Valve Steam Deck — here's a look at the final packaging and free carrying case

Valve Steam Deck — here's a look at the final packaging and free carrying example

(Epitome credit: Valve)

Update: Valve says Steam Deck pre-orders "on rails" for February — but there'south a catch .

With the Steam Deck, Valve has taken the unusual (and welcome) step of including a behave case in the box. Now, Valve has given us a outset look of what this looks like, alongside pictures of the packaging, which should appeal to fans of unboxing videos.

The motion picture at the summit of the folio shows the carry case open, with the lid molded to neatly fit the two analogue sticks. Valve says this is the blueprint for the 64- and 256GB versions, so it's possible that the top-terminate 512GB model volition send with something more than jazzy.

There doesn't seem to exist space for the power pack, only given the Steam Deck charges via USB-C that doesn't seem like the terminate of the earth.

And here it is closed: a stylish if nondescript case ready to be (advisedly) slung in your bag for a trip on the road.

Steam Deck packaging

A road trip isn't the only time for some Steam Deck time, according to Valve'south playfully tongue-in-cheek packaging, which also suggests a whole bunch of other possible play locations: "on the subway," "on a ferris cycle," "in a submarine," "in a examination chamber" and "on the moon" are just some of the multi-lingual suggestions.

And for completeness' sake, here'due south the closed box, consummate with safety notices. Is that a companion cube I spy?

"Delight do not use the shipping box as an umbrella, boom on the footing, or use every bit a magnet," Valve adds, helpfully.

When is the Steam Deck coming?

When you'll actually accept a Steam Deck in your easily remains a little unclear, of course. Last calendar month, pre-orders due this year were pushed dorsum to February on account of the familiar refrain of supply chain problems, and purchases made now just accept the expected commitment date of "later Q2 2022." That's concerningly vague given it could but every bit easily mean "a piddling later" or "2023 or later on" for all nosotros know. Valve did recently double down on its February launch in a recent interview, however.

But the expert news is that you won't be missing out on whatsoever Steam Deck exclusives: Valve has made it clear that bespoke software exclusively for the Steam Deck isn't on the cards. Though that doesn't mean the visitor couldn't make games that show off the handheld's power.

Freelance contributor Alan has been writing about tech for over a decade, covering phones, drones and everything in betwixt. Previously Deputy Editor of tech site Alphr, his words are establish all over the web and in the occasional magazine too. When not weighing upwardly the pros and cons of the latest smartwatch, you'll probably find him tackling his ever-growing games backlog. Or, more likely, playing Spelunky for the millionth fourth dimension.