Talk:Steam Deck

Video encode/decode

Have the video encode/decode capabilities been confirmed anywhere? If it's Van Gogh, it should have VCN 3.0 with AV1 hardware decode. Keithedw (talk) 14:18, 16 July 2021 (UTC)

dualBoot ?

As on any standard PC , will be dualBoot possible ? Second OS somewhat for work.

Yes, this has been confirmed in their FAQ: www.steamdeck.com/en/faq Hervegirod (talk) 09:15, 25 September 2021 (UTC)

batocera.linux is a distro for the steamdeck as replacement of the steamos. Naming it in this article seems subject to revert. Ths is not acceptable. — Preceding unsigned comment added by Nadenis (talk • contribs) 06:41, 7 July 2023 (UTC)

Picture

I think we should add a picture of the product to the page, either under the logo or further down in the article. 197.113.198.58 (talk) 13:17, 11 October 2021 (UTC)

Once people have their own version, so that we can have a freely licensed image, we will then be able to get an image of it. We can't use non-free images due to that potential availability. --Masem (t) 13:20, 11 October 2021 (UTC)

Could a stock image be purchase for the article? TheStupidNerd (talk) 04:01, 3 October 2023 (UTC)

This conversation is 2 years old, from before Steam Deck was released. Now there's a picture in the article, and pictures are relatively easier to come by. Sergecross73 msg me 12:59, 3 October 2023 (UTC)

Controller Supports?

Supports PlayStation 4 controller? bi (talk) 04:42, 13 January 2022 (UTC)

There's no exact statement that it is supported, but we know it will have Bluetooth connectivity and Steam on computers with bluetooth work fine. USB also it there. I've added a bit of a statement that it is expected to work with most game controllers. --Masem (t) 04:46, 13 January 2022 (UTC)

On Valve's CAD files for Steam Deck

Sadly, while Valve has made all the CAD files for the Steam Deck available for free at Github, they used a noncommercial CC license for them, which does not make them or any re-rendering of them free for us and we'll just have to wait for photos. [1] --Masem (t) 22:56, 11 February 2022 (UTC)

Dock Misinformation

Why does the Article say the Dock was released alongside the Deck? The website for the Steam Deck clearly says the official dock isn't available yet and will be released late Spring 2022. — Preceding unsigned comment added by 212.49.193.236 (talk) 12:44, 8 March 2022 (UTC)

Where does it say it? The only place I find the dock mentioned is a single paragraph that starts with "Will be released later this year" -- ferret (talk) 14:23, 8 March 2022 (UTC)

Console?

Looking at the edit history, there seems to be a lot of conflict over whether or not the Steam Deck is a game console. Maybe it'd be helpful to have some clarification over why it is or isn't considered a console. Saucy^{[talk – contribs]} 07:39, 20 May 2022 (UTC)

Yes, a console.

Official press kit explicitly calls it a game console. It's never called a computer. The terms "PC" and "gaming PC", while used there, often make a distinction between PC and Steam Deck, in a way that substituting PC for Steam Deck would make no sense. E.g. "Steam Cloud saves allow you to start a gaming session on your PC, and move to your Steam Deck to finish it on the couch." What you mention is probably a confusion between personal computer, IBM PC compatible, and Windows PC.

Another source from The Verge also calls it a console exchangeably a console and "handheld gaming PC". https://www.theverge.com/23499215/valve-steam-deck-interview-late-2022

If you try to claim Steam Deck is not a console, you will likely also have to claim that:

Xbox (console) is a Dell laptop turned Pentium III Windows PC with locked down UI;

Xbox Series X is a Windows PC based on custom AMD APU (like Steam Deck), doesn't have any exclusive games and runs a subset of Windows PC games (Microsoft even offering a subscription service, that allows you to access them on both on Windows PC and Xbox X/S);

PlayStation 2 are PlayStation 3 PCs, because Sony allowed you to run Linux on it, PS2 even having official Linux kit.

Before my edit, the page described it as gaming PC, yet nothing described on gaming PC page mentions handhelds, nor the descriptions fit Steam Deck.

