What is the Steam Deck?

The Steam Deck is a handheld console from Steam operator Valve. It is essentially a handy, small computer with a Linux-based operating system called SteamOS, on which you can play more or less all computer games.

It has normal buttons and joysticks like a controller, but also 2 touchpads that can be used as a mouse replacement, for example. The screen is also a touchscreen.

What can you do with the Steam Deck?

The Steam Deck can be used to play games. It is primarily intended for your Steam library - so you can use it to play all the games you have on your Steam account. (Whether it can be played/navigated using controller controls is another matter.)

Beyond the Steam library, you can think of your Steam Deck as an emulation machine. If there is a working emulator for a console, it will work on your Steam Deck.

From Switch emulation with yuzu or playing GameCube games with Dolphin, you really have no limits.

Of course, everything is backed up, but you already know that. ;)

Launchers such as the Epic Games Launcher or Battle.net and their games also run on the deck with more or less fiddling.

Otherwise, the Steam Deck is a real computer. In desktop mode, office alternatives such as LibreOffice or OnlyOffice can be used. Browsers such as Firefox can also be used normally.

Steam Deck with mouse and keyboard

If you choose a game title that requires mouse and keyboard control, you are not immediately limited with the Steam Deck. Since the console is really flexible, there are no limits to creativity.

Steam Deck with docking station

This is the ideal solution - with a docking station, such as the 6-in-1 docking station from JSAUX, you can turn your Steam Deck into a desktop PC.

The docking station has several USB ports to which a mouse and keyboard can be connected. An HDMI port allows the use of a monitor or television. An Ethernet port for the LAN cable rounds off the functionality.

Steam Deck with Bluetooth mouse and keyboard

If the Steam Deck screen isn't too small for you, you can connect a Bluetooth mouse and/or keyboard and use them. This is great for traveling, for example.

Steam Deck with USB hub

If you have a USB-C hub, you can connect it and use it to operate a mouse and keyboard. It's usually difficult to display a monitor with this, but there are also USB hubs with HDMI.

What is Steam?

Steam is a gaming platform from the company Valve. Both names are extremely well-known in the gaming scene - especially through titles such as "Half-Life", "Portal" or "Counter-Strike".

On Steam, you can create a free account and purchase games from the Steam store. These games then end up in the Steam library, where you can download, install and play the games.

Valve has had several more or less successful attempts to bring the software platform with its own hardware, so to speak "into the real world" - these include projects such as Steam Link, the Steam Controller or the Steam Machine.

With the Steam Deck, Valve has earned a place in the ranks of console manufacturers. And it doesn't look like they're going anywhere.