If you’re thinking of purchasing a Steam Deck in Australia, there are a few important things to keep in mind. Valve, the company behind Steam and the Steam Deck haven’t officially announced support for its handheld console in Australia, leaving many wondering why.
Here are the key points you need to know before making your purchase. Keep these crucial factors in mind when buying a Steam Deck in Australia and make an informed decision that’s right for you. Happy gaming!
Also read: How to get the Steam Deck in Australia
Grey import
The Steam Deck is not officially released in Australia yet, so most units available in the country are grey imports. This means that they are imported from another country and not subject to Australian warranty and support.
Charger compatibility
The Steam Deck comes with a charger that is not compatible with Australian power outlets. However, if you purchase through Kogan, you will receive an Australian-compatible charger. For some reason, a USB-C to USB-C cable isn’t included and will need to be purchased separately if you don’t have one.
Nice touch from Kogan!
Valve warranty and support
Valve does not offer official warranty and support for Steam Deck units purchased outside of official channels. This means that if you encounter any issues with your device, it may be difficult to get it repaired or replaced.
Some Australian stores selling the device include their own warranties but what exactly it covers isn’t so obvious. As always, your milage may vary.
Repair parts
Currently, ifixit, the official repair partner, does not offer repair parts for the Steam Deck in Australia, so if you need to make repairs, you may have to import the parts from the United States, which would include shipping forwarders if no company plans on importing them.
Damaged on arrival
With the extra shipping required to get a Steam Deck into Australia (Factory -> United Stated -> Australia) there’s a chance something could break in shipping. While this is rare, we have heard once instance where a trigger button wasn’t working, but Kogan replaced the unit free of charge.
High demand = increased cost
As demand is high and there aren’t many options to buy the Steam Deck, it is likely that the prices will be pushed up to take advantage of the situation. There is a good chance that the official retail pricing could be cheaper, or maybe even more to cover the costs of regulatory approvals.
Should you get a Steam Deck?
It really comes down to how much you want a Steam Deck and if you are willing to risk it. Personally, I have purchased a Steam Deck through Kogan and haven’t had any issues so far. But if you aren’t interested in being one of the first to find out if something does go wrong, wait a few months until more user’s post their experience online or, if you can wait, wait for Valve to officially bring the Steam Deck into Australia.
