By Jacob Miller | Apr 30, 2026
Valve has also released (a year later) an OLED model, creating even more competition for handheld gaming devices from Valve (Steam Deck), Nintendo (Switch), etc.
With respect to getting better Chat and Download Management from the Steam Deck's capabilities, a few key updates are as follows:
The most significant change from this update is the rework of accessing Steam chat. Now, players can view chat through the quick access menu while they are in the game. Steam also added Quick chat functionality through both the Steam Deck and Big Picture Mode for all Steam users.
The quick chat can be done using the thumbsticks and is configured in the Keyboard section of the Settings menu. Another significant update for this version is Remote Download Management, which allows you to manage your downloads on remote clients from your downloads page on your Steam Deck and to switch clients by hitting Y on your Steam Deck. Please note that both your local and remote clients must be updated for this feature to work properly.
Beyond adding accessibility features, fixes were made to multiple areas of the platform, including recording games, with an immediate remedy for the captured video button not functioning while using a gamepad with any non-Steam game, along with performance improvements to remote play and restoring cloud saves to prevent the loss of cloud-save data during reinstalling applications. Steam Input was modified to create less clutter and be more compatible with gamepads.
These updates should enhance the day-to-day usability experience for the Steam Deck owner. Valve confirmed it would launch its Steam Controller on May 4th priced at $99; the Steam controller has many new use features for both the Steam Deck and the Steam Machine, including improved button mapping and enhanced haptic feedback that aim to provide a more immersive gaming experience. Just as importantly, the Developers of SteamOS have stated that there is an active development effort for the Steam Deck 2; there is not currently an announced release date.
