The ultimate Steam Deck starter guide

We’ve been covering the Steam Deck pretty in-depth since we got one. There’s so much to talk about that it’s time we just collate it all in one place.

Since we started covering the Steam Deck, and its OLED upgrade, things have been getting too in-depth. It’s time we collated it all into one place.

If you’re thinking about getting a Steam Deck, there’s something you should know before going in: everything that should be simple is simple but has a few additional steps.

From running games not from the Steam store to adding an external hard drive. It can all seem a little impossible from the outset.

So don’t fret, we’ll be using this as a growing hub of all our Steam Deck guides so you don’t have to fend for yourself.

Which Steam Deck should you buy?

How’d you get here and not figure out which Steam Deck you should buy? If you haven’t yet added the high-powered beauty to your gaming arsenal, there are a few things you’ll need to consider.

First and foremost, do you want the Steam Deck or the Steam Deck OLED? We’ve outlined the major differences between each version of the Valve handheld in our handy guide, but the gist of it is that the upgraded model has a few differences that make it more recommendable.

As the name suggests, picking up the OLED model you’ll get access to its 1280 x 800 HDR OLED display, which is a whole 4 inches bigger than LCD’s 7-inch screen. The latest iteration of the handheld is also available with a 1TB storage capacity, whereas the LCD Deck was only available for up to 512GB.

The main caveat between picking the ideal Steam Deck for you will likely come down to price, with the minor upgrades on the OLED coming in at a higher price. The 512GB and 1TB Steam Deck OLED handhelds are available for $549 and $649, while the LCD versions of the Deck are only $349, $449, and $399 for the 64GB, 256GB, and 512GB models respectively.

Related:

The best gaming mouse in 2024: Razer, Logitech, Corsair & more

On the Steam store, the 65GB and 512GB original LCD models of the handheld are still available, as stocks last. You won’t get to benefit from the luscious OLED screen of the new model, but both have been permanently discounted making them ideal for budget-minded consumers.

Valve plans to phase these versions out, so if you have eyes on the original Deck, we’d advise not waiting too long before picking one up.

Linux basics

With the Steam Deck using a variation of Arch Linux, and molding it into SteamOS, you’ll need to know a few things about Linux if you plan on doing anything big.

Set a password

The Steam Deck was never meant to be really used for this level of Linux usage. As such, the default password you’d usually get to set up when installing Linux is skipped over.

Follow our full guide on how to add a sudo password so you can start tinkering a little easier.

Proton

Proton is the custom translation layer for Windows applications to run on SteamOS. It’s how all these locked-away games are running at all.

We’ve got a full tutorial on changing your version of Proton to see if newer, or older compatibility layers work better with your games. For instance, Version 5 runs Oddworld: Stranger’s Wrath, while version 7.0.5 doesn’t.

Using Proton

Your traditional .exe files won’t work out of the box. You’ll need to pop those through translation layers like Wine, or Proton, Valve’s own layer. Proton is much easier to use but does require you to add the program to your Steam Library.

Don’t worry if you’re using your account across multiple systems. It’ll sit on this version.

To do this, and you’ll see this crop up in a lot of our tutorials, is to head into the Desktop mode via Steam button > Power > and then Desktop mode.

From here, open Steam and add the program via the ‘Add game’ button with the big plus next to it. Then once added, you can apply compatibility to it by using the settings (next to the little controller icon) and choosing Compatability and any version of Proton.

Shortcuts and using SteamOS

SteamOS is a fork of Linux and comes with some unique ways to handle the hardware. Here are some of our guides for tackling the eccentric ways that Valve has set things up.

What games work on Steam Deck?

Valve’s method of seeing what games work and don’t work is a little flawed. While a lot of titles will end up with the Playable or Verified mark, it’s not actually accurate. Some games, like Shenmue I & II, or Castlevania: Lords of Shadow, have been determined to be incompatible with the Steam Deck. They work flawlessly, and it seems to be more about the setup process of getting into the game.

Some PC games will have their own launcher, so you can alter the settings before jumping into the game. To Valve, this process is hit or miss. Games like Deadly Premonition just flat out will not work, but games like Shenmue I & II just need you to tap the touch screen or use the virtual mouse via the controller you’re using.

SteamOS might be running Linux, but it is Proton that should be your guide.

