Steam Deck (Valve handheld PC gaming device)

[Trippy]

https://www.steamdeck.com/en/

Holy shit that control layout looks uncomfortable as fuck.

Edit: snapshot from one of the videos showing front control layout (back has a bunch of buttons too)

[Tale]

It looks almost like they designed a device, then remembered to add controls. The B button is falling off the edge.

[eldaec]

As possibly the only human on earth who liked the steam controller, I feel qualified to say that looks bad.

[Sky]

RIP thumbs.

edited to add: also, it's SteamOS/linux, so emulation and compatibility issues will be a thing.

Yer a wizard now, Gaben

We all love Richie Led B: https://www.eurogamer.net/articles/digitalfoundry-2021-valve-steam-deck-spec-analysis

[Trippy]

edited to add: also, it's SteamOS/linux, so emulation and compatibility issues will be a thing.

You can just install Windows on it if you want. However it’s unclear how much functionality you would lose by doing that. I,e, how much of the hardware compatibility / UI functionality is Linux-only?

Also not mentioned is whether or not one of my biggest pet peeves with Steam is addressed which is you can’t have multiple copies of the launcher logged in to the same account running at once, and it logs you out of the older one when you do. As somebody who has multiple computers that can run Steam games at home this is hugely annoying, I understand having DRM to prevent running the same game simultaneously on multiple computers from the same account but at least let me run different games at once on different computers. With Steam Deck, however, even the first scenario is going to be an issue as who wants to have to constantly log in just to be able to switch playing the same game on the Steam Deck and your main gaming PC?

[Sky]

There was a mention somewhere about there being a goal to be able to sleep a game on one device and wake it on another, so clearly they've been thinking about it...but just as clearly it's not ready for prime-time.

I was talking to a couple guys about Rocksmith on it, since it has a USB port. With RS+ being non-Steam, it's maybe a no-go with the native linux OS...but apparently there is a linux version of RS+, and also a desktop mode for the device, so...

Overall I'd be concerned about the performance hit of Windows, as well as losing any device-specific optimizations. Sure, Cyberpunk was running at a locked 30 @720p on my GTX 970, but that is a 4 teraflop card (vs 1.1-1.6 per Ledbetter). Though I was running ultra settings (no RT, obviously, but also no DLSS...but how much lower can you scale something when target is already down to 720p?).

Also also, one of my use scenarios would be playing something like Madden...which launches Origin to authenticate through their DRM...my guess is that would be no bueno on this device, since I don't think EA is happy about having to make a PC version in the first place (I believe due to their deal with MS for the Xbox and MS's commitment to all games on Xbox also running on Windows). But 2k golf would be a great mobile game that I think would work great here.

[Trippy]

It’s possible to run Origin through Proton by jumping through a lot of hoops. And Madden 21 is listed as compatible (sans multiplayer) in the Proton DB.

https://www.toptensoftware.com/blog/running-ea-origin-games-under-linux-via-steam-and-proton/

https://www.protondb.com/app/1239520

[Trippy]

Unsurprisingly the Steam Store is FUBAR'd.

[Sky]

Yup I got locked out for trying to make too many purchases 'in the last hour', because I was timing out at payment and re-trying.  

"It looks like you've been attempting a lot of purchases in the last few hours. Please wait a while before trying again."

A while is apparently 30m-2h, so...guess I keep my $5?

[Sky]

By the time it went through it's a Q2 2022 reservation 

On the upside, now at least I can cancel if needed based on folks who get theirs this year?

[Trippy]

Yeah I got throttled too. I finally got my reservation in at 10:41 AM Pacific Time. Given Valve's track record on delivering hardware I fully expect to not be able to purchase one until 2023 at the earliest, even ignoring all the current chip shortages, at which point it'll be completely obsolete.

[Trippy]

By the time it went through it's a Q2 2022 reservation 

That's only the 512 GB model, at the moment. The lower two models are Q1 2022. Not really surprising people are skipping the lowest end $400 eMMC model. Is interesting people seem to be willing to spend the extra $120 for 512 GB SSD one compared to the middle 256 GB model. Makes you wonder if console hardware these days is underpriced -- i.e. demand would be just as high if the prices were ~$50 - $100 higher.

[Sky]

I'm not sure any speed differences between nvme drives will be tangible, but it does come with a matte screen and reflections drive me batty 

That said, it's $5 either way, so....I refer back to my being in the 2nd wave. If it doesn't review out well, then I'm out $0 earth dollars. If it does, cool.

[Trippy]

Yup and if demand is still high by the time it's your turn you can also just scalp it

[schild]

i reserved a 512mb one obviously but like I dunno, whatever, there will be reviews by the time i can buy it

[Sky]

I wonder how repairable the device will be, given the beating controllers take. In this scenario, a broken controller is a literal game stopper.

[Trippy]

The preproduction units IGN tried out have screws on the back so assuming those are still there on the production units it should be relatively easy to open it up. However we haven’t seen the internals so it’s unknown how hard it might be to get at the joystick pots and whatnot but presumably things are crammed in there and layered so it’ll be difficult to get at most things inside. E.g. somebody emailed Gabe asking if the SSD is replaceable and he replied that it’s in an M.2 2230 slot and Valve updated the specs to reflect that but also added that it’s “not intended for end-user replacement” implying the slot will not be easy to access.

[grunk]

im so getting this.

