It’s no surprise that iFixit, a tech deconstruction expert, has partnered with Valve to allow Steam Deck owners to fix their own devices, given the Steam Deck is all about being open and adaptable.
iFixit has been approved by Valve to sell replacement parts for the Steam Deck, allowing gamers to fix their own consoles. iFixit will not be the sole approved vendor, according to Valve.
To now, neither party has disclosed exactly which components will be offered for sale. In an interview with The Verge, Steam Deck designer Lawrence Yang said that the business is still working with iFixit to sort out the kinks in the system.
A number of famous YouTube channels have previously disassembled the Steam Deck, including Linus Tech Tips and GamerNexus. iFixit, on the other hand, released a video yesterday that emphasised on the degree to which the repair procedure would be hard.
Three screws are all it takes to remove and replace the thumbsticks in the disassembly. One screw and a slip-on EMI cover are all that is required to swap out the SSD.
Replacing the screen and battery, on the other hand, might be a difficult task. According to iFixit, the device’s display has a bit of an adhesive bonded to it, meaning that if you were to replace it, you’d have to take meticulous precautions, which may involve the use of heat and suction cups.
Another difficult component to change is the battery, particularly if you’re not used to doing repairs yourself. When it comes to the Steam Deck, “battery replacements clearly appear to be the Steam Deck’s Achilles heel,” the narrator of the deconstruction video said.
After a lengthy period of usage and inadvertent damage, these two components are the first to be replaced by users.
According to iFixit’s Jeff Suovanen, “Steam Deck may eat up a full charge in less than 90 minutes in certain circumstances,” which implies that heavy users will have to change their batteries more often.
It would be nice to have detailed instructions if iFixit sells replacement screens and batteries for the Steam Deck.
It has also just been made possible for users to 3D print the shell of the Steam Deck, as well as to manufacture accessories for it. In addition, you may utilise the files to get a feel for the gadget before making a purchase (provided you own a 3D printer). Again, this demonstrates the Steam Deck’s open and adaptable character.
Pre-orders for the Steam Deck will begin shipping on February 25. A portable gaming PC powered by Valve’s own Steam OS and AMD’s bespoke CPU and graphics technology will be available to customers who pre-order a console.