ProtonDB

If you’re unsure if a game works or not, your bible should be ProtonDB. This is a full database of games that are either completely broken, working, or have a workaround. In the case of something like Bulletstorm, turning off the introduction movies actually fixes the game entirely.

Games that require kernel-level anti-cheat, like Call of Duty, or Destiny, won’t work. Kernel-level anti-cheats will look for particular Windows files that Proton doesn’t emulate, and you can risk a ban trying to evade it.

There are ways around it, but it requires you to start installing Windows. You can get our thoughts and a how-to on that below.

Our own intrepid gaming team has put together a regular list of the best games to play on the Steam Deck right now.

For now, here’s a list of popular or upcoming titles that we either know run or have a guide on how to get going on the Steam Deck:

• Apex Legends
• Counter-Strike 2
• Cyberpunk 2077
• Dead Space remake
• Destiny 2
• Diablo 4
• Disney Dreamlight Valley
• Elden Ring
• FF7 Remake
• Final Fantasy XIV
• Forspoken
• Fortnite
• Genshin Impact
• Gotham Knights
• High on Life
• Hogwarts Legacy
• Like a Dragon: Ishin!
• Marvel’s Midnight Suns
• Modern Warfare 2/Warzone 2
• Overwatch 2
• Resident Evil 4 Remake
• Spider-Man & Spider-Man: Miles Morales
• Sons of the Forest
• Tactics Ogre Reborn
• The Last of Us Part I
• Uncharted
• Wo Long Fallen Dynasty
• WWE 2K23

Using other stores on the Steam Deck: Epic, GOG, Amazon & Battle.net

Yes, you can play just about anything that you’ve amassed during Epic and Amazon’s various giveaways. You can also play World of Warcraft on the go, or something that we’re a big fan of: old FPS games from yesteryear. Seriously, it’s amazing how well Clive Barker’s Undying works.

Most of this is done through a few external apps like Heroic and Lutris. Check out the following guides below:

Best accessories for the Steam Deck

Getting accessories for the Steam Deck is going to lead you down some weird avenues. Some people really love kitting out their devices but think about the poor wrists. There’s no need to attach an entire charger or SSD to the back.

However, we’ve found some cracking accessories and have a full list. Also, in the time between then and now, we do recommend grabbing a decent bag.

While the Steam Deck’s bundled case is fine, carrying it around is not practical.

One bag we’ve found that fits a controller, dock, and the Deck itself is a 14.1″ bag given away for free from our trip to see the new Philips Evnia lineup.

Docks

We weren’t a fan of the Steam Deck Dock for its price. However, getting a dock for the Steam Deck isn’t a requirement.

For those who want to play on their big screen or even use the Steam Deck as a full PC, we recommend the JSAUX version. This lets you house an M.2 drive inside, as well as all the functionality that comes with a USB-C dock.

Deckmate

While it might look like a bunch of plastic, the Deckmate has become invaluable when using various devices with the Steam Deck. Its stand, SD card holder, and various other accessories that come with the full kit are unbeaten at the price.

Read our review to get a full lowdown on it.

Power banks

We’ve done the work and here are our favorite power banks to use with the Steam Deck. With a requirement of 45W to get things on the move, you don’t want to be caught out without the correct one.

Controllers

Looking for a comfortable way to play while docked? Here are our recommended controllers, including the 8BitDo Ultimate and more.

Get these apps and plugins: Decky, CryoUtilities & more

Want to do more with the Steam Deck’s software? We fully recommend Decky. It’s a fantastic plugin, that will allow you to make some non-intrusive changes to your Steam Deck.

It also unlocks the excellent SteamGridDB within gaming mode. This plugin will let you change the artwork for non-Steam apps, like emulated titles or those from GOG.

CryoUtilities also unlock some better performances out of the Steam Deck in edge cases and is brilliant to see how the Steam Deck leverages software and hardware.

If you want to watch some of your own media on the go and have a Plex media server, here’s how to install Plex to your Steam Deck.

Upgrade your Steam Deck storage

The biggest issue surrounding the Steam Deck right now is the storage. Whether you get a 512GB, or 1TB one, there’s a hard ceiling available to everyone at the moment.

1TB microSD cards can help out massively, and there are some 2TB microSD cards perfect for the Steam Deck on the way. We recommend instead tearing your Deck apart and installing a 1TB NVMe drive. Those too scared, or prefer their device docked, can always add external storage too.

