Steam Deck puts a PC game library in two hands
Valve begins shipping Steam Deck, a Linux-based handheld PC designed to carry existing Steam libraries beyond desks while remaining open to user modification.
Valve began sending Steam Deck purchase invitations today, turning last year's reservations into shipments. The handheld PC combines a seven-inch display, gamepad controls and trackpads with a custom AMD processor, starting at $399 for 64 GB of storage.
Its SteamOS software is based on Linux, while the Proton compatibility layer runs many games built for Windows. Valve's Deck Verified labels indicate how well individual titles work on the small screen and controls, but catalog support remains incomplete.
Unlike a fixed console, Steam Deck lets owners install other software and operating systems. That openness makes the device attractive to tinkerers and preserves access to existing PC purchases, though it also brings familiar PC complications involving settings, launchers and battery demands. The strongest proposition is continuity: a library accumulated at a desk can now travel. The coming months will show whether developers adapt interfaces and anti-cheat systems for the new form.
Source: Steam News ↗