With the Steam Deck, Valve took the unusual (and welcome) step of including a carrying case with the box. Valve has now given us a first look at what this carrying case looks like, along with some photos of the packaging.

The photo at the top of the page shows the carrying case open, with the lid molded to neatly fit the two analog sticks; according to Valve, this is the design for the 64GB and 256GB versions, so the top-of-the-line 512GB model may come with something more jazzy.

The power pack is also available in a new, more compact form.

There doesn't seem to be room for a power pack, but given that the Steam Deck charges via USB-C, this is likely not the end of the world.

And here it is closed. It's a nondescript, stylish case, but ready to (carefully) slip into your bag on the road. [According to Valve's playfully ironic packaging, you can play Steam Deck not only on the road: "on the subway," "on a Ferris wheel," "on a submarine," "in a test lab," "on the moon," and more are suggested in multiple languages.

And for good measure, this is a closed box with a safety notice. Could this be a companion cube?

"Do not use the shipping box as an umbrella, knock it to the ground, or use it as a magnet," Valve helpfully adds.

When the Steam Deck will actually arrive in your hands is, of course, still a bit uncertain. Last month, for the familiar reason of supply chain issues, pre-orders scheduled for the end of this year were pushed back to February. This is very vague, given that it could mean "a little later" or "after 2023." However, Valve has denied a February release in a recent interview.

The good news, however, is that you won't be missing out on Steam Deck exclusives: Valve has made it clear that no Steam Deck-exclusive bespoke software is planned. However, that doesn't mean the company can't make games that showcase the power of the handheld console.