Valve says it's "excited" by the launch of the first major Steam Deck competitor

Asus ROG Ally portable handheld
(Image credit: Asus)

The first legitimate Steam Deck competitor has been announced; the Asus ROG Ally; and apparently Valve couldn't be happier.

The Asus ROG Ally just had its big launch event today where it revealed pricing information and a June release date, and Valve chimed in to congratulate its competition.

"Congratulations to Asus on the announcement of the ROG Ally!" reads a tweet from the official Steam Deck Twitter account. "We're excited to see PC handheld ecosystem continue to grow, and for players to have more ways to play their games on the go."

Although it's clearly positioned as a fairly direct competitor to the Steam Deck, the Asus ROG Ally is a slightly more premium product, packing more powerful internals and a heftier price tag at $700 for the one version on offer. For comparison, the cheapest Steam Deck is $399 and the most expensive version if $649, so a good $50 cheaper even at its most expensive price point.

If you want a much more comprehensive break down of the two portable consoles, check out our writeup on the Steam Deck vs the Asus ROG Ally. There you'll find the full details on each console's specs, design, and features so you can make an informed decision about whether to pull the trigger on a Steam Deck now or hold off until the Asus ROG Ally launches. That said, we'll have to wait until June to see how the two portables stack up when they're actually in our hands.

While we might not ever know how Valve, not to mention its investors, *truly* feel about Steam Deck's first big competitor, it's good to see this kind of sportsmanship from one of the biggest companies in the industry. 

Looking for portable gaming with a bigger screen? Check out our picks of the best gaming laptops available now.

TOPICS
Jordan Gerblick

After scoring a degree in English from ASU, I worked as a copy editor while freelancing for places like SFX Magazine, Screen Rant, Game Revolution, and MMORPG on the side. Now, as GamesRadar's west coast Staff Writer, I'm responsible for managing the site's western regional executive branch, AKA my apartment, and writing about whatever horror game I'm too afraid to finish.

Read more
Asus ROG Ally on stand next to badge that reads "best deal"
Yes, I know the Lenovo Legion Go S just launched, but the Asus ROG Ally is still worth buying at its lowest price
Asus ROG Ally handheld on a wooden table
I've been mainlining the Asus ROG Ally for nearly two years now - I'd jump on this record-low price before it disappears
Lenovo Legion Go S in Black and white with 8.8-inch Legion Go OLED model on top left
Lenovo makes its new Legion Go family official, and I'm fixated on the handheld maker's $499.99 "Steam Deck"
Lenovo Legion Go S with Steam Big Picture Mode on screen with pink and blue lights in backdrop.
Lenovo Legion Go S SteamOS pre-orders are now live, and I'm hoping it's a second wind for the handheld
Hands holding Alienware gaming handheld "Concept UFO" with city in backdrop
Sorry, an Alienware gaming handheld isn't on the way, but Dell says its looking "pretty heavily” at the space
Asus ROG Flow Z13 tablet connected to keyboard on a black background
My favorite gaming laptop announced at CES is actually a tablet - and it doesn't even have a graphics card
Latest in Handhelds
x
Ugreen just launched a bunch of Genshin Impact handheld accessories that are made for Kinich fans
Razer Handheld Dock with Steam Deck sitting on cradle, pink and yellow RGB lighting on, and Alienware monitor in background with Tomb Raider Trilogy gameplay on screen.
Razer Handheld Dock review: “Your Steam Deck will ride shiny and Chroma"
Lenovo Legion Go S with Steam Big Picture Mode on screen with pink and blue lights in backdrop.
Lenovo Legion Go S SteamOS pre-orders are now live, and I'm hoping it's a second wind for the handheld
OneXPlayer OneXSugar1 handhelds with one on left featuring screen detached and right hand device with dual-screens.
Qualcomm just revealed its latest Snapdragon chips, and the G3 Gen 3 will power what could be my dream 3DS handheld
Baseus 6-in-1 Steam Deck dock with OLED model sitting in cradle next to Asus controller and Samsung TV with game menu in backdrop.
I've tested over 20 different docking stations since the Steam Deck landed, but there's one I always go back to
Lenovo Legion Go S with FlyKnight gameplay on screen featuring player character holding bow and arrow with enemy ant in backdrop.
Lenovo Legion Go S Windows 11 review: “my heart aches for this mixed up handheld”
Latest in News
Everybody's Golf Hot Shots
The surprise theme of today's Nintendo Direct was classic PlayStation franchises getting a comeback without Sony's involvement
Hogwarts Legacy how many spells
Unannounced Hogwarts Legacy DLC reportedly canceled, partly because the studio wasn't sure it'd be worth players' money
Ultimate X-Men #14
Ultimate X-Men #14 pays homage to a classic Wolverine moment as the Shadow King returns
Assassin's Creed Shadows screenshot showing Yasuke kneeling and praying while wearing a traditional purple robe
Ubisoft reaches deal with Tencent to create $4.3 billion mini-Ubisoft subsidiary to "spearhead development" on new Assassin's Creed, Far Cry, and Rainbow Six games
Kaitlyn Dever as Abby in The Last Of Us season 2
The Last of Us showrunner says he isn't worried about fan reaction to season 2: "The best way we could respect our fans and honor them is to not worry about them"
Black Myth: Wukong
English is no longer the biggest language on Steam as Chinese gamers embrace PC gaming even harder after Black Myth: Wukong