At this point, it’s safe to say that Valve’s Steam Deck is the biggest thing that will happen to PC gaming in 2022. And despite being in incredible demand, the company has managed to ramp up production to meet it. As of this week, users no longer need a pre-order and waiting period to purchase one of the portable PC gaming gadgets. All you have to do is order it and it will ship within a week or two. At the time of writing, all three models ($399, $529, and $649) are in stock.Valve is also announcing that its Steam Deck docking station, the USB-C connector that allows the Steam Deck to easily connect to a Nintendo Switch-style TV, is ready. The add-on costs $89 and lets you easily connect a 4K monitor with audio via HDMI or DisplayPort, wired internet with gigabit Ethernet, and three USB 3.1 accessories. The Dock Station is a pretty smart way to connect the Steam Deck to a monitor, but thanks to the generic USB-C connection, there are cheaper solutions on Amazon.Valve’s great success has not gone unnoticed. In addition to a boom in PC-based handheld gaming machines like the AyaNeo, both Logitech and Razer have announced next-gen Android-based gaming machines in the same Nintendo Switch style, with a focus on streaming PC games through services like Xbox Game. Pass and Geforce Now. And naturally, somewhere in Valve’s R&D department, a second-gen Steam Deck is taking shape.
