

Since its debut, it still hasn’t become officially available through Valve or authorised retailers in Australia. However, it has long avoided the Australian market. It’s capable of running newer games at a stable 30fps and older games at much higher framerates. It’s a remarkably powerful device, with GPU power equivalent to that of an Nvidia GTX 1050. The controls, unlike the Nintendo Switch, can’t be removed, however, the Deck can be interfaced with a monitor or TV, and can have a controller or keyboard/mouse combo connected to it. It’s most similar to a Nintendo Switch, in that it’s a handheld gaming device with joysticks, buttons and controls on the left and right of a touch screen. Oh, and of course Steam, the most popular PC digital games market. The Steam Deck is a portable gaming console developed by Valve, the gaming company behind The Valve Index VR headset, Half-Life, Portal, Team Fortress 2, DOTA 2 and CS:GO.

Here’s what Aussies should keep in mind about the Steam Deck. Valve has, however, expanded the markets in which you can get your hands on one. The Steam Deck has been available overseas for months, though there’s been no word on it coming to Australia (apart from a vague “soon”). In 2021, Valve threw the gaming world a curveball by announcing the Steam Deck, a handheld gaming device most similar to the Nintendo Switch, complete with a small screen and controls on the left and right-hand sides.
