Summary
Valve’sSteam Deckis finally arriving in Australia. The update on theSteam Deckdistribution came directly from Valve during PAX Australia.
The Steam Deck has been an extremely popular gaming handheldsince its launch. Initially selling out entirely, the Steam Deck now has a steady supply and multiple models that fans can choose from. Being able to play nearly any game on the Steam platform on the go is a very impressive feat, and while the Steam Deck now has competitors, many eager gamers have been waiting for their chance to grab one of Valve’s devices.
Valve announced at PAX (viaGamesHub) that starting in November, Australian residents canpurchase a Steam Deckdirectly from the company. Previously, it was only possible to get one through resellers or anyone who would be willing to ship in one from another area. In November, the handheld will officially be available in Australia, the US, Canada, UK, EU, Hong Kong, Japan, South Korea, and Taiwan. While the exact date hasn’t been stated, Valve has provided information on how much Australian residents can expect to pay for the device.
Valve’s Australian Pricing and Available Steam Deck Models
Gamers may be pleased to know that both the original LCD and newerOLED versions of the Steam Deckwill be available in Australia. The 256GB LCD model will cost $649 AUD, while the OLED 512GB model will sell for $899 AUD and the 1TB OLED for $1,049 AUD. While the performance between the two models is nearly identical, the OLED version has a slightly larger screen, longer-lasting battery, higher refresh rate, and Wi-Fi 6E for faster downloads.
It’s worth noting that the Australian prices for the Steam Deck seem to be a bit higher than their US equivalents. Based on currency conversions at the time of publication, there’s roughly a $40 USD increase in price for the base LCD model, whereas the OLED variants are priced roughly $60 (USD) more. The reason for the pricing disparity isn’t entirely clear, though It might have something to do with the build, as the power systems inAustraliaare different from those in the US. Australia uses a higher voltage than the United States. Manufacturing, supplying parts, and storage may also play a role. In any case, it will likely still be less expensive than finding a resold version elsewhere.
Steam Deck
Valve’s long-awaited portable console is here, and it’s taking the handheld gaming market by storm. Valve partnered with AMD to create Steam Deck’s custom APU, optimized for handheld gaming. It is a Zen 2 + RDNA 2 powerhouse, delivering more than enough performance to run the latest AAA games in a very efficient power envelope.
