Delivered to its first buyers in a few days, the Steam Deck will be above all a portable console at launch. The dock, which allows it to become a home console, is not yet ready.
In the next few hoursfirst people should get their hands on the Steam Deckthe ultraportable PC from Valve, which takes on the appearance of a Nintendo Switch on version XXL. Long awaited since its announcement in 2021, the product has everything from the ultimate portable console for PC gamers. They already seem to be there, as evidenced by long delivery times what the Steam Deck has been experiencing since the opening of pre-orders.
Thanks to The Verge, we discover on February 24, 2022 a detail that we had missed. Presented as a hybrid product, designed to be used at home as well, the Steam Deck will be delivered without a dock at launch. This accessory, sold separately, will not be ready until spring.
Connection with an HDMI cable possible
Sold from €419, the Steam Deck is sold without a connection dock. On the other hand, unlike Nintendo, which has locked its console’s connection possibilities to the maximum, Valve is much more open. In theory, any HDMI to USB Type-C cable should allow you to connect the Steam Deck to a TV. The early adopters of the product should therefore be able to play on the big screen from launch.
However, the absence of an official dock on the shelves is necessarily disappointing. Ultra complete (three USB-A, one USB-C, one Ethernet, one HDMI, one Display Port), the Steam Deck dock has the potential to make it a real home console. While it doesn’t improve the graphics quality of games, it should help the Steam Deck establish itself as a more “normal” product. After months of development, its absence at launch is unfortunate.
Will the Steam Deck succeed in its bet despite the very high expectations of players? In the next few days we should know more about the level of the product from Valve, which could strongly disappoint in the event of a problem. Delivery times are now several months.