Handily, Sabrent has released an easy-to-get-hold of NVMe drives for the Steam Deck.

Using Windows on the Steam Deck

Getting Windows onto the Steam Deck is surprisingly easy. It’s everything that comes after installing it that is the issue.

Windows works just fine, but the additional work to get it working with the Steam Deck’s built-in controller is a pain. While Steam games will detect it as a Steam Controller, Xbox Game Pass needs some coercing. Whether you remap the buttons or use different software, the overall experience is tedious.

Though, being able to play Destiny 2 on the go is handy.

Emulation

You can in fact play a lot of other consoles on the Steam Deck. In our testing, everything from the Wii U backward works wonderfully. Also, yes, the Steam Deck is a great Switch replacement if you already own the games.

Currently, we’re experiencing some niche titles that have made their way to the West. This is in part thanks to the avid community of translators. We thoroughly recommend everyone check out Choro Q Wonderful! for the PS1. It’s a racing and RPG game, where you free-roam as a living car. Think Lightning McQueen, but cute.

The best way to start emulating is to download and install Emudeck. We have that full guide for you too.

Updates

Like with any brand-new piece of tech, you’re going to want to make sure it’s as up-to-date as possible. With the Steam Deck essentially being a portable PC, it needs updating to make sure it’s running to its best ability.

Keeping your Steam Deck up to date will also help prevent any performance issues from occurring, letting you get on with playing your favorite PC games on the go without much hassle.

To update your Steam Deck, simply press the Steam button and navigate to settings, then select system. Once in the system settings, if there’s a brand-new update ready to download, select the ‘apply’ button, and the update will begin to download.

The Steam Deck will restart after the download, and you’ll be good to go. If for whatever reason the Steam Deck hasn’t acknowledged an update is impending, select the ‘check for updates’ box and you’ll be golden.

If you click on a product link on this page we may earn a small affiliate commission.

Яке залізо у Steam Deck

AMD APU, 6 нм
ЦП: Zen 2 4c/8t, 2,4–3,5 ГГц (до 448 гигафлопс FP32)
Графический процессор: RDNA 2 с восьмью вычислительными блоками, 1,6 ГГц (до 1,6 терафлопс FP32)
Мощность гибридного процессора: 4–15 Вт

16 Гбайт LPDDR5 встроенной оперативной памяти (6400 МТ/с, четыре 32-разрядных канала)

512 Гбайт NVMe SSD Steam Deck
1 Тбайт NVMe SSD Steam Deck
У обеих моделей есть высокоскоростной разъём для карты microSD

Управление и ввод

Кнопки A B X Y
Крестовина
Левый и правый аналоговые триггеры
Левый и правый бамперы
Кнопки «Вид» и «Меню»
4 назначаемые кнопки хвата

Два квадратных трекпада 32,5 мм с тактильной отдачей
Настраиваемая сила нажатия

Экран

Заполучите свой Deck!

В характеристиках продукта возможны изменения.

© 2022 Valve Corporation. Все права сохранены. Все торговые марки являются собственностью соответствующих владельцев в США и других странах. Steam, логотип Steam, Steam Deck и логотип Steam Deck являются торговыми марками и/или зарегистрированными товарными знаками Valve Corporation в США и/или других странах.

Valve Steam Deck: how, where, and when can I buy one?

Waiting in line for a Steam Deck and want to know when you can order one? Or are you late to the party and wondering how to get in? We’ve got you covered.

Can you fit a PC in your pocket? Not unless you have exceptionally large pockets, you can’t. Valve hopes to change that with the Steam Deck, a handheld PC that should fit inside at least a generously sized jacket pocket. The first wave of these compact computers have now been released for purchase, though it’s not quite as straightforward as heading to your local electronics store to buy one.

As the past few years of PC gaming hardware releases have taught us, nothing is ever that simple. Though, Valve is making an attempt at a more orderly ordering system for the Steam Deck than much of the chaos we’ve seen the past year. It should result in a smooth, if a little long-winded, release for the handheld console.

Is the Steam Deck out now?

Valve released the Steam Deck’s initial wave on February 25, 2022. What that means is that those first in line for a Steam Deck (that signed up last summer) will receive an email allowing them to place an order for the handheld PC on that date. They will have 72 hours to complete their purchase, otherwise that ticket is sent to the next person in the queue and they lose their chance.

