230 slot - https://media.discordapp.net/attachments/394523295887654913/865707494877560862/unknown.png
 
Last edited:
RanceJustice said:
P.S. - Does Nintendo have a patent on removable controllers, or is there another reason why the controls can't be removed, JoyCon (or Razer Kishi or any of the aftermarket - controller plugs into phone/tablet - devices) style?
Click to expand...

Price is already fairly hefty, removable controllers would add quite a bit to production cost, not to mention the inherent durability headaches and the wasted space.
 
sc5mu93 said:
if the OS is running off this storage, I wouldnt expect console peasants to be able to properly image the OS onto the new m.2.
Click to expand...
That's a good question. I'm assuming there will be a recovery mode if the device becomes corrupt but it's most definitely on a different partition of the SSD.
 
Zarathustra[H] said:
Socketed, huh?

Is that a standard I've never heard of?
Click to expand...
Why can't Valve just state if it is possible for a tech savvy end user to replace the darn thing or not? :) If it is a slot, then I would have bought the base model and slapped a drive in on day one. If I have to solder, then the higher end model I purchased was the way to go.
 
Krenum said:
Then how the Gamers loved him as they shouted out with glee, Gaben killed off Nintendo, with a handheld PC!
Click to expand...

Or this is going to go the way of steam controller, steam link, steam box, htc vive. Valves track record isn't that great, Nintendo has fought off better rivals, and handheld PC type items tend to be major flops. All aboard the Steamtanic!
 
SOAREVERSOR said:
All aboard the Steamtanic!
Click to expand...

You say that like we don't want to try this as a device.

We do. It's not perfect, and we'll find more imperfections down the line, but every single mobile gamer, laptop user, and AMD enthusiast, have all been looking for the APU to break APUs into their own segment.

It's clear that, at least for now, Microsoft can't make the Xbox S into a laptop. This is the next best thing, and you can plonk any OS you want on it. It'll be on par with, or ahead of consumer mobile parts, even if they're cut down.

Not for nothing, we've been waiting for something like this for decades. Everyone's tried, yes, and largely failed, but this is brass ring hardware. And from a real contender. This isn't a last-ditch effort by *Sega not Sony with the Game Gear. Steam and Valve are here to stay.

Edit. And I even had one, oh well.
 
Last edited:
SOAREVERSOR said:
Or this is going to go the way of steam controller, steam link, steam box, htc vive. Valves track record isn't that great, Nintendo has fought off better rivals, and handheld PC type items tend to be major flops. All aboard the Steamtanic!
Click to expand...
Nah, I think they learned from their mistakes. This is just the beginning of something much bigger from them.

To your point, even if it does flop (which it wont) I have use for it, and that's all that matters.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top