Two and a half years ago, Valve made waves in the gaming community with the launch of the Steam Deck, a handheld gaming PC running on Linux and drawing inspiration from the beloved Nintendo Switch. The device quickly became a sensation, but one significant hurdle remained: availability. While gamers in North America and Europe were able to get their hands on the Deck at launch, the rest of the world had to wait patiently. Asia finally gained access in late 2022, and now, the spotlight turns to Australia.
Steam Deck Arrives in Australia
As PAX Australia commenced, Valve unveiled exciting news: the Steam Deck is officially making its debut in Australia. This announcement comes more than two years after its initial launch in other regions and follows the introduction of various other handheld gaming PCs into the market.
Pre-orders for the Steam Deck in Australia are set to begin in mid-November, with immediate shipping promised by Valve via Twitter. Three models will be available at surprisingly competitive prices for the tech-savvy Australian consumer:
- 256GB LCD model: 9
- 512GB OLED model: 9
- 1TB OLED model: ,049
These prices reflect a direct conversion from the US market, inclusive of sales tax, and are notably more affordable compared to other handheld devices, with the exception of the Nintendo Switch.
For the past year, Australian gamers have been able to access the Steam Deck through gray imports, but this route came with its own challenges, including inflated prices and a lack of support and consumer protections. The official launch promises to address these issues, bringing a sense of security and reliability to the purchasing process.
While no specific retail partners have been announced yet, it is anticipated that, similar to other regions, the Steam Deck will be sold exclusively through Steam for the foreseeable future. However, it’s worth noting that New Zealand will not be included in this initial launch, with hopes for availability next year.
In a recent review, the OLED Steam Deck received high praise, with Kirk declaring it the best console he has ever owned. He expressed his enthusiasm, stating: “The Steam Deck OLED is a revelation. It’s changed the way I play PC games, despite having a high-end PC plugged straight into a big OLED TV. It’s just nice to chill on the sofa and not have to worry about any of the faff associated with PC gaming. Just download games and play games while sitting comfortably – that’s what it’s all about, and the Deck OLED is the best way to do it.”