[Sky]

ok

[Trippy]

How to replace the SSD and thumb sticks. Don’t try it unless you are willing to risk killing yourself, according to Valve, jokingly, sort of. More importantly if you don’t reassemble things exactly how they were you could mess up your Deck.

https://youtu.be/Dxnr2FAADAs

[Trippy]

Delayed two months. Now shipping starting February 2022: https://store.steampowered.com/news/app/1675180/view/3084396982306430712

I’m still not expecting to be able to purchase mine until 2023 so an extra two months doesn’t really matter to me. Those few who did manage to get a reservation in for the original December 2021 start date for Christmas are however probably not very pleased right now.

[Sky]

Now has a date (feb 25): https://store.steampowered.com/news/app/1675180/view/3117055056380003048

[Trippy]

My reservation still says Q2 2022 but I'll believe it when I get the email. I'm still expecting things to trickle out slowly. Still no dock yet either.

[schild]

My reservation still says Q2 2022 but I'll believe it when I get the email. I'm still expecting things to trickle out slowly. Still no dock yet either.

mine says after Q2 and i wanna die

[Sky]

Valve is going to do replacement parts through ifixit: https://steamcommunity.com/games/1675180/announcements/detail/4347665658888576969

Last week they posted the CAD files for the shell if you're a printing nerd: https://steamcommunity.com/games/1675180/announcements/detail/3106923225208810471

[Trippy]

The first batch of Steam Deck emails go out tomorrow (February 25). If you were able to reserve one for what was originally December 2021 or Q1 2022 make sure you check your emails since you'll only have 72 hours to complete the purchase.

Edit: Also you can go here to check which games in your library are verified (so far):

https://store.steampowered.com/steamdeck/mygames

For some reason that link is not available from the actual https://store.steampowered.com/steamdeck/ page so you can't do this from the launcher, you have to use a (real) browser and log in again.

[schild]

The first batch of Steam Deck emails go out tomorrow (February 25). If you were able to reserve one for what was originally December 2021 or Q1 2022 make sure you check your emails since you'll only have 72 hours to complete the purchase.

Edit: Also you can go here to check which games in your library are verified (so far):

https://store.steampowered.com/steamdeck/mygames

For some reason that link is not available from the actual https://store.steampowered.com/steamdeck/ page so you can't do this from the launcher, you have to use a (real) browser and log in again.

I'm never gonna get my steam deck and it's all I want lol

[Sky]

i'm currently at:

26 verified - Several of them games I wanted to play specifically on the Deck so that's cool.

37 playable - Some of the ones I'm really hoping work are in this valley, I think text size and external launchers are going to be a make-or-break for the Deck honestly. The meat of my games are in here.

6 unsupported - Heroes V would be nice, but this isn't too bad overall

286 untested - So.....

Still, for a portable gaming device there's a solid value out of the box on day 1 already. More games in 'verified' than I had for the Sega Game Gear heh

[Sky]

If you're into emulation, there's good news: https://www.pcgamer.com/steam-deck-emulation-installation/

Holding down the power button on the Steam Deck brings up a small menu that includes a "Switch to desktop" option. This leaves behind the SteamOS interface and plops you down on a classic desktop running on top of Arch Linux. I started looking up terminal commands to install programs in Arch before finding out I was completely wasting my time. This desktop comes with a pre-installed app store just like macOS and Windows (except everything here is free). It's called Discover, and it's conveniently pinned to the taskbar.

And all the emulators I wanted are in there, installable with a click:

Dolphin, for GameCube/Wii
DuckStation, for PlayStation 1
PCSX2, for PlayStation 2
PPSSPP, for PlayStation Portable
Yuzu, for Nintendo Switch
bsnes, for the Super Nintendo

[Trippy]

Digital Foundry benchmarks:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=44TRzEGPbfE

tl;dw At high(er) settings and 720P, 30 FPS locked is possible for most of the games tested, 60 FPS is not.

[Trippy]

I'm never gonna get my steam deck and it's all I want lol

Elden Ring on the Steam Deck (sorry)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Oh8kcKDR7A4

[schild]

I'm never gonna get my steam deck and it's all I want lol

Elden Ring on the Steam Deck (sorry)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Oh8kcKDR7A4

FUCK

I'm never gonna get over the stupid goddamn cell connection crapping out that morning

[Sky]

Some encouraging news:

The last time I spoke to (Steam Deck developers) Greg Coomer and Lawrence Yang, they mentioned anti-cheat as an example of a potential issue that's not entirely within Valve's hands. How much progress has been made on this front, especially with Easy Anti-Cheat?

PLG: So back in the summer, we mentioned that we had lots of work happening behind the scenes right then, and versions of Proton that were still in development. And yeah, I'm happy to say that we've made tremendous strides on that front. In fact, today, we're releasing Proton 7.0, which contains Easy Anti-Cheat support, and we're going to be enabling the first set of games there. We’ve been working with lots of developers behind the scenes on checking out the support there, and validating their games. So it should be it should be a pretty good story by the time that comes out.

https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/steam-deck-interview-valve-devs-on-prioritising-performance-future-features-and-the-boon-of-a-bigger-screen

[Sky]

Valve firmed up expected dates ever so slightly (still queue-based by order time). I'm now in Q3 2022 (from 'after Q2').

https://www.ign.com/articles/steam-deck-preorders-delayed

URL not indicative of article, oddly (as there is no new delays announced, just clarification about the change).

[schild]

Q3

get fucked sigh