Valve announced a series of new information about Steam Deck: support for games not available on Steam, multiple OS installations at once, and a half meter charging cable

Ever since Valve confirmed the existence of the Steam Deck handheld game console, the gaming community has been restless with this “mobile PC rig”. Orders for the Steam Deck are so high that the expected delivery date has been pushed back to 2022, although the images we still see in the Steam Deck ads are not the final product design.

The fact that players order when the product details are not clear shows two things: the demand for a mobile gaming machine is still high, and how much confidence in the manufacturer and publisher of Valve games. In response to their interest, Valve announced a series of new information related to the Steam Deck.

They answer gamers’ questions, which are aggregated questions from the player communities, major newspapers and even the private mailbox of the current Valve founder and operator, Gabe Newell.

Can I use multiple Steam accounts on one Steam Deck?

Yes. Each account on the Steam Deck will have its own place to save game save files as well as personal settings.

Can the Steam Deck run non-Steam games through Proton?

Yes, you can run games not purchased on the Steam platform with Proton.

Does Steam on the Steam Deck have the same “Add Game” functionality as with Steam on the desktop?

Yes, we will support adding games just like with Steam on desktop.

Will Steam Deck UI replace Big Picture mode?

That’s our intent, but the update will happen in a step-by-step manner.

Steam’s Big Picture mode.

Are Proton improvements on the Steam Deck (e.g. anti-cheat support) available on desktop Proton?

Yes, these improvements will be applied to all Proton-powered devices.

How will SteamOS and Steam Deck support offline mode when turning on the game?

As with PCs, you’ll need an internet connection to download and play online games. Once the game has been downloaded to the drive, you will be able to play the game on an offline Steam Deck, unless the game requires it.

What file formats will the microSD card on the Steam Deck support?

The Steam Deck’s microSD card uses Linux’s ext4 file management system. Steam Deck will format the SD memory card to the correct format for reading.

Can I use the Steam Deck as a controller for my PC?

You can connect the Steam Deck to your PC via Remote Play mode and use it as an external controller.

Does the Steam Deck support VR devices for PC?

Technically a PC VR kit can connect to the Steam Deck, but the Steam Deck won’t give users an optimal VR experience.

Does plugging the Deck into the charger increase the device’s performance?

No, plugging the Deck into the charging dock is the same as connecting USB-C to a PC. Steam Deck still operates at optimal performance when not plugged in.

How are the screens of the two 64 GB and 256 GB models different?

All models have glass screens, which are IPS LCD screens. The screen of the 512 GB model has an additional anti-glare layer.

What haptic technology does the Steam Deck have?

The Steam Deck has two LRA haptic motors, located below each trachpad.

Does the audio jack support headphones with a mic?

Yes, with the CTIA standard.

Is the screen multi-touch?

Yes, you can use all 10 fingers on the screen.

How long is the charging cable?

1.5 meters.

Does Valve sell Steam Decks through retail chains?

The Steam Deck is only sold directly through Steam. We may partner with other retailers when the Steam Deck reaches regions other than the US. Valve will provide information on this soon.

Can Valve provide BIOS information? Does Steam Deck support booting for two operating systems on one machine?

You can install multiple operating systems and choose the OS you want to use. User has BIOS access.

Can users boot the operating system from the memory card?

Yes, Steam Deck supports booting from microSD cards.

Does the Steam Deck support external GPUs?

No, the machine cannot support external GPU.

Can I exchange my desired Steam Deck model after pre-ordering it?

Are not. Once you place an order, the only way to change the model is to cancel the order and reorder (this will push you to the bottom of the queue).