2024’s Steam Autumn Sale has begun. While there are plenty of fantastic deals on video games, the best deal might be that versions of the Steam Deck are available at their lowest price yet.
During this Steam Autumn Sale, the 64GB LCD Steam Deck is discounted by 15% to just $297; meanwhile, the 512GB LCD Steam Deck is discounted by 25% and now only costs $337. For just a little less or a little more than a Nintendo Switch, you can get this PC gaming handheld that will let you experience most of your Steam library on the go.
As I’m writing this, the 64GB version of the Steam Deck is out of stock, but the 512GB model is still available. Keep an eye on the Steam Deck page on Steam throughout the sale, though. The 64GB version might be restocked, or if we’re lucky, other Steam deck models will also get discounted.
Remember that the currently discounted versions are the LCD models and not the more recent OLED models with slightly crisper screens. Still, those versions of the Steam Deck sport respectable specs, and games look good on their 1280 x 800 LCD display. You’ll also get a carrying case with the purchase of either model, which should make it easier to lug these handheld gaming PCs around.
The Steam Autumn Sale will run until 10 a.m. PT on December 4, and those Steam Deck models should be discounted throughout that period (at least until Valve runs out of stock). If you haven’t gotten a Steam Deck yet, now’s the best time to get one.
Acer’s Predator Atlas 8 finally has a US release date and price, several months after the company first showed off the handheld in May. The highlight is the Intel Arc G3 Extreme chip inside, which has been adopted by only a couple of other consoles besides the Atlas 8. This version will go on sale exclusively at Best Buy on November 1 for $1,299.99.
Acer originally said the Atlas 8 would arrive in North America in October, but left pricing open at the time. The launch came amid the ongoing DRAM crunch, which has made memory more expensive across the PC industry and complicated pricing for hardware makers.
Gaming laptops and I have a complicated relationship. One of my first gaming rigs was an Acer Predator that was already outdated when I bought it. I was a broke college kid, and that was the best I could afford. So trying out high-end gaming laptops is always fun. But ASUS' ROG Zephyrus G14 is a lot more than a laptop that can run AAA games. It is portable, so you're not lugging around a 2.5kg machine everywhere you go. It is built well, none of that plastic chassis, and can even function as a normal laptop outside of just gaming.
Google Play is borrowing one of the Nintendo Switch’s most useful little tricks. A new Sidekick tool called Playbacks captures a short clip after something interesting has already happened, sparing players from running a screen recorder throughout an entire game.
Playbacks is part of Google Play Store v53.8 and keeps saved clips on the phone. Google first announced it earlier this month, but the new Play Store update marks its arrival for players. Anyone who has watched a perfect win vanish because the record button came too late already understands the appeal.