Additionally, the Steam Deck features a desktop mode and allows users to install third-party Linux applications.

Valve quietly pulled back on it by April 2018, but stated they remained committed to providing some type of open-hardware platform.

[3] Furthermore, their experience with trying to convince other manufacturers to produce Steam Machines led Valve to realize that it was better to develop all their hardware internally.

The Deck, existing in three different models based on internal storage options, was shipped starting in February 2022 in North America and Europe, with other regions to follow throughout the year.

"[7] According to Newell, they wanted to be "very aggressive" on the release and pricing strategy as they considered the mobile market as their primary competitor for the Deck.

It includes a 7-inch (180 mm) touchscreen LCD display with a 1280×800 pixel resolution with a fixed 60 Hz refresh rate; games are configured to use vertical synchronization where possible.

[5][17] The thumbsticks and trackpads use capacitive sensing, and the unit further includes a gyroscope to allow for more specialized controls on the handheld mode.

[22] The system's software includes an optional FPS limiter that balance a game's performance to optimize battery life.

[5][17] As Valve considered options for bringing a handheld device to market, they set a priority that the device had to be able to play nearly the entirety of the Steam game catalogue, and rejected possible hardware that moved away from the standard x86-based processing structure that would have been easier to implement in handheld form but would have limited what games would be available.

Only through recent discussions with AMD and their current product lines was Valve able to identify a technical approach that would meet the goal of a handheld device capable of playing all Steam games without overtaxing the processor unit.

While the specifications are modest compared to high-end gaming computers, they felt that the performance was at a good place that would be acceptable for many years, while still looking at newer software improvements, such as the addition of AMD's FidelityFX Super Resolution (FSR).

[30] In addition, a limited edition of the 1 TB model was released in North America exclusively, which has translucent plastic casing and selected orange colored components.

[22] External GPUs are not officially supported,[37] although testing via the M2 slot has demonstrated that eGPUs are capable of running when connected to the Deck.

Valve stated they were working with vendors of these middleware solutions to improve Proton support while also encouraging Linux-specific versions to be developed.

[50] Another popular anti-cheat solution, BattlEye, also affirmed their software was ready to work with the Proton layer and only required developers to opt-in to enable it.

Games that are confirmed to be compatible with the Steam Deck, including those with Proton and any middleware DRM solutions, that by default meet minimum performance specifications, are marked as "Verified".

Games that may require some user tinkering with settings, such as having to use a system control to bring up the on-screen keyboard, are tagged as "Playable".

[62] A range of third-party software tools have been developed to bring additional utility to the device, typically installed through the desktop mode on the deck.

[5] Pre-orders were limited to those with Steam accounts opened before June 2021, to prevent resellers from depleting stock and making the device more difficult to purchase.

[71] As part of the Steam Deck's launch, Valve released Aperture Desk Job, a spinoff game in the Portal series, for free on March 1, 2022, available to all Windows and Linux/SteamOS users.

The game is a de facto technology demonstration designed to show off the features of the Steam Deck, though it is still playable with an external controller.

[72] To assist in developing and testing software for the Steam Deck, Valve released SteamOS Devkit Client and Server under open-source licenses.

[6] By June 2022, Valve stated they were able to double the number of Steam Decks shipping out each week, helping to meet the initial reservations,[76] and by August 2022, Valve's production was outpacing expectations, allowing them to send out Steam Decks to consumers that were originally anticipated to ship in the final quarter of the year.

[79] In October 2024, Valve announced that after 2 years since its release the Steam Deck will be made officially available to the Australian market from November.

[83] Many outlets compared the unit to that of the Nintendo Switch, generally recognized as the first true hybrid video game console.

Matt Hanson writing for TechRadar stated, "the battery life of the Steam Deck is pretty poor, with it just about managing one and a half hours while playing God of War ... That's going to upset a lot of people who may have been planning on using the Steam Deck for long flights, for example" and that "it certainly makes this portable gaming system feel less ... well, portable.

The handheld PC chugs through juice like it's going out of fashion, with some graphically demanding games draining a full charge in as little as two hours of playtime.

"[89] Seth G. Macy wrote for IGN in very similar terms, saying, "Beyond that limitation, the biggest, most deflating issue I've had has been battery life.

"[90] Richard Leadbetter of Eurogamer said he "can't help [but] feel that elements like fan noise and battery life can only be resolved with a revised processor on a more efficient process node.

[94][95][96] Outside of consumer gaming & desktop PC use, the Steam Deck has been observed being used as a remote control for animatronics at Walt Disney World[97] and remote-operated gun turrets by Ukrainian forces defending positions during the Russian invasion of Ukraine.