Valve has released a new video on its YouTube channel after 9 months of inactivity, providing an introduction video on the main features of the Steam Deck. The Steam Deck is Valve's answer to the recent rise in popularity for handheld gaming following the massive success of the Nintendo Switch, the similarity of which Valve claims was unintentional. The new console is set to release in December of 2021 for those who were lucky enough to reserve it early in the hectic preordering process. More release dates are set throughout 2022.

Information has been pouring out about the system since it was first announced to be in development. The handheld PC runs its own modified version of Linux that allows for a blend of handheld ease while still packing the features of an actual computer. The biggest selling point for the system, however, is its ability to theoretically run any Steam game in a player's library, meaning owners will have access to their entire collection of Steam games right off the bat without any additional purchases, a selling point that's responsible for the large number of pre-orders in the first day.

Related: Steam Deck Won't Get Performance Boost When Docked

The YouTube channel for Valve has put out an introduction video highlighting key features and design choices for the Steam Deck and showing off some of the Steam games that are playable on the device, such as Control, Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order, and Death Stranding. The UI is also shown in greater depth, giving users a taste of the streamlined experience built for a mobile environment and highlighting some of the features available through the interface. The video stresses that these features will be in line with what users have come to expect from Steam.

Watch Valve's Steam Deck introduction on YouTube here.

According to Valve's technical specifications for the Steam Deck, the handheld features an AMD Zen 2 CPU, AMD RDNA GPU, and 16GB of RAM. For those who were unsatisfied with the amount of internal storage on the console, the YouTube introduction also highlights the MicroSD card slot for expanded storage on the device, as well as the ability to stream games from another PC with a good internet connection. Smaller but still important features like cloud saves, Steam chat, and the community section will also be easily accessible on the console just like a normal PC running Steam.

Excitement for the new handheld device has been growing uncontrollably, with overwhelmingly positive reviews from critics further hyping up Valve's latest project. Speculated to rival the popularity of Nintendo's handheld device, the Steam Deck appears to be the next big leap in gaming hardware both in its design and popularity. Overall, the Steam Deck is shaping up to be the hit console of 2022, giving players a handheld gaming experience with the heart and mind of a full desktop.

Next: Everything You Need To Know About The Steam Deck

Sources: Valve/YouTube