After that time, we have very rough estimates as to when the next Steam Deck shipments will be. At least one in Q2, 2022, and then an unknown quantity thereafter. We also don’t know if Valve plans to gradually release Steam Decks during each period, or whether the initial restock will be our lot.

We do know that queues are regional, and that means availability may differ region to region.

How do I make a reservation for a Steam Deck?

Just head over to the Steam Deck product page, log in, and grab a reservation. They’re $5 (£4), but that comes off the total of the Steam Deck if you buy one. Or is refunded if you change your mind.

Just note that the Steam Deck is not available worldwide, only set regions. These are the US, UK, Canada, and EU. Valve would like to expand this availability, we’ve been told, but perhaps it will wait until supply levels out somewhat before doing that.

If I pre-order a Steam Deck today, when will I receive it?

Pre-orders placed today may differ depending on your location as time goes on, though it appears expected order availability will be sometime after Q2 2022 no matter where in the world you are.

Expected Steam Deck order availability by region:

Polling the PC Gamer staff that pre-ordered on the same day pre-orders went live: some have expected availability in Q2 2022, while others are after Q2 2022. No exact dates are given beyond these rough estimates.

What that means is that we know there will be at least one wave of Steam Decks on sale in February, Q1 for the people who pre-ordered; and another sometime between April–June, Q2. After that, there will be a further shipment, likely in the second half of the year, though when exactly is not clear.

The fact that many of us who pre-ordered on the first day also have the same order availability as what’s currently listed on the Steam Deck pre-order page is interesting in itself. It could be that the expected availability is so distant that Valve would rather not say when these units may arrive, or that it isn’t able to say what availability will look like later in the year. I’d say that may have something to do with the global semiconductor shortage, for one, as late 2022 may see some, perhaps minor, improvement in supply.

Semiconductor supply is expected to increase in late 2022/2023, after which point there may not be such a delay on Steam Deck orders as there is today.

How do I check my Steam Deck delivery date?

You can check expected order availability on the Steam Store’s Steam Deck product page.

Just don’t hit the cancel button, yeah?

Has the Steam Deck been delayed?

Valve delayed the first wave of Steam Deck devices from December 2021 to February 2022. So far there have been no further delays to the handheld PC, and the February release is full steam ahead today. That said, we’re keeping an eye on the Q2 2022 order availability dates in case they change.

We can’t say for sure if Valve has pushed back, or even brought forward, the availability dates beyond Q2 2022, as no specific date has been given.

Will I be able to purchase a Steam Deck from anywhere else but Steam?

The only place to secure a Steam Deck pre-order is via Valve directly and the Steam Deck product page. Valve’s track record with its own hardware launches would also suggest this will remain the case for most of the Steam Deck’s lifetime.

The Valve Index is only available to purchase through Valve directly. The Steam Controller and Steam Link, while now six-feet under, were also primarily purchased direct from Steam during their lifetimes.

Valve has alluded to one-day there being general availability of the Steam Deck to purchase. You can sign up for a heads-up on that if you add it to your wishlist. Though with the queue going back potentially into 2023, it might be a while before that happens. If ever. Who knows if you’ll even want a Steam Deck by then.

What about the second-hand market?

I have very little doubt that, come launch day, there will be heaps of Steam Decks available on auction and reseller sites. I would also assume these will come with massively inflated price tags.

While I can’t make a blanket statement for every second-hand Steam Deck, I would suggest caution in overpaying for the device to get your hands on one. The Steam Deck’s most impressive feature is its price tag, which is far below its competitors in the handheld PC gaming space.

If you’re looking to spend $1,000 or more on a Steam Deck second-hand, you could spend that money on a brand new portable PC from Onexplayer or Aya instead. Or, even better, put that money to better use on a tried-and-tested gaming laptop with a discrete GPU and power to play the latest games.

Has anyone got their hands on a Steam Deck already?

We have! You can see what Wes makes of it in his full Steam Deck review.

We’ve also had plenty of hands on a couple of devices to make sure we can give you the full breadth of information required to make your mind up about buying one or not. That includes playing Elden Ring on the Steam Deck and enjoying PC gaming down at our local bar, for science.