It looks like the Steam Deck's supply issues are easing up a bit, as Valve has mentioned they're looking to double the shipments of their handheld consoles soon.
Detail of a Steam Deck handheld gaming console, taken on August 26, 2021.
Anybody who starts ordering a Deck now will have it shipped earlier than expected, alongside news that Valve will send out Q3 reservation emails to users by June 30th, reports Kotaku. This announcement comes after Valve said they've already sent the last reservation emails for Q2 Deck reservations. This is welcome news to those who have been waiting to get their hands on the console, which as of late has now surpassed a major milestone.
Here's Valve's announcement about Steam Deck shipments being doubled:
During Q3, the game industry giant has confirmed that around twice as many units per week can be shipped. This was mentioned on Twitter by the Deck's designer Lawrence Yang:
Valve didn't explain how they were able to now ramp up production on the Steam Deck, but perhaps it is due to the global chip shortage easing up a bit. This is already a 180-degree turnaround from the company's dire projections back in March.
In a report by GamesRadar, Valve said that Steam Deck supply issues were "expected to continue" after its initial February launch. Back then, the company said they were struggling to keep up with the high demand, even though it wasn't the first time that they've shipped hardware. Their earlier goal was to just try to make as many units as they can with what they had - and it looks like their efforts are finally paying off this time around.
The aforementioned reservation emails for Q3 are a result of folks paying Valve $5 to get into a queue. However, 3 days is all you have to claim your reserved Deck - though the company has mentioned that anybody who misses the "deadline" can ask for an extension. So if you're among those who registered for $5 last time around, expect your email to come soon.
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Perfect Timing
The timing on easing Steam Deck supply issues could not have been more perfect, because the handheld's library of verified games is steadily growing - at a rapid pace, mind you.
Just over a month ago from the time of this writing, the list of verified and playable games on the Deck have already surpassed 3,000 titles. As per PC Gamer, the split between Verified and Playable games is almost 50-50. And as of this writing via SteamDB, that number has now grown to over 3,600 games that you can play on the Deck right now. Again, the split is almost 50-50.
For the unaware, here's what "Verified" and "Playable" means. This is Valve's way of classifying whether a certain game is perfectly compatible with the handheld. A Verified game can be played right out of the box with absolutely no tweaking needed, while a Playable game is what it is - you can play it, but not without minor issues and setup requirements.
Are you excited to finally get your Steam Deck?
Related: Steam Deck Tips And Tricks: How To Get The Most Out Of Your Handheld