Most of the modern consoles are very similar to PCs in internal architecture. The article would need reliable sources disproving it being a console, which I'm afraid are unlikely to be found, and will conflict with numerous sources that claim it to be a handheld console. Tracerneo (talk) 13:10, 12 January 2023 (UTC)

It's not about "disproving", it's that there's an equal number of sources calling it things like a portable PC. We've yet to come to a conclusion on it. Feel free to keep discussing, though commenting on the middle of a year old discussion probably isn't going to get much visibility. Sergecross73 msg me 13:14, 12 January 2023 (UTC)

It being a portable, handheld PC (x86, IBM PC compatible), doesn't preclude it from being a console.

Xbox Series X has also been called a PC. "The Xbox Series X is basically a PC"

It doesn't help this argument, that Steam Deck is listed on Video Game Console#Types, Handheld game console#Steam Deck, and on the respective list

In turn neither portable PC nor handheld PC fit the description of what Steam Deck is, with its handheld console-like build. Tracerneo (talk) 14:00, 12 January 2023 (UTC)

Strongly support. Term «PC» is the source of confusion, because it has taken on two meanings. Tucvbif (talk) 15:38, 29 January 2024 (UTC)

7 reviews that clearly identify Steam Deck as a console. I am its owner and in all the materials I got in the package it is called a console. I am determined to fight against false information. https://www.playarena.cz/rubriky/hardware/steam-deck-mobilni-konzole-od-valve_2743.html https://mobilizujeme.cz/clanky/steam-ma-novou-pc-konzoli-deck-je-lepsi-nez-nintendo-nebo-smartphone https://www.cnews.cz/valve-steam-deck-handheld-herni-pc-apu-van-gogh-steamos/ https://games.tiscali.cz/preview/valve-predstavilo-handheldovou-konzoli-steam-deck-rozbeha-vsechny-vase-hry-gog-i-epic-515034 https://indian-tv.cz/clanek/valve-predstavil-vlastni-prenosnou-konzoli-steam-deck-34cd9t https://napojsa.sk/vse-co-vime-konzole-steam-deck-cim-nas-prekvapi/ https://www.svetandroida.cz/valve-steam-deck-kapesni-konzole/ — Preceding unsigned comment added by 46.39.174.4 (talk) 18:38, 20 May 2022 (UTC)

The talk page is over at Talk:Steam Deck‎. These sources are not clearly reliable at a glance, as we haven't vetted many CZ/SV sources. It'd greatly help your argument to provide some English sourcing. You need to make the argument AT the talk page and achieve a consensus BEFORE making further changes. -- ferret (talk) 18:42, 20 May 2022 (UTC)

Above IP message and reply moved from my own user talk page. -- ferret (talk) 19:37, 20 May 2022 (UTC)

None of those 7 sources are reliable. --Masem (t) 23:04, 20 May 2022 (UTC)

But some sources on the page itself, including TechRadar, The Independent and The Verge also calls SD console. Tucvbif (talk) 15:40, 29 January 2024 (UTC)

Steam Decks being stolen prior to delivery to customer?

So I've found through the last few months (mostly on the SteamDeck subreddit) that Steam Decks have been stolen, in many cases, marked as delivered to the customer but the deck never made it to the customer at all.

Some people feel the shipping method used, FedEx, is partially to blame. Thought I don't know them offhand, some specific sorting centers are known hotspots for Steam Deck theft. The same people are complaining that Valve is shipping these Steam Decks IN THEIR ORIGINAL BOXES which apparently say that they are a Steam Deck!

Would this be worth adding to the article?

