Valve wowed PC gaming fans last year with the announcement and subsequent 2022 release of the Steam Deck, a handheld gaming device with the capabilities of a PC. While many are still waiting to get their hands on the device, a new upgrade to the Steam Deck's future dock has now been spotted online.
The Steam Deck dock is an optional bit of hardware, as the device is capable of being played in handheld form or by connecting it to a monitor or TV screen. However, the dock is expected to provide a more convenient way of connecting to an external screen while also recharging the device.
Previously, the Steam Deck's dock was set to ship with one USB 3.1 port and two USB 2.0 ports. However, the item description has now been updated to indicate that the device will have three USB-A 3.1 ports, replacing the inferior 2.0 ports with the newer and faster technology. In addition, the FAQ confirms that using the dock will allow users to utilize Gigabit Ethernet, allowing for superior speeds and connectivity than Wi-Fi can usually provide.
This is good news for those who pick up the dock, as it will let them utilize devices that demand higher speeds to transfer data back and forth with the device. However, it comes as a bit of a surprise that such a major change is being made to the device late in the game. There still isn't an exact release date planned for the Steam Deck dock, nor can users get in line to reserve it the same way they can pre-order the Steam Deck. It was previously listed with a Spring 2022 release, but that information was quickly removed from the site, raising concerns.
With any luck, the Steam Deck's dock doesn't see a release delay. Of course, considering many are still waiting for their chance to actually purchase the Steam Deck, it won't be a huge problem if the dock gets delayed. The hardware is ultimately optional, and it remains to be seen how many owners of the new handheld are even interested in purchasing the dock.
So far, the Steam Deck has done a pretty good job of living up to the hype. While there have been some hiccups with select games not working well - or at all - on the device, reviews have been primarily positive. Fans have also been discovering all the ways to tweak the device, like adding Windows to the portable device or even attaching an external GPU to the Steam Deck to make it more powerful. For now, players will just have to see if the device's dock is as much of a success.
Source: SteamDeck
