Valve's portable gaming PC "Steam Deck" like Nintendo Switch is released!

Long ago, a game console was necessary to play games.
Nowadays, many people enjoy playing games on smartphones and PCs in addition to dedicated game consoles.
Among them, gaming PCs can be prepared with higher specifications than game consoles, and depending on the game title, they may be able to play the game more comfortably.
There are various platforms that distribute games on PCs, and Steam is one of the largest platforms in the industry.
On Steam, major titles and indie titles from around the world are available, and with the exception of exclusive titles, you can play PlayStation titles, Xbox titles, Nintendo Switch titles, and so on.
However, to play a game, you have to start up your PC, access Steam, stop whatever is running in the background, and so on... It seems a bit much of a hurdle to play.
Valve, the company behind Steam, has announced the Steam Deck, a portable gaming PC designed specifically for playing games on Steam.

Steam-optimized gaming PC

"Steam Deck"公式サイト

The Steam Deck is a portable gaming PC with a display, controller, and speakers all in one package, announced by Valve, the owner of Steam.

"Steam Deck"公式サイト

The Steam Deck has a 7-inch touchscreen display, stereo speakers,thumbstick, trackpad,trigger buttons, and a gyro, allowing users to play games on their own, just like the Nintendo Switch.

"Steam Deck"公式サイト

The Steam Deck is an Arch-based SteamOS 3.0 OS optimized to run Steam, so you can enjoy Steam games as soon as you turn it on and log in.
For the processor, we partnered with AMD to develop a custom APU optimized for portable gaming PCs, featuring Zen2+RDNA2, which is powerful enough to run the latest AAA titles despite being portable.

"Steam Deck"公式サイト

In addition to the integrated controller, Bluetooth andUSB Type-C connected accessories, mouse and keyboard can be used. You can use the device that best suits your game title and scene.
It has a comfortable 7-inch touchscreen, but sometimes you want to project images on a larger screen, right?
By connecting a cable to the Steam Deck, you can connect it to a TV or monitor, so you can play games on a larger screen.

"Steam Deck"公式サイト

A dock (sold separately) will also be available.
The dock includes an external display, a wired LAN port, a USB port, and a power supply, so you can connect it to a TV or external monitor like the Nintendo Switch's TV mode and play on a large screen, while using the wired LAN for stable networking. The USB port allows you to connect a mouse, keyboard, and gamepad, so you can play in an environment similar to that of a high-performance gaming PC.
We are very much looking forward to this new dock, but details will be released soon, so stay tuned for more information!

"Steam Deck"公式サイト

The Steam Deck will be available in December 2021 in some regions!

Steam Deck will be available in December 2021 in the United States, Canada, European Union, and the United Kingdom.
The rest of the world will follow in 2022. We will have to wait for further information on whether or not it will be released in Japan.
The "Steam Deck" will be available in three main models with different storage capacities.
The 64GB eMMC internal storage model comes with a carrying case for US$399.
The 256GB NVMe SSD internal storage model comes with a carrying case and an exclusive Steam Community Profile bundle for US$529.
The 512GB NVMe SSD internal storage model has a premium anti-glare etched glass display and comes with a carrying case, limited Steam Community Profile bundle, and limited edition virtual keyboard theme for US$649.
All models do not differ in frame rate or graphics quality, and all have a microSD card slot for additional storage.
That said, even at 512GB, the price is quite affordable considering the specs at approximately 71,400 yen at a conversion rate of $1.110.
Even if you purchase the separately sold dock, the price will probably not exceed 100,000 yen, so it seems to be a product with excellent cost-performance for its performance.
The official website states, "It can also be used with PC software installed. Depending on how much work you can actually do with it, you may be able to switch your home PC environment to the Steam Deck.
We look forward to hearing more about the Japanese release of the Steam Deck !
For more details, please visit the official Steam Deck website!