It’s built on an open-source operating system, so you can tinker with it for hours on end. It has a massive catalog of games, so you can easily find something to play. The machine’s portability gives you the flexibility to play anywhere. The Steam Deck runs a custom version of the Linux operating system called SteamOS (though the device can also run Windows, if you choose to install it). The Steam Deck is a handheld PC, or a PC-based portable console, made by Valve, a company that was once known for games such as Half-Life, Portal, Counter-Strike, and DOTA 2 but is now more known for its digital PC game store, Steam. The Steam Deck is the current embodiment of everything I’ve been looking for. Like reading a book, using a handheld feels like a private moment, just for me. I find playing games on a handheld console, even with a small screen, to be more immersive than playing on a giant television or monitor. I’ve always been drawn to handheld gaming gadgets, starting with chintzy Tiger handhelds and moving my way up through several Game Boys, numerous Nintendo DS units, the PlayStation Portable, the PlayStation Vita, and a whole host of Android-based emulation devices.

But after a year of effort and updates, this little $400 device has become my favorite way to play games, and I’d recommend the Steam Deck to anyone who likes to tinker but doesn’t want to build a gaming desktop. Preorders took months to arrive, software support and compatibility were shaky, and the battery life was (and still is) decidedly unimpressive. It was also unclear whether the Steam Deck would succeed or fail.

When the Steam Deck handheld gaming console launched last year, it was tough to tell whether the device was a portable PC or a Nintendo Switch competitor.

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