Some Steam Deck customers are asking Valve to change the packaging the console comes in after reports of consoles seemingly going missing during shipping.
As PC Gamer reported, Reddit user u/Defenex created a thread detailing that his package was marked "delivered" by FedEx, even though it never made it home. They say that "after a few days, Fedex comes back and says their investigation is complete, their records show the package was delivered and the sender (Valve) should be contacted to initiate lost package procedures."
The same thread was later updated to say that the Steam Deck has finally arrived after an investigation into its disappearance, but sparked a conversation about similar incidents, during which it was suggested that Valve should update the console pack to help hide its contents. .
It should be noted that there is no evidence to suggest that this particular customer was the victim of an attempted robbery. Shipments disappear or are delayed for many reasons. So while it's reasonable to worry about an expensive device disappearing during transit, the fault may lie more with ordering systems, logistics, or simple human error than theft.
There are many unboxing videos for the Steam Deck online that show the lithium battery and "fragile electronics" logos, indicating that there is a potentially expensive device inside. However, the only official reference to the Steam Deck, or even Valve, on the packaging is an inconspicuous Companion Cube that appeared in the Portal franchise, located along with other security information on the side.
Some users claim that Valve originally shipped the Steam Deck in packaging that featured the handheld in the box art, though we can't find any evidence that this style of packaging was ever used.
If you are faced with a scenario where your Steam Deck has gone missing despite being marked as delivered, you should file a support ticket with Valve and contact the messaging service. In the case above, Valve fully refunded the customer before their Steam Deck was finally delivered, but we don't know if there is a specific procedure to follow if their own package is missing. We contacted Valve for more information.
Analysis: don't deflect your frustrations
It's easy to jump to the worst conclusions when a delivery you've been waiting for doesn't arrive, but rarely does a mass run go off without a hitch. While the Reddit user who started the original thread was initially unhappy with the outcome, Valve really isn't the offending party.
After raising the issue with the Steam Deck manufacturer, they received a full refund for the value of the product, and while a replacement unit would have been better for the customer, we don't know if Valve actually has a surplus to ship. these circumstances (and luckily his console appeared).
Valve explained, "We've been working hard to increase the number of Steam Decks we can produce this year, and we now have more clarity on our long-term production schedule."
The packaging is pretty inconspicuous too, minus the Companion Cube on the side. We certainly would not recommend removing security messages about fragile contents and containing lithium-ion batteries, as this increases the risk of devices arriving broken and could pose security concerns for anyone handling the packages.
Still, if you need to re-order a Steam game with money refunded, you'll be waiting a while to get your hands on it, as any new pre-orders are likely to have a Q2022 2023 or even XNUMX delivery date.
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