Steam Deck Center
Steam Deck Center
Knowing where to start when it comes to the Steam Deck can be challenging, especially if you aren't a gamer or tech person. I'm putting together this guide in order to help others start with the Steam Deck from the ground up.
A Steam Deck is a portable computer that also operates as a video game console, much like the Nintendo Switch. Some might say it the other way around, but at the end of the day both are true.
The Steam Deck has two modes: Desktop and Gaming. Desktop mode gives you full access to a desktop environment that some people even use as their personal computer, and Gaming mode provides an interface to the Steam video game ecosystem.
This is a very deep question, but at the time of this writing there are over 2000 Steam Deck playable games on the Steam platform. On top of that, through a process called Emulation, the Steam Deck can also play games from older video game consoles like the NES, SNES, and Sega Genesis. Emulation is outside the scope of this guide however, and I will only focus on using games from Steam.
Steam is an online video game ecosystem that provides at it's core the premiere video game store to date. It also provides a number of different features to it's users such as a Friends List, Game Library, and Communities built around the video games hosted on the platform. Valve is the company behind Steam, and built the Steam Deck specifially to interface with the platform.
The Steam Deck starts at $399.99 USD. Steam is free to use, and there are many Free to Play (F2P) games available, but there are also games that cost money on the platform.
All Steam Decks as of December 2022 are created with the same basic specifications. What changes between the models is the storage capacity of the device, which allows you to install more games on the Steam Deck at one time. Additionally, the highest tier of Steam Deck comes with an Anti-Glare screen that reduces reflections while using the device. Let's move on to buying the device.
Buying the Steam Deck is a task in and of itself that comes with many questions. Let's pick up where we left off.
At the time of this writing (December 2022), there are three models: 64GB, 256GB, and 512GB, which refer to the storage capacity that comes built in to the device.
Other than the storage, internally the models are identical. The highest tier, the 512GB model, comes with an Anti-Glare screen that helps reduce reflections while using the device.
Yes! The Steam Deck has a MicroSD card slot that will allow you to expand the storage up to 1TB (1024GB) in addition to the internal storage. If you're a tinkerer, or you're getting this for someone that is, you can also take apart the Steam Deck to replace the internal storage all together.
It can be. The internal storage is faster than a MicroSD card, but many people do not notice the difference. If you do not plan on opening the Steam Deck, getting a higher capacity model might be beneficial as it will future-proof the device a bit more. Some games already are too big to fit on 64GB of space, and re-downloading games can be a hassle without a fast internet connection, so those are other things to consider.
You can buy the Steam Deck directly through Steam. You need to create a Steam account to do so, and here I must mention one thing: Steam Points.
Steam Points are a virtual currency used in the Steam Points Shop. Currently there are only cosmetic items for your Steam profile in the shop, but that doesn't mean there won't be anything else added in the future. With the Steam Deck, Valve added custom keyboards to the shop.
It may not, but it might matter to the person you're buying the Steam Deck for. There is no way of transferring Steam Points so if you create an account just to buy the Steam Deck, the points will be locked to that account. If you're buying the Steam Deck for a new Steam user, make sure to create an account with a name they can use moving forward. If you're buying it for an existing Steam user, it might be best to ask them directly if the Steam Points are important to them. If they are, simply use their existing Steam account to order the Steam Deck, and the points will automatically be added.
As of December 2022 the Valve is now actively shipping new orders, while previously there had been a resevation system in place. Estimates on the Steam Deck website show 1 - 2 weeks before delivery.
Yes, Steam will let you enter in a shipping address of your choice after selecting "Purchase for Myself".
There are a few places to get information regarding shipping.
First is under the Account History page for the Steam account you ordered the Deck with. You should see a link to "View Shipment Details" next to the Steam Deck order.
Next are the daily shipping mega threads on Reddit. They should provide an idea of the rate Steam Decks are getting shipped out.
No, the box very clearly states there is a Steam Deck inside, and also has Valve specific imagery on the outside.
Now that you have the Steam Deck, what should you do first? Start by checking out the "Things to Check For" page!