Steam Deck Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Answers for Frequently Asked Questions related to the Steam Deck.

We don't know when Steam Deck sales, refurbished re-stocks or when the Steam Deck 2 release will happen.

⚠️ Content here will be / has been merged into a single repository for easier maintainability and contributions

Official Resources made by Valve / Steam

Is The Steam Deck A Good Choice For You?:

• Pricing
  • Most likely the Deck will be the cheapest option new if you want a handheld
  • It's worth looking for sales or on the used market to see what the competition is going for as well
• Hardware / Performance
  • Valve has said many times that they will iterate slower with the Deck compared to the competition
  • Newer AAA games are already pushing the limits or barely run at all (poor optimization and "weak" hardware don't mix together well)
  • Lacking features:
    • External GPU support (without tinkering)
    • Variable refresh rate display
    • 2nd USB port
• Game / Software Compatibility (SteamOS / Linux vs Windows)
  • Not all software is available or works under SteamOS (Linux)
    • Competitive games that have anti-cheats most likely don't work (eg. Call Of Duty, Fortnite)
    • Under SteamOS specifically flatpaks are the way to go limiting your choices even more (immutable distro)
  • Modding games might be harder (specifically non-Steam-Workshop modding)
  • Frame-generation isn't that good on Linux yet
• Need for portability
  • If it would be mostly docked a console or a PC might be a better choice
• Other uses
  • Media consumption, doing work etc...
    • Might benefit from a larger screen, built in keyboard or more ports which the Steam Deck lacks (unless a hub / dock is used)

New Or Refurbished?

• Both have warranties
• Refurbished stock usually gets sold out pretty fast and a lot of time can pass between re-stocks
• Refurbished offers best value though local used market could go even lower depending on region
• Refurbished comes in different packaging but most of the time the device itself looks like brand new (from user reports so far on r/SteamDeck)

Comparisons

• Laptop
• PC
• Handhelds
  • Asus ROG Ally (X)
  • Lenovo Legion Go
  • Playstation Portal
  • MSI Claw
  • Nintendo Switch (OLED / 2)
• Consoles
  • PS5
  • Xbox Series S/X

Sales

• Steam Sales
• Previous Steam Deck Sales
  • LCD
  • OLED
  • Dock
• Non-Steam Platforms (Fanatical, Humble Bundle etc...)

Accessories

• General Recommendations
• MicroSD Cards
• Back button extensions
• Screen protectors
• Thumbstick caps
• Controllers
• Docks
• Cases
• External monitors
• VR headsets & AR / XR glasses
• Manufacturer list

Hardware

• Differences between LCD and OLED Deck
• Battery and charging
• Limitations
• Remote Wake
• SSD Swap

Software

• Decky (3rd party plugins)
• Emulation (eg. Emudeck)
• Remote Play
• SteamOS
• Windows
• Proton & Wine

Gaming

• Does INSERT GAME'S NAME work under Linux / on Deck? + Deck Verified program
• Game Launchers & Accessing Other Stores
• Game / Quick Access Menu (QAM) settings
• Steam Input / Controller Templates
• Top played games on Deck
• Recommendations

Other Use Cases

• Desktop Mode
• Using Steam Deck As A Controller
• Connecting Laptop / Tablet / Other External Displays
• Developing For The Steam Deck

Other Resources / Communities

• Steam Deck Discord + Their FAQ
• r/SteamDeck
• Stanto.com