The wait time for future Steam Deck owners may be up to three months shorter, but only if they choose the top-spec 512GB model.

For all three Steam Deck models (64GB, 256GB, and 512GB), pre-orders for the new consoles began on July 16, with the estimated release date varying from early 2022 to Q3 2022.

Initially, Valve estimated that all three versions of the Steam Deck could be released in Q1 2022. However, for the most expensive 512GB version, this was quickly pushed back to Q3 2022, with an additional wait of up to six months. The other two options, 64GB and 256GB, were delayed to Q2 2022. [As of today (July 23), if you visit the Steam Deck pre-order page, you will see that the 512GB model is listed for release in Q2 2022, the same as the other Steam Decks. This means that the wait could be as short as three months.

So why has the release date been moved up again? It is possible that the previous release date was a simple mistake or miscalculation, or that Valve changed the production schedule to meet the demand for the 512GB model. Furthermore, the Steam Deck release is also battling a worldwide chip shortage, so it would not be surprising if the release date continues to change.

Whatever the reason, we are not going to complain about the fact that Steam Deck may arrive earlier than expected. People have long been waiting for a better way to play PC games on the go, and the Steam Deck looks to be the first portable device that will properly enable that.

The Steam Deck essentially functions as a handheld PC, capable of playing all the games in the Steam library and running Windows. Additionally, it can be purchased separately with a dock that can be connected to a TV or monitor. Compared to something like the upcoming Nintendo Switch OLED, the Steam Deck looks like a more flexible and attractive machine

Hopefully production of the Steam Deck will go smoothly and we will get a chance to try the handheld PC.

For more information on the Steam Deck, see our guide to the Steam Deck UI and how Proton makes the Steam Deck work. Also, get ready for launch with the best PC games coming out in 2021.