Valve recently showed off the new Steam Deck case and its final packaging before it hits production. For those unaware, Valve’s Steam Deck is an upcoming handheld gaming computer that will allow players to access their entire Steam library from anywhere. Additionally, it will also be able to be modified and will run nearly any gaming storefront or application. Suspense levels are high for the Steam Deck as it is the first of its kind. It is closer to an actual gaming PC than a game console, despite visually looking quite similar to a Nintendo Switch. Originally set to release in December 2021, the console was delayed to February 2022. The latest update from Valve said the company had completed its final prototype for the portable gaming PC and will head to production soon.
To increase already brimming anticipation and test out the new product, Valve recently sent out developer kits to creators including the new Steam Deck case. As the Steam Deck is portable, like the Nintendo Switch, most consumers will want a case to protect their PC on the go. Unlike most electronics these days, every Steam Deck, whether it is the 64GB or 256GB version, will come with the case.
While skeptics have questioned how well such a small device will play some of the heftier games in the Steam library, Valve introduced a new system in October allowing players to check how well any game runs on the device. The new system will display a rating beside each game on Steam which will show how well it runs on the portable PC. The review process will focus on input support, native display resolution support, general hardware compatibility, and compatibility with Proton. Games that fulfill each category will be “Verified” while other games will be put in a lesser “Playable” section. An “Unsupported” category will be for games that aren’t functional on the device and an “Unknown” category will be for games not yet reviewed.
Valve has been preparing for the launch of the Steam Deck for a long time now and a view of its new case means the time is almost here. Just a little longer now.
