Valve is still struggling to do well with one of Steam Deck’s most promising features: the ability of the Nintendo Switch to charge and connect to a TV or monitor for a more relaxed gaming session.
The company announced on Wednesday afternoon that the long-awaited Steam Deck docking station will not be released in late spring, citing supply chain problems and shutdowns at its manufacturing facilities related to the ongoing struggle with covid -19. The dock was previously scheduled for a launch in February along with the official launch of the portable gaming device, but was delayed for an as yet unannounced date.
“We are working to improve the situation and will share more information when we have it. This has no effect on the production schedule and backup windows of Steam Decks (different parts, different factories),” the company wrote instead.
The dock is designed to support a Steam Deck while allowing it to connect to external displays, USB peripherals, and power cords to allow for much longer sessions than the average disconnected battery life of 2 to 8 hours.
While the accessory isn’t designed to improve performance, the delay is a shame, as it represents a key promise of high-powered portable gaming, being able to easily carry a console with you on the go and attach it to your home for play smoothly. Deck dock specifications were updated in April to improve the number of USB 3.1 ports and increase transfer speeds. In the latest announcement, Valve said it will work to improve the docked experience “with all USB-C hubs and external displays.”
Meanwhile, some users have found docking solutions, including 3D printing of their own Steam Deck docks.
Valve said that this delay should not affect all those who are still waiting to place their Steam Deck orders. The 256GB and 512GB versions of the Deck are still available in the third quarter of this year. Some who ordered Medium or High Level Decks have received a notice that their deck was available for purchase.
In the meantime, check out some tips and games you can use while trying to relax comfortably for a few hours of portable gaming. Also, read our full Steam Deck review here.
Editor’s Note: Release dates for this article are based in the US, but will be updated with local Australian dates as soon as we know more.