Avery K. Tingle, The Gamer Author

Valve, the studio behind franchises such as Team Fortress and Half-Life, is getting into the handheld market. They’re not playing around, either; this thing looks poised to eat up a lot of the Nintendo Switch’s market share. It’s coming pre-loaded with the Steam store, which means this little monster is going to come out of the box with access to thousands of titles.

This is what we know about the Valve’s handheld so far:

Multiple Storage Options, But You Get What You Pay For

As you can see, the most expensive option will get you the best version with the highest amount of storage, but it’s going to hurt. Personal recommendation: go with the middle option and get yourself a secure Solid State Drive (SSD) if you’re a casual gamer. The most expensive option will give you the most storage and the best speed, but everything else is cosmetic.

The OS Is Linux-Based

This essentially means more functionality, and that’s a good thing. Anything that runs on Linux should be able to run on Steam Deck. This means the hand held should connect to both the Origins and Epic Game stores, which vastly increases the number of titles available at launch. This also means it’ll be compatible with certain VR devices.

The Battery Is A Bit Of A Question Mark

Running graphic-intensive games is inevitably going to drain your battery faster. While Valve is touting an average of an eight-hour battery life, playtesting has revealed the battery can give out in as little as two hours. Settings in the Steam Deck will allow you to tweak the frame rate, so you can potentially extend the battery life. This isn’t a big issue. We’re almost always near some sort of plug and for those of us constantly on the go, I imagine external batteries might become our new best friends.

Reservations are currently open, but if you’re one of the lucky ones who’s able to snag a reservation, that doesn’t necessarily mean you’ll get it in time for Christmas. My advice: jump as soon as you have the chance. This is going to be a game changer and could possibly, finally, bridge the gap between PC and console gamers.

Avery K. Tingle is a scifi/fantasy author currently residing in the Las Vegas area. Owned by two cats, he is passionate about social justice, Star Wars, and mental health. Connect to his award-winning writing and social media here.