You can use a USB-C hub with the Steam Deck, however. Anything that requires a wired connection may not be compatible, however, given the limited ports available on the Steam Deck. This means that if you have a favorite Bluetooth headset you'd like to pair, or you prefer using controllers like the DualSense, you can do so. Can I pair my Steam Deck with my favorite accessories?Īs long as a device has Bluetooth support, you can safely expect to use it with your Steam Deck. Instead, software updates simply be released as-needed. Valve also reveals that players won't have to worry about gaming drivers. As Valve develops new features for the Steam Deck in the future, these can also be used to improve the regular Steam experience. Valve tells IGN that the UI used in the Steam Deck has been given a 'facelift' that makes it feel better to use with a controller, from navigating the settings to seeking out specific games. You can even install what you want, just like you would on a normal Linux computer. It goes further than just these features though, with Valve explaining that you can do anything on a Steam Deck found on a Linux computer, including browsing the web. This software also supports suspending and resuming different games, ensuring players never have to wait for long to dive back into whatever they're playing. Cloud Saves also mean that if you do start playing something on your regular PC, you can continue playing it on your Steam Deck without any problems, so long as the game supports Cloud Saves as a feature. The store ensures that you don't have to buy something elsewhere before you can play it on your Steam Deck - it's all one smooth experience. Remote Play is also supported, so a game can be streamed from your PC to the Steam Deck. With SteamOS, players have access to Steam Chat, notifications, and other features they've come to expect from using Steam. Regardless, Valve promises that any games you have running on SteamOS will have no problems running on the Steam Deck.

With that in mind, there are still compatibility issues so support for every single game cannot be guaranteed.

Proton works as a compatibility layer so that even Windows versions of games can run on Linux. The Steam Deck uses the latest version of SteamOS, a type of Linux operating system that works with software callled Proton. The $529 and $649 models also include a carrying case and an exclusive Steam Community profile bundle, while the $649 model uses 'premium anti-glare etched glass' and comes with an exclusive virtual keyboard theme. Games played on an internal SSD will load much quicker than games stored on an SD card and may perform a bit better as well. It is important to note that the faster SSD storage cannot be expanded, so you should consider that carefully when thinking about what model you'd like to get.

Steam play button does nothing