Steam Deck, Valve’s handheld PC, has been delayed for two months and won’t see the light of day till at least February of next year.
You can add your own “Santa’s empty sack” joke, but that means that, even if you were one of the first people to pre-order it, you’re not getting it in time for Christmas. Valve emailed would-be purchasers yesterday, stating that:
“Due to material shortages, components aren’t reaching our manufacturing facilities in time for us to meet our initial launch dates… based on our updated build estimates, Steam Deck will start shipping February 2022.”
The delay isn’t entirely unexpected, or inexcusable, give that we’re still in the middle of a pandemic. It’s worth noting that “based on our updated build estimates” isn’t a cast-iron commitment, so it’s possible there may be further delays, though Valve will be trying to avoid this.
If you pre-ordered one and were told you’d have to wait till Q2 2022, it’s possible that your order will be pushed back as well, but you should know for sure when and if Valve send you an email to that effect. The good news is that you’ll still keep your place in the queue. And, since the pre-order deposit was $5, you’re not out the $399 to $649 price – the final amount is payable only when the device is about to ship.
If you’re wondering what all the fuss is about, take a look at what the Steam Deck is set to deliver. Still, at least the Steam Deck’s delay will free people up to frantically hunt down a PlayStation 5 or Xbox Series X.
