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- #Handheld pc game install#
- #Handheld pc game portable#
- #Handheld pc game software#
- #Handheld pc game Bluetooth#
#Handheld pc game portable#
Games stored on a microSD card work nearly as fast as those stored on the SSD, so the 64 GB model is fine for most people, including myself (more on this below).įor a portable device, the Steam Deck is gigantic, measuring almost 12 inches across. The Steam Deck comes in three variations, the only real difference being the amount of storage (though the 512 GB model also comes with an antiglare display).
#Handheld pc game Bluetooth#
USB-C, 3.5 mm headphone jack, Bluetooth 5.0, Wi-Fi What you get when you buy a Steam Deck Processor:
#Handheld pc game software#
You can find more powerful handheld gaming PCs out there, usually running Windows, but none of them have the user base or software support of the Steam Deck. Valve’s support and its cadence of fixes have been relentless: The company has released more than 100 software updates, tweaking the device’s software into something manageable for newcomers to use. At the device’s launch, many games didn’t work, and the software caused all sorts of issues, including disappearing games, a loud fan, and busted Wi-Fi.īut a year later, the handheld is thriving-and it’s actually available to buy, with orders taking about a week to arrive. Reviewers were lukewarm on the Steam Deck’s Linux-based software, and although most people still saw some promise in the device, getting over the compatibility issues and software quirks that early adopters faced was a difficult hurdle. And when the Steam Deck shipped, early reactions seemingly validated my initial skepticism. Before the Steam Deck, countless companies had tried to pull off a handheld PC with mediocre (or just really expensive) results. Valve has a history of releasing underperforming physical products, ranging from a more traditional console-like computer to a controller that didn’t sell well. At that point, the device was only available for preorder, with the first batch of deliveries scheduled for the following February. I was skeptical when Valve announced the Steam Deck in July 2021. But it’s also not as complicated as a gaming PC, and because it’s repairable, you can extend the life of the device for as long as its software is supported. That openness comes at the cost of usability-it’s not as plug-and-play as, say, a Nintendo Switch. It’s built on an open-source operating system, so you can tinker with it for hours on end. It has a massive catalog of games, so you can easily find something to play. The machine’s portability gives you the flexibility to play anywhere.
#Handheld pc game install#
The Steam Deck runs a custom version of the Linux operating system called SteamOS (though the device can also run Windows, if you choose to install it). The Steam Deck is a handheld PC, or a PC-based portable console, made by Valve, a company that was once known for games such as Half-Life, Portal, Counter-Strike, and DOTA 2 but is now more known for its digital PC game store, Steam. The Steam Deck is the current embodiment of everything I’ve been looking for. Like reading a book, using a handheld feels like a private moment, just for me. I find playing games on a handheld console, even with a small screen, to be more immersive than playing on a giant television or monitor. I’ve always been drawn to handheld gaming gadgets, starting with chintzy Tiger handhelds and moving my way up through several Game Boys, numerous Nintendo DS units, the PlayStation Portable, the PlayStation Vita, and a whole host of Android-based emulation devices. But after a year of effort and updates, this little $400 device has become my favorite way to play games, and I’d recommend the Steam Deck to anyone who likes to tinker but doesn’t want to build a gaming desktop. Preorders took months to arrive, software support and compatibility were shaky, and the battery life was (and still is) decidedly unimpressive.
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It was also unclear whether the Steam Deck would succeed or fail. When the Steam Deck handheld gaming console launched last year, it was tough to tell whether the device was a portable PC or a Nintendo Switch competitor.
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