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Valve has published a new video in which they partially deconstruct one of their upcoming Steam Deck handheld PCs.
As per the video’s accompanying post, Valve say they’ve published it to answer common questions about the machine’s hardware. Specifically, to address those who are curious as to the possibility of upgrading or replacing the stock components. The long and short of it, is that while the company won’t outright prevent you from doing so, it doesn’t recommend it.
To explain further, the five-and-a-half minute video gives us a look at the components in their housing. We’re shown how many of the components have been specifically designed or chosen to work in the unit’s form factor. Even taking the case apart can result in making the machine slightly less resilient to drops. It’ll also void your warranty.
However, if you’re still brave or technically proficient enough to be messing around with the innards of the machine, it is possible. You’ll have to be very careful selecting parts if you want to, for example, replace the thumbstick. To that end, Valve say they’ll announce a source to obtain replacement parts such as thumbsticks, SSDs “and possibly more” in the future.
The first Steam Deck machines will start shipping this December for the earliest pre-order customers. Everyone else will have to wait until “after Q2 2022”. Check out the video for yourself below and, if you fancy, you read Josh’s thoughts on the Steam Deck over here.
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