Valve, the company that owns Steam, might not really make games anymore, but it doesn't just operate the Steam storefront, either. In May, an Ars Technica report foretold that a portable Steam device would be happening, and now that forecast has come to pass. Today, Valve announced the Steam Deck, a portable PC that will come in three configurations starting at $399. We expect it to be an excellent way to take co-op Steam games on the go.
The Steam Deck utilizes a Nintendo Switch-like form factory (though it is larger), with dual analog sticks, dual touchpads, and a D-Pad and buttons built into the face of the device. It runs Steam OS and features the following tech specs:
CPU: Zen 2 4c/8t, 2.4-3.5GHz (up to 448 GFlops FP32)
GPU: 8 RDNA 2 CUs, 1.0-1.6GHz (up to 1.6 TFlops FP32)
RAM 16 GB LPDDR5 RAM (5500 MT/s)Storage
64 GB eMMC (PCIe Gen 2 x1)
256 GB NVMe SSD (PCIe Gen 3 x4)
512 GB high-speed NVMe SSD (PCIe Gen 3 x4)
The device will be sold in three configurations with SSDs of varying sizes and speeds. All three models have a microSD card slot for additional storage.
$399 64GB
- 64GB eMMC internal storage
- Carrying case
$529 256GB
- 256GB NVMe SSD internal storage
- Faster storage
- Carrying case
- Exclusive Steam Community profile bundle
$649 512GB
- 512GB NVMe SSD internal storage
- Fastest storage
- Premium anti-glare etched glass
- Exclusive carrying case
- Exclusive Steam Community profile bundle
- Exclusive virtual keyboard theme
The Steam Deck can connect to TVs and monitors via a dock that will be sold separately. It also supports mice, keyboards, and controllers.
Given these impressive features (and assuming high compatibility with non-Linux Steam games), the Steam Deck should be an excellent way to play co-op games in a variety of settings. The number of cooperative Steam games is almost uncountable, but here are some co-op games that we've covered recently:
Local co-op games
- Capcom Arcade Stadium
- The Captain is Dead
- Gelly Break Deluxe
- Mina & Michi
- Pile Up! Box by Box
- Skellboy Refractured
- A Tale of Synapse: The Chaos Theories
- Zombies Ate My Neighbors and Ghoul Patrol
Online co-op games
- Aliens: Fireteam Elite
- Allmighty: Kill Your Gods
- Bang-On Balls: Chronicles
- Borderlands 3
- Earth Defense Force: World Brothers
- Hanako: Honor & Blade
- Killing Floor 2
- Strange Brigade
- Tetris Effect: Connected
Games with both local AND online co-op
The D-Pad and face buttons are a bit close to the edge of the device, aren't they?
The Steam Deck starts shipping in December. Preorders go live on Friday, July 16. A $5 deposit is required, and only Steam accounts that have made a purchase before June 2021 will be able to preorder during the first 48 hours. Visit the official SteamDeck website for more information.