# History of video games/Platforms/Steam Deck
## History
### Development

The Steam Deck was proceeded by the Steam Machine line of console like home gaming PCs.
Development of the Steam Deck potentially dates back to September 2020.
By May 25th, 2021 reporters at Ars Technica wrote they were able to confirm some rumors that Valve was developing a portable PC codenamed "SteamPal".
The Steam Deck was announced on July 15th, 2021. The Steam Deck was announced several hours before Elgato announced a second version of their Stream Deck, causing some confusion.
The initial release date was intended for sometime in December 2021. By November 2021 logistic and supply challenges would push this date back to Feburary 2022.
Packaging for the console was revealed on December 2nd of 2021.

### Launch

Steam Deck was officially released on February 25th of 2022. The console sold well at launch, with production increasing in the post launch period.

## Technology
### Compute

The Steam Deck appears to use a similar architecture to a PC.
The Steam Deck is powered by an AMD Van Gough APU. This APU includes a quad core Zen 2 CPU capable of executing 8 threads. The APU also includes an RDNA2 based GPU sporting 8 GPU compute units with 512 total stream processors. The system is capable of a performance of around 2 teraflops. The system supports ray tracing.
The system has 16 gigabytes of LPDDR5 RAM.

### Software

Steam OS is used as the default operating system, though custom operating systems may also be installed.

## Games

Unusually for a handheld gaming device, but standard for a PC Valve had no plans for exclusive titles for the Steam Deck.

### 2022
#### Aperture Desk Job

Short tech demo game by Valve announced close to launch to demonstrate Steam Deck system features, while also being available for Steam on some other platforms.

## Gallery
### Hardware

* A Steam Deck viewed from the front.
* Size comparison between a Nintendo Switch, Nintendo Switch OLED, and Steam Deck.
* Size comparison between a Steam Deck and an ASUS Vivobook S15 laptop.

### Software

* KDE Plasma 5.23 running on a Steam Deck in desktop mode.
* SteamOS 3.0 neofetch running on a Steam Deck.
* SteamOS Devkit software screenshot.

## External resources

* Steam Deck website

## References

* 1 2 Machkovech, Sam (25 May 2021). "Exclusive: Valve is making a Switch-like portable gaming PC" (in en-us). Ars Technica. https://arstechnica.com/gaming/2021/05/exclusive-valve-is-making-a-switch-like-portable-gaming-pc/.
* ↑ Good, Owen S. (25 May 2021). "Report: Valve making a Nintendo Switch-like gaming PC" (in en). Polygon. https://www.polygon.com/22453635/valve-steampal-rumor-report-nintendo-switch-gaming-pc-handheld-launch-date.
* 1 2 3 Peters, Jay (15 July 2021). "Valve’s gaming handheld is called the Steam Deck and it’s shipping in December" (in en). The Verge. https://www.theverge.com/2021/7/15/22578783/valve-steam-deck-gaming-handheld-pc.
* ↑ "Elgato Picked A Very Bad Day To Announce A New "Stream Deck"" (in en-us). Kotaku. https://kotaku.com/elgato-picked-a-very-bad-day-to-announce-a-new-stream-1847303975.
* ↑ Peters, Jay (15 July 2021). "Elgato announces new Stream Deck the same day Valve announces new Steam Deck" (in en). The Verge. https://www.theverge.com/2021/7/15/22579144/elgato-stream-deck-mk-2-stand-faceplates-usb-c-valve.
* ↑ Gilliam, Ryan (15 July 2021). "Valve announces Steam Deck handheld for PC games" (in en). Polygon. https://www.polygon.com/22578782/steam-deck-handheld-valve-release-date-price.
* ↑ Peters, Jay (10 November 2021). "Steam Deck launch delayed by two months" (in en). The Verge. https://www.theverge.com/2021/11/10/22774888/steam-deck-delayed-two-months-february-2022-launch-shipping.
* ↑ Kim, Matt. "Steam Deck Delayed Until February 2022 - IGN" (in en). https://www.ign.com/articles/steam-deck-delayed-valve-february-2022.
* ↑ Wales, Matt (10 November 2021). "Valve delays Steam Deck into next year due to "material shortages"" (in en). Eurogamer. https://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2021-11-10-valve-delays-steam-deck-into-next-year-due-to-material-shortages.
* ↑ Moore, Jared. "Valve Shows Off the Steam Deck's Packaging - IGN" (in en). https://www.ign.com/articles/steam-deck-packaging.
* ↑ Peters, Jay (2 December 2021). "This is the Steam Deck’s box" (in en). The Verge. https://www.theverge.com/2021/12/2/22814910/steam-deck-box-package-power-adapter.
* ↑ Fenlon, Wes (3 December 2021). "Valve shows off the Steam Deck's low-key packaging" (in en). PC Gamer. https://www.pcgamer.com/valve-shows-off-the-steam-decks-low-key-packaging/.
* ↑ Dawe, Liam (2022-02-25). "The Steam Deck has released, here's my initial review". GamingOnLinux. Retrieved 2022-02-27.
* ↑ Larabel, Michael (2022-02-25). "For Linux Enthusiasts Especially, The Steam Deck Is An Incredible & Fun Device". Phoronix. Retrieved 2022-02-27.
* ↑ Hollister, Sean (15 April 2022). "The Steam Deck is not a flop" (in en). The Verge. https://www.theverge.com/23027375/steam-deck-sales-numbers-figures-best-selling.
* ↑ "Steam Deck production ramping up into "the hundreds of thousands" by next month" (in en-gb). Eurogamer.net. 1 March 2022. https://www.eurogamer.net/steam-deck-production-ramping-up-into-the-hundreds-of-thousands-by-next-month.
* 1 2 3 Mujtaba, Hassan (15 July 2021). "Steam Deck Portable Console Specifications Revealed, AMD Van Gogh APU With Zen 2 CPU & RDNA 2 GPU Cores". Wccftech. https://wccftech.com/steam-deck-specifications-revealed-features-amd-van-gogh-apu-with-zen-2-cpu-rdna-2-gpu-cores/.
* 1 2 3 "Steam Deck: First Hands-On With Valve’s Handheld Gaming PC" (in en). https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oLtiRGTZvGM.
* ↑ Messner, Steven (15 July 2021). "You can install Windows on a Steam Deck and possibly other game storefronts too". PC Gamer. https://www.pcgamer.com/you-can-install-windows-on-a-steam-deck-and-possibly-other-game-storefronts-too/.
* ↑ Wright, Steven. "No, there won't be Steam Deck exclusive games, says Valve" (in en). Input. https://www.inputmag.com/gaming/no-there-wont-be-steam-deck-exclusive-games-says-valve.
* ↑ "Valve's Steam Deck Probably Won't Get Exclusive Games" (in en-us). Kotaku. https://kotaku.com/valves-steam-deck-probably-wont-get-exclusive-games-1848146499.
* ↑ Honorof, Marshall (1 December 2021). "Valve confirms: No exclusive Steam Deck games" (in en). Tom's Guide. https://www.tomsguide.com/news/valve-confirms-no-steam-deck-exclusives.
* ↑ "Aperture Desk Job is Steam Deck’s first-party touch that Xbox Series X was missing" (in en). Polygon. https://www.polygon.com/22951322/aperture-desk-job-steam-deck-first-party-custom-game.
* ↑ Smith, Graham (26 February 2022). "Aperture Desk Job is a free, short game set in the Portal universe" (in en). Rock, Paper, Shotgun. https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/aperture-desk-job-is-a-free-short-game-set-in-the-portal-universe.