Thanks,

Urbanracer34 (talk) 22:10, 16 June 2022 (UTC)

Only if reliable sources are reporting on it. (Not social media or Reddit, but more like your IGN or Eurogamer type websites. Personally, I think it's more of a shipping issue than a Steam Deck issue... Sergecross73 msg me 22:13, 16 June 2022 (UTC)

I found a few articles about it: https://screenrant.com/steam-deck-thefts-discreet-packaging-requests/ https://www.techradar.com/news/steam-deck-users-want-valve-to-take-steps-to-prevent-shipping-thefts https://www.pcgamer.com/calls-for-valve-to-ship-steam-deck-in-more-discreet-packaging-after-apparent-thefts/ Urbanracer34 (talk) 22:22, 16 June 2022 (UTC)

"no low-level access" unsupported by the source

The article currently says this:

Digital Foundry noted that while the Deck's hardware may be more powerful, developers are not necessarily able to get low-level access to the CPU/GPU as developers working on the Switch can. While Switch games can be heavily optimized for that system, optimizing games for the Deck may be hampered, according to Digital Foundry, furthering these two systems in terms of competition.

I removed this as it's simply not true and that's not what the source says, but my edit was reverted. The article says that Steam deck won't have the same specialised versions of low-level APIs as other consoles, but that is not remotely the same thing as saying it will not have any low-level CPU/GPU access. We know it absolutely does have that access because it is simply running a version of Linux, Vulkan is an industry-standard low-level API, and Valve have not locked down the hardware/OS in any way.

The second part of the text, that optimising games might be hampered, is not what the article says at all. I don't even know how to address this one, it just doesn't say it.

The text could be rewritten to actually match what Digital Foundry said, but in that state I don't believe it would serve any purpose. The article cited is from shortly after the announcement, before much was known about the Deck, and is mostly just a bunch of guesswork about what the future of the Deck might possibly look like. I certainly wouldn't call it any kind of "reception" to the Deck, which is the section the text is currently written in. <Karlww (contribs|talk) 17:40, 13 July 2022 (UTC)

I think the problem is an omission. Digital Foundry's statement is correct, *and* sourced, but omits that the statement is in context to running on top of Photon, an emulation layer. Add that detail in and it's fine. -- ferret (talk) 17:51, 13 July 2022 (UTC)

I don't see how Proton has any relevance here, it's by no means a necessary component of the Deck, any dev is free to release a linux-native version of their game which will have unhindered low-level API access. <Karlww (talk) 18:26, 13 July 2022 (UTC)

You don't see the relevance of the primary emulation layer the device relies on? -- ferret (talk) 18:28, 13 July 2022 (UTC)

The device does not rely on it by any means, if it didn't exist there would still be games on the Deck. I don't see how its existence is relevant to the question of whether devs have low-level access, when they don't even need to use it. I will also point out it's a compatibility layer not an emulations. Besides all this, WP editors can't just assume that the source means to says something it doesn't say just so you can make it fit their beliefs. <Karlww (talk) 18:36, 13 July 2022 (UTC)

I think you need to reread the source. The preceding paragraphs are all about the Proton compatibility layer and the impacts it would (potentially) have on performance. The sentence currently in the article is based on one of the final paragraphs of that section. What it says about low-level access is all in context to Proton. And certainly that's true, that a compatibility layer is not direct low level access. That there can be native games not impacted by this is kinda irrelevant to noting that Proton brings an impact. -- ferret (talk) 18:49, 13 July 2022 (UTC)

That's your interpretation of the context, I don't agree with it but really it doesn't matter. This article does not say anything remotely like "Proton might have a performance impact." By arguing that's what the source is saying, you've ultimately agreed with my initial point that the text in this article is unsupported. <Karlww (talk) — Preceding undated comment added 19:41, 13 July 2022 (UTC)

I said so in my very first reply, that it was missing the context of Proton. -- ferret (talk) 19:55, 13 July 2022 (UTC)

I think I must have misunderstood what you were saying. I'll stand by my opinion that the contents of the source doesn't really add anything of value to the article, so I'll just leave it here. <Karlww (talk) 20:20, 13 July 2022 (UTC)

I am reluctant to make any further changes myself, but I was kind of hoping someone else would since we identified the article is incorrect... <Karlww (talk) 08:52, 13 August 2022 (UTC)

I've trimmed the sentence which was repetitive anyway and added mention of Proton. -- ferret (talk) 15:29, 13 August 2022 (UTC)

Sounds good to me. Sergecross73 msg me 17:34, 13 August 2022 (UTC)

Reseller ?

