Can you add extra storage?

[Quadsword]

Even if you get the most expensive model, 512 GB isn't going to go that far considering the average AAA game will fill up 1/5 of that just by itself.

I assume it can utilize external hard drives when in docked mode, but I haven't seen anything about being able to add extra storage to the Deck itself (i.e. micro SD cards, that kind of thing).

[figmentPez]

There is a micro SD card slot. During the press demos all the games were running off of SD cards.

There is a USB C port, and it will function without a dock. It might be a little awkward to plug in things that way, but it would still be possible, and people are already talking about possible add-ons to clip external USB drives to the deck.

For future reference: https://www.steamdeck.com/en/tech

[ugafan]

Also, if you look at the fine print under where you choose your steam deck.

https://store.steampowered.com/steamdeck

"All models include a microSD slot for additional storage capacity."

[Silence]

Messaggio originale di Quadsword:

Even if you get the most expensive model, 512 GB isn't going to go that far considering the average AAA game will fill up 1/5 of that just by itself.

You got a microSD Slot and SteamOS can use them like cartridges. Install a Game to it, and if you put it inside again the device will show you the installed game e.g. like on a switch.

you also has the way to install a new 2230 M2 SSD. Currently in this format the max capacity is at 1TB.

i would not try to expand the storage with the usb c port. the reason is we only have one of it and it required to charge. that means hold the stress on the port to a minimum and if i hang usb devices on it make the mobile part of it a bit uncomfortable.

[retrogunner]

As a long time Steam user on Linux & Windows, multiple storage sources is not an issue.

In Linux, it detects storage at the time of presentation (SD card, USB based, other hotswap storage). Linux can also be set to auto-mount discovered storage - as demonstrated in Videos showing how games automatically list themselves when an SD is inserted.

With Windows, it mounts storage automatically if possible.

For both Linux & Windows, Steam looks for a /steam/steamapps/ path having *.afc files and /common/ directory. If found, present the games in Steam -- regardless of how many different drives you have.

With the Steam client, you can also have it move games between storage devices.

How & where you choose to install your games is up to you. For example, here's my planned use-case:

• Internal storage - games for carrying around: mostly larger games needing faster access speed than an SD
  
• SD Card - storage for my more casual games
  
• USB storage - library of games for Desktop/Big Screen playing and for holding games downloaded that I can move in-between USB<>Internal & SD - much like a game cache and should be really fast.

I know this all the above works as I have 5 drives in my Desktop rig and Steam has directories on all of them.

Of course, each of those storage mediums have different throughput limitations per https://www.steamdeck.com/en/tech:

• Internal - 64 GB eMMC (PCIe Gen 2 x1), 256 GB NVMe SSD (PCIe Gen 3 x4), 512 GB high-speed NVMe SSD (PCIe Gen 3 x4) -- roughly up to about 4GB/sec, possibly more
  
• microSD - UHS-I supports SD, SDXC and SDHC -- NOT UHS-II or UHS-III (about 104MB/sec)
  
• USB - USB 3.2 Gen 2 -- roughly up to about 4GB/sec (16Gb/s)

As for USB, it depends on what storage you use with your dock (and its limitations). A USB SSD or NVMe should be much more performant than the SD card. But if you use some USB 2.0 or 3.0 storage on it, your throughput will be less than 3.1 or 3.2 device (obviously).

Plus, I would not be surprised if an Aftermarket/3rd party company is already designing USB based accessories as an alternative the official Valve Steam Deck dock -- one possibly having an M.2 or SSD spot in it to reduce cable clutter.

Everyone will have their own use-case (stupid or not as it's all subjective) and the current throughput tests do not exist yet. We can only speculate using known metrics for the specifically defined tech.

Best to wait until folks get their Deck to test out the above speculations