Valve announced the Steam platform on Thursday, as well as price details and ambiguous December release dates.
What is a steam deck?
Although the new handheld computer may initially be compared with the Nintendo Switch (due to its similar visual design and the fact that you can purchase a dock to display it on the TV), it actually has more in common with traditional gaming PCs .
Running on a modified version of SteamOS, it will be synchronized with your pre-existing Steam library, so you can use all the commonly used mods and adjustable settings to play any game you already own.You can even use it to browse the web and install third-party applications on your device, including Microsoft Store or Epic Games store.
Therefore, it is not limited to playing games, in the creator’s own words: “It can run almost anything you can run on a PC.”
Due to the impressive technical specifications, this portable device is also much more powerful than the Nintendo Switch. It has 16GB of memory, 4-core AMD Zen 2 CPU, 8 logical threads and 8 RDNA 2 GPU CU.In short, this means that it can not only handle things like Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order, Eternal Doomsday with Death stranded On their “high” graphics settings.
If you play the game in a handheld game, then you will benefit from this because the Steam Deck has a 7-inch, 160hz LCD screen with a resolution of 1280×800. As for the controls, it has two thumbsticks, one arrow key, four face buttons and four back buttons, and two precision touchpads for mouse functions.
How much is the steam deck?
When the Steam platform launches in December 2021, it will provide three different versions. The main difference between these models is that the more expensive models have additional internal storage space. Prices are as follows:
- 64GB Steam Deck for US$399
- 256GB Steam Deck for $529
- 512GB Steam Deck for $649
Each version will come with a power adapter and a carrying case. It is worth noting that you will not be able to upgrade the internal storage of Steam Deck, but there is a built-in SD card reader.
Where can I book the Steam platform?
Pre-orders for handheld computers will actually go live on the official Steam website at 1 p.m. EST or 10 a.m. Pacific time on Friday.
According to the FAQ section, these will initially be provided to the United States, Canada, European Union, And UK also have a button on the product page, you can use it to set a reminder for yourself at an appropriate time.
Valve implemented a special pre-order system to prevent scalpers from buying multiple units, which can then be resold later (Just like what happened with Xbox Series X and PS5). Essentially, if you want to keep the device, you need to log in to your existing Steam account, and you must also pay a $5 deposit.
There is a restriction, which means you can only buy one Steam deck for each account, and the scalpers cannot cheat on this because Valve has taken additional deterrent measures. If you want to keep the hardware, your Steam account must be purchased before June, so you can’t just create a few new ones to store the unit.
If your account is not eligible for booking on Friday (because you have not purchased it before June), you will have to wait until Sunday.
It is not clear when the Steam platform will be available for general purchases, but you can add it to your wishlist to be notified when this happens.
In related news, Pre-orders for the new Nintendo Switch OLED model go live on Thursday Many retailers including Best Buy and GameStop.This updated console Only incremental upgrade Exceeding its predecessor does not represent the next generation of hardware.
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