Valve continues to work on its Steam Deck handheld, and has announced that in addition to various updates, more people will now be able to actually get one. Interested Steam Deck buyers can now order a Steam Deck without having to make a reservation. According to Valve, it has managed to get clear of supply chain and manufacturing issues that forced it to implement a queuing system to manage orders. Now, players no longer have to make a reservation just to order a unit in countries where the Steam Deck is offered. Buyers with existing reservations will have theirs prioritized as well. Reservations will still be needed, however, in places just getting the Deck for the first time, like Japan, South Korea, Taiwan, and Hong Kong.
Meanwhile, Valve also unveiled a bespoke Steam Deck Dock. Officially called the Docking Station, the dock allows a Steam Deck to be plugged into a power supply. It’ll also be able to use video output to plug into a monitor or TV, and an ethernet port for wired online access.
Check out the official Valve Docking Station in the launch trailer below.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AvokyBOYe8Y
The dock contains three USB-A 3.1 ports, a USB-C port for power, a Displayport video output, an HDMI video output, and an ethernet port. It also supports up to 4k displays and Freesync. The Docking Station includes an identical power supply to the Deck, allowing users to use it to charge up the device or use it as a mini desktop console. It’s also designed to support propping up the Deck so users can see the screen. The Docking Station isn’t necessary, though. Users can opt to use most third-party USB docks or hubs instead. Pre-orders for the Docking Station are open at this link. The dock costs $89 USD.
Other updates for the Steam Deck operating system include additional language support, customizable options for working with docked mode, and improvements to offline mode stability. “Virtual Menus” expand the range of inputs available for more complex games, and a “mode shift” allows players to remap controls while holding down a button.
Check out a summary trailer highlighting Valve’s Deck-related news below.
The Steam Deck is available to order from Valve’s official website. Prices range from $399 USD to $649 USD, determined by storage size and speed.