Is aby OFFICIAL reseller in europe ? ( No shipping , just buy in-person ) 78.141.124.223 (talk) 16:44, 11 January 2023 (UTC)

This talk page is for discussing the writing of the article, not personal inquiries. You won't find anyone fielding questions like this. Sergecross73 msg me 16:55, 11 January 2023 (UTC)

Proposed new section: “Competition”

I don’t know if this makes any sense at all, but there are a number of newer consoles making waves that are direct competitors to the SD. While they’re probably not notable enough on their own for a standalone article, several have had coverage directly comparing them to the SD. Does it make sense to include a small section here, or would this be better in another article, or just not to include them at all? Kcmastrpc (talk) 13:50, 22 April 2023 (UTC)

batocera.linux

An editor keeps adding this with a first party source, and without any context. Neither is acceptable. There are thousands of things in Steam's community. We need third party sourcing pointing out that it's worth singling out, and content explaining why, or it doesn't belong in the article. Sergecross73 msg me 13:25, 8 July 2023 (UTC)

Any context ? i gave you the link. check youtube: steamdeck+retrogaming, batocera is more used than emudeck on the steamdeck. Check google trends. If we won't promote any third application, i'm ok with it. But as soon as we promote emudeck, it is not possible to not promote batocera without subjectivity. Nadenis (talk) 17:00, 8 July 2023 (UTC)

you prefer this link : https://wagnerstechtalk.com/sd-batocera/ ? Nadenis (talk) 17:02, 8 July 2023 (UTC)

What we are looking for is a third-party reliable source that mentions batocera as a means of emulation on the Steam Deck. We do have a third-party source for emudeck, but doing a search online I do not see one for batocera. This is not about promotion of one solution over another, but that we are required to only include those that have independent reliable sourcing. Masem (t) 17:04, 8 July 2023 (UTC)

is https://wagnerstechtalk.com/sd-batocera an acceptable source ?

which engine search are you using to not find batocera in it ?! I guess your country is filtering your searchs. Nadenis (talk) 17:07, 8 July 2023 (UTC)

You're not understanding. We're looking for a notable publication to call it noteworthy. Like an IGN or Eurogamer type website. Your source is not even close to that. Sergecross73 msg me 17:46, 8 July 2023 (UTC)

Yes, the question is what is the definition of noteworthy ?

i put one from gamingretro.co.uk ; i hope it is ok to you. Nadenis (talk) 05:12, 9 July 2023 (UTC)

See WP:VG/S for an extensive list of sources generally approved of using. Sergecross73 msg me 11:52, 9 July 2023 (UTC)

this isn't updated?

where's the info about the 6nm APU in the OLED model? 2001:1970:4F83:7D00:0:0:0:A26A (talk) 17:19, 19 March 2024 (UTC)

Expanding the Lead

I realize I just reduced the lead even further, but I feel that it could be expanded a bit. Any editors have any suggestions on what else could be featured prominently in the lead without going overboard? Kcmastrpc (talk) 14:06, 1 September 2024 (UTC)

Personally, I feel like covering the groundbreaking nature of the device and how its introduction has spawned an entire cottage industry of PC-based handhelds (I realize these existed before the SD, but the SD definitely propelled in into the mainstream). Kcmastrpc (talk) 14:07, 1 September 2024 (UTC)

The problem is that we need multiple sources to credit the Steam Deck for driving more portable PC devices, and that's not something I've seen much of. Masem (t) 14:43, 1 September 2024 (UTC)

I feel like I've seen it a bunch of times, but I'll need to search and see if any were actual RS's. Sergecross73 msg me 18:37, 1 September 2024 (UTC)

I took a crack at it, it seemed like the Legacy section covers this aspect, and isn't introducing any OR. Kcmastrpc (talk) 13:25, 2 September 2024 (UTC)