The coveted Steam Deck, created by Valve and allowing you to play your Steam library on the go, finally has a release date in Australia. After launching globally back in 2022, us Aussies were left wondering why the device hadn’t made it to our shores. But finally, 2 years later, the popular handheld is finally arriving this November.
We knew Valve/Steam were coming to PAX Aus this year, but now we finally know why. It’s to show off the Steam Deck to PAX’s attendees, allowing Aussies the first, official hands-on opportunity. Whilst the Steam Deck may have been sold by third-party distributors, Valve have finally arranged their first-party distribution method, direct through the Steam client. The best part? The prices are considerably cheaper than what the third-party distributors have been able to offer. Full price list below.
These models will be available at the following prices (all prices inclusive of VAT):
• 256GB LCD: $649.00 AUD
• 512GB OLED: $899.00 AUD
• 1TB OLED: $1049.00 AUD
In a meeting with representatives of Valve, Checkpoint were given the opportunity to ask why it took so long for the Steam Deck to make its way to Australia. The answer really wasn’t that complicated. Valve had previously partnered with third-party distributors to bring their hardware to our shores. As their first solo effort, they had a lot of regulations they needed to manage and whilst they anticipated they would be able to launch the device here in Australia close to its global launch, those regulations just didn’t make that possible. The good thing though is that now that the device is finally coming, there are no more barriers for future hardware. The next iteration of the Steam Deck or any hardware Valve releases should theoretically land in Australia at the same time as our international counterparts.
If you’d like to go hands-on with the Steam Deck, you can swing by PAX Australia from October 11 to 13 to check it out. Or simply find out more information on the Steam page.
About the Author
Elliot Attard
He/Him
Beer aficionado, PC gamer, TV show binge-watcher, music lover, and elite member of high society - Elliot possesses all of the qualities needed to project his word thoughts straight into your eye holes.
