Valve's handheld gaming device Steam Deck announced, starts shipping in December

Valve has unveiled a new handheld device called Stem Deck and reservations are available for it now in select regions.

Previously known as SteamPal, which was probably the working name, Steam Deck is slated to start shipping in December.

For Steam Deck, Valve partnered with AMD to create the handheld's custom APU, which is being called "Zen 2 + RDNA 2 powerhouse," promising more than enough performance to run the latest triple-A games in a "very efficient power envelope."

With the handheld, you can take your Steam library on the go just like you would with a PC or laptop.

It was also designed for extended play sessions with both thumbsticks and trackpads along with full-size controls positioned within reach. It even features a touch screen and Gyro controls.

There is also a dock that allows Steam Deck to connect to external displays, wired networking, USB peripherals, and power. You can also use a powered USB-C hub. The official dock will be sold separately. More information coming soon.

It comes in three versions: 64GB eMMC, 256GB NVMe SSD (faster), or 512GB NVMe SSD (fastest). If you're looking for more space, you can augment your built-in storage with a microSD card and fill it up with even more games.

It features a 7" touchscreen, an expandable I/O, Hi-Fi audio with built-in speakers, wireless Bluetooth, an onboard 40 watt-hour battery for several hours' worth of playtime for most games. For lighter use cases like game streaming, smaller 2D games, or web browsing, you can expect to get a maximum battery life of approximately 7-8 hours.

Steam Deck is available to reserve now in select regions and will begin shipping in December 2021, and starts at $399.99.