History of Steam Deck in Timeline
The Steam Deck, a handheld gaming PC developed by Valve, allows users to play their Steam library on the go. Learning from past experiences with Steam Machines and the Steam Controller, Valve designed the Steam Deck with a custom AMD APU and a Linux-based operating system called SteamOS 3.0. The Steam Deck signifies Valve's shift towards in-house hardware development after facing difficulties with relying on third-party manufacturers for Steam Machines and the need for native Linux game compatibility.
2015: Steam Machines Introduction
Valve introduced the Steam Machine series, gaming computers using Linux-based SteamOS, in 2015. This laid some groundwork for the later Steam Deck.
2015: Early Steam Controller Prototypes
Early Steam Controller prototypes in 2015 explored concepts like an integrated LCD screen and Steam Link integration, which influenced the Steam Deck's development.
April 2018: Steam Machines Discontinuation
Valve quietly pulled back on Steam Machines by April 2018 but remained committed to an open-hardware platform. The lack of Linux game availability led to the development of Proton.
May 2021: Steam Deck Rumors
Rumors of a portable gaming unit from Valve, dubbed "SteamPal," emerged in May 2021, based on Steam code updates and comments by Gabe Newell.
June 2021: Steam Deck Pre-Orders Open
Pre-orders for the Steam Deck opened in June 2021, one day after the device's official announcement. High demand caused temporary server issues on the Steam storefront.
July 15, 2021: Steam Deck Reveal
Valve officially revealed the Steam Deck on July 15, 2021, highlighting its three models based on storage options.
September 2021: Easy Anti-Cheat Compatibility for Proton
In September 2021, Epic Games made its Easy Anti-Cheat (EAC) software compatible with Proton, the compatibility layer that enables Windows games to run on the Steam Deck's Linux-based OS. This was a significant step towards making more games compatible with the device.
September 2021: Steam Deck Developer Kits Shipped
In September 2021, Valve began shipping developer kits for the Steam Deck, allowing game developers to test and optimize their games for the handheld device.
October 2021: Steam Deck Game Compatibility Review Process
In October 2021, Valve implemented a game compatibility review process for the Steam Deck. Games were classified as "Verified," "Playable," or "Unsupported" to help users understand how well a game would run on the device.
November 2021: Steam Deck Delay
Due to the global chip shortage, Valve announced in November 2021 that the Steam Deck's release would be delayed to February 2022.
January 2022: Dynamic Cloud Sync Introduced
Valve introduced Dynamic Cloud Sync for Steam in January 2022. This feature allows games to synchronize save data to the cloud while the game is still running, improving the user experience for handheld devices like the Steam Deck.
February 2022: Steam Deck Launch
The Steam Deck was initially released in February 2022. It garnered significant attention for its versatility, including support for Linux games and Windows games via Proton, a compatibility layer.
February 2022: Original Steam Deck Specifications
The original Steam Deck, launched in February 2022, featured a custom AMD APU, 16GB RAM, and variable timing frequencies for CPU and GPU.
February 2022: Steam Deck Shipping Commences
Shipping of the Steam Deck began in February 2022 in North America and Europe, with other regions following later.
February 2022: Shipping Updates
In February 2022, Valve provided updates on shipping estimates for different Steam Deck models, with some models expected to ship later in Q2 or Q3 2022.
February 25, 2022: Steam Deck Launch
The Steam Deck was officially released in North America and Europe on February 25, 2022.
March 1, 2022: Aperture Desk Job Release
Valve released Aperture Desk Job, a free game designed to showcase the Steam Deck's capabilities, on March 1, 2022.
June 2022: Increased Production
By June 2022, Valve doubled the number of Steam Decks shipping weekly, helping to fulfill pre-orders.
August 2022: Production Exceeds Expectations
Valve's production of Steam Decks surpassed expectations in August 2022, allowing for earlier shipments than anticipated.
October 6, 2022: Steam Deck Dock Released
On October 6, 2022, the official dock for the Steam Deck was released. The dock allows users to connect the device to external displays (up to 8K 60Hz or 4K 120Hz) and peripherals, as well as providing power and network connectivity.
October 2022: Open Sales Begin
All Steam Deck reservations were fulfilled by October 2022, allowing open sales without reservations.
December 2022: Asian Release
The Steam Deck officially launched in Asia in December 2022.
December 2022: Steam Deck Improvements and Future Plans
As of December 2022, Valve was pursuing improvements for the Steam Deck, including per-game power profiles, and exploring a second-generation device.
2022: Sales Figures for 2022
Omdia reported sales of 1.62 million Steam Deck units in 2022.
February 2023: Steam Deck-Based UI Replaces Big Picture Mode
In February 2023, Valve replaced Steam's Big Picture Mode with a new user interface based on the Steam Deck's client. This unified the experience across desktop and handheld devices.
February 2023: Local Network Game Downloads Added
In February 2023, the Steam Deck gained the ability to download games directly from a local network Steam installation, simplifying the process of transferring games to the device.
November 2023: New OLED Models Announced
In November 2023, Valve announced two new Steam Deck models with OLED screens, improved battery, and cooling, replacing existing models. They also indicated work on a Steam Deck 2.
November 2023: OLED Model Introduction
In November 2023, the Steam Deck saw the introduction of OLED screen models, enhancing the visual experience.
November 2023: Sales Milestone
Valve announced having sold "multiple millions" of Steam Decks by November 2023.
November 16, 2023: New Models Released
Two new Steam Deck models with 512GB and 1TB storage, OLED screens, and other improvements were released on November 16, 2023, replacing the previous high-end models.
2023: Handheld PC Gaming Boom
The Steam Deck influenced the release of similar handheld gaming PCs in 2023 like the Asus ROG Ally and Lenovo Legion Go.