Steam Deck The world's first hands -on impression -how about Valve's portable gaming PC actually touches!?

Valve has announced a completely new portable gaming PC "Steam Deck".Last week, IGN gave VALVE a unique opportunity to do hands -on of Steam Deck's actual machine faster than anyone.I was able to play various games for a few hours on Steam Deck for two days.I couldn't help but be impressed with the great balance of price, performance, shape, and function.

I played about 10 types of titles to test the performance of Steam Deck.The first -person viewpoint titles "Doom Eternal" and "Portal 2", "Death Stranding", "Star Wars Jedi: Fallun Order", and "Stardew Valley" and "Hades" from the viewpoint.The graphic settings of the game were initialized, and the resolution was operated by native 720p, but in most cases it was working without any problems.In terms of thermal discharge, the Steam Deck itself had never got hot.

When I saw Steam Deck, I was worried about the buttons at first.The left and right analog sticks are arranged horizontally with the cross key and face button (front button group).If you are used to a general controller where the face button is lined up, you may feel strange.However, when I actually held Steam Deck, I found that this button was placed without any discomfort.Thanks to the shape of the body, the thumb can be naturally extended to a face button, cross key, and analog stick.

The analog stick was an impression that it could be moved accurately in the standard size, but the cross key did not have a more ticking feeling than I expected.Nevertheless, it is good to be able to enter the Naiken command without any problems with "Guilty Gear -Strive-".There was no particular dissatisfaction with the front buttons and trigger buttons, so I was able to continue playing "Hades" comfortably.Personally, I felt it was too soft when I pressed the trigger button, but this Steam Deck is still a prototype that is still under development.Before launching Steam Deck, there is room for Valve to make further improvements on the main unit.

There are four back buttons behind the Steam Deck.It is a great feature for players who are accustomed to controllers such as Xbox Elite, and will be indispensable for titles assuming keyboard operation.Steam Deck uses Steam Input (a system made by Valve, a system that allows almost all controllers to use the optimal button assignment), allowing you to freely change any buttons.

The high -precision trackpad under both analog sticks is a featured feature of Steam Deck.The controller can be operated in a similar way to a mouse, even in a difficult title.Valve's Pierre -Lou Griffith said that trackpads can be customized for various uses.

"You can specify the range that the mouse cursor can be moved with a trackpad, and make it an input method that corresponds to the trackpad input," said Griffith.

Given his explanation, it seems that it can be used to quickly drag the mini map with the RTS title and move it.

"You can create a pop -up menu on the game screen and perform various buttons and key macros operations from there. Of course, you can simply use trackpad instead of mouse."

Like the Valve Index controller, Steam Deck's analog sticks and trackpads are equipped with a static capacity system.In other words, you can detect whether the user is touching.There is also a gyro sensor inside the Steam Deck, and these two functions can move better in the game.It takes a little time to get used to it, but if you use these functions together, the viewpoint operation will be strangely accurate, and it will not change that much as using a normal mouse.This was also used in FPS like "Doom Eternal".

With a 7 -inch screen of Steam Deck, touch operations can also be performed.It will be useful not only for games for touch screen and mouse operation, but also for operating the OS screen.

STEAM DECK software and OS

Steam Deck looks like a portable game console, but the function of this unit is close to a gaming desktop PC.The Steam Deck is based on the modified Steam OS, and can be used on the surface like a game console.But this unit is actually working completely in the same way as a PC.Steam Deck's OS is based on Linux -based Proton, and Proton operates both Windows and Linux games and applications.

With this high flexibility, Steam Deck can do almost anything with a general PC.You can connect mice and keyboards, and you can also use third -party programs and launchers.It is also possible to erase the Steam OS and install Windows.

Most games will be able to play with Steam Deck without any detailed settings.I will explain the hardware aspect in detail, but players who want to make the settings in detail and themselves can be satisfied.

"Users can customize operation settings, graphic settings, battery settings, etc.. You can download and use mods with Steam Workshop, and you can also use Mods distributed other than Steam Workshop. If you are a Pc gamer, it is indispensable.These functions and settings are all supported by Steam Deck, "said Griffith.

Steam features such as cloud save can be used exactly the same with Steam Deck.You can play games on your desktop PC, save and finish, and then play the game on Steam Deck.The progress status of the game, the operation settings, the DLC, and the mods downloaded in Workshop are all inherited.It is also possible to permanently interrupt the game played on Steam Deck, similar to Nintendo Switch.

Steam Deck is designed as a portable game console, but can be used like a desktop PC.This unit has one USB-C terminal, but if you increase the number of terminals with a USB hub, you can connect various peripherals such as mouse, keyboard, wired LAN cable.VALVE is planning to release a docking station for Steam Deck, which is sold separately, but Steam Deck also can use a regular USB-C hub.Steam deck is also compatible with Bluetooth, for example, Apple's AirPods could be connected without any problems.

Steam Deck in desktop mode seems to be using ordinary PCs.I connected the mouse, keyboard, and 32 -inch monitors to Steam Deck and played "Factorio" and "Death Stranding", but if I do not see Steam Desk on the desk, the game works on the desktop PC.You will believe it even if you are told you are doing it.

Detailed specifications of Steam Desk

Steam Deck can also operate the title released in 2020, such as the "Death Stranding" PC version, so it is not necessary to set the graphic settings.This unit is quite powerful.Steam Deck is equipped with AMD's next -generation APU, and this APU consists of a ZEN 2 CPU that runs in 4 cores and 8 threads, and eight RDNA 2 GPUs of eight arithmetic units.

The total operation capacity of the APU equipped with Steam Deck is 2 terraplops, which is a specification close to Xbox One and PS4.However, it can be said that it is actually higher performance.The aircraft aims to run the game at 720p resolution, which is too much for a 7 -inch screen with a resolution of 1280x800.Steam Deck is a high setting from inside, and can operate a generational PC game.I couldn't perform a benchmark test during a hands -on, but I actually played titles such as "DEATH STRANDING", "DOOM ETERNAL", and "CONTROL", and the frame rate is stable without the graphic quality drop.I was able to confirm that.

Steam Deck has three models, but in terms of hard performance, there is no change, and basically only the installed storage is different.The basic model of 64GB is $ 399 (about 44,000 yen), the intermediate model of 256GB is $ 529 (about 58,000 yen), and the highest grade model of 512GB is $ 649 (about 71,000 yen).。The finest model has a high -end anti -glare protective glass panel on the touch screen.All three types of models use SSDs, but 256GB and 512GB models use NVME drive to achieve even higher -speed loading.It also has an SD card slot, where you can install game data and play directly.All models come with a portable case and an AC adapter.

In summary, I was surprised at Steam Deck anyway.For those who want to reach out to PC games, or those who want a portable game console that are more performance than Nintendo Switch, the price of $ 399, the basic model, will be very attractive.Even if you already have a gaming PC, a luxury model with a larger storage capacity should be enough to carry several types of AAA titles.Even in this price range, it feels quite cheaper than a cheap gaming notebook PC, and it's even better than a high -end desktop PC.

Personally, I'm looking forward to the unprecedented possibility of Steam Deck, where you can play games between desktop PCs and portable machines.Because this unit is an open platform, not only can you carry a large amount of games on the Steam account, but also the Epic Games store, U -PLAY, itch..Non -Steam games such as IO will be able to play outside.

Steam Deck will be released in Europe and the United States this year's holiday season.Although there is no information about the launch of Japan, the official website is already compatible with Japanese.I want to look forward to the follow -up.