The new Steam Deck portable PC from Valve is now officially open for pre-order reservations, but many fans seem to be running into difficulty placing their orders. To try and thwart scalpers, Steam has implemented a queue system that is already having an impact on how easy it is to reserve one of the devices.
Steam's anti-scalper tactics have several layers, beginning with the company's demand that anyone attempting to reserve a unit have a Steam account that predates June 2021. This is an attempt to keep scalper bots from buying the whole stock and marking it up for online resale, as has happened during other console releases. Many are losing their patience with this epidemic of online scalpers, including PlayStation CEO Jim Ryan.
Despite this, there are enough people stampeding to get their reservation made that Valve's store is feeling the side effects. Customers are reportedly experiencing long wait times, error messages, and even crashes as they fight to claim a unit, regardless of the price. The Steam Deck's cost was an important aspect of the device's development, as Steam had to balance meeting the needs of PC players with being affordable.
Twitter user @RottyNTeaks complains about being unable to pre-order a Steam Deck, sharing a screenshot of an error message that asks them to wait a minute and try again or contact Steam support for assistance making the reservation. They are far from the only one who's run into a similar problem, but Steam Deck fans can take heart from this discovery: if they manage to get a unit into their cart, then Steam will save the order. While reserving a Steam Deck is tricky, Valve's handheld gaming PCs already have a smoother pre-order process than the PlayStation 5 did. That console sold out within minutes, a sizeable chunk of its stock seized by online scalpers.
Scalpers are becoming a serious problem in the video game and collectors' industries, so fans may understand Valve's determination to keep the Steam Deck out of the hands of these unscrupulous resellers. However, while the queue system seems to be a good first step, Valve is still facing a number of difficulties during the launch of the Steam Deck, including Steam crashing from high demand. Some users have been unable to even open the Steam app due to high traffic. Fortunately, scalpers can't cause property damage or endanger staff during an online queue, setting this incident apart from the Walmart stampede for Pokemon cards. Customers who do manage to get a Steam Deck pre-order reserved will be invited to purchase the device later on.
The Valve Steam Deck is due for release this December, in time for the holidays.