The Steam Deck is a new device created by Valve. It allows you to play games from your steam library on the go. Those wanting to purchase the it can do so now. It is currently can be reserved by users from the USA, Canada, EU, and the UK. The current limit for people reserving Steam Decks is that it must be through an account that has made Steam purchases prior to June 2021 and only one per account. Shipping for the device is planned for December 2021. Gamers wanting to use the Steam Deck online may have benefits from using a VPN. A VPN can reduce lag, improve ping, protect against DDoS attacks, and help you get around firewalls at school or work. Please join me as I share the best VPNs for Steam Deck.
Steam Deck VPN Quickstart
Here is a quick guide to get you started playing Steam Deck with a VPN.
- Sign up for ExpressVPN (includes a 30-day money back guarantee)
- Download the ExpressVPN app and connect to a server in the region you wish to play in.
- Console users can set up the ExpressVPN MediaStreamer feature to change your DNS location. Otherwise you can run the VPN through your router.
- Launch the game and enjoy!
Steam Deck Info
Before I go into more depth on the best VPNs for Steam Deck, let me tell you more about the device. The gaming system brings your favorite PC titles to a handhold that you can take anywhere. You can add peripherals to the device and even push what you are playing onto a TV. The device is planned to be very easy to use. The way you set it up includes powering up the device and signing in or creating your steam account. Then you will be able to play the titles from your steam library. The Steam Deck has three different bundles to buy it with at the moment. The least expensive version comes with a carrying case and has 64 GB storage. The most expensive has 512 GB storage, anti-glare etched glass, carrying case, exclusive steam community profile bundle, and virtual keyboard theme.
Those wanting one can reserve the ability to preorder if they live in the Canada, European Union, United Kingdom, and United States. It opened on July 16th, and the devices available are limited in each country. The current shipping regions are planned to expanded in 2022. The Deck allows for several ways to play like thumbstick, trackpad, touchscreen, mouse and keyboard. You will be able to use remote play, continue from current places in the games through the cloud saves, and use Steam features like the store, chat, community, and notifications. The device also has its own version of SteamOS that is meant to improve compatibility so that way developers will not need to port their titles. The Steam Deck is going to be a great system that I hope you and your friends enjoy using.
Game Server Locations
The Valve Cooperation has not released the specific servers in which they host Steam on. This may because as many fans theorize, they host their different games and website through a variety of different methods. This being said, Valve has acknowledged that they have servers located internationally. We recommend connecting to a VPN server in Washington DC or Los Angeles to play in the United States. Frankfurt, Sao Paulo, Thailand, and Sydney are also good options for international gamers.
Here are the best VPNs to use with Steam Deck.
1. ExpressVPN
ExpressVPN is our favorite VPN for gaming. It allows you to take advantage of appearing in different locations. You will be able to buy games at lower prices. Developers sell their games at different points depending on the country and audience. You can get some of the best discounts and lowest prices on games by connecting to a VPN location in Brazil or India. ExpressVPN also allows you to take advantage of the time difference to receive early access to games. Countries like Japan and Australia are the furthest ahead time wise and many gaming companies launch at a set time. This means they could potentially get the game nearly a day early. Using ExpressVPN will let you take advantage of regional differences by connecting to server locations around the world.
ExpressVPN has an exciting discount that is only offered to our users. You will be able to get 49% off a year of VPN with an extra 3 months added for free. This means you will be able to use the VPN and MediaStreamer service for over a year. If you are not satisfied, ExpressVPN offers a 30 day money back guarantee. Play online with less lag on PC, Mac, PS4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, iOS, Android, and more. You will also be able to take advantage of the service by using as much bandwidth as needed. I hope ExpressVPN improves your gaming experience
2. NordVPN
NordVPN is our second pick for VPNs to use while gaming online. NordVPN has servers in 59 countries around the world, which means you will be able to take advantage of playing in different regions. Australians normally gain access to games the earliest. By connecting to different regions you will not only get games early, but sometimes you will extend the amount of early access you get. NordVPN can also help you get a discount on new titles. Many countries like Brazil have lower prices on games. Those living in countries where games are blocked or regionally altered, can unlock the full version by connecting to a server location where it is not. NordVPN can help you get around geo-restrictions and take advantage of regional differences in the gaming market.
NordVPN is an easy to use VPN service with support for many devices. The service is reasonably priced and comes with a 30 day money back guarantee. By connecting to a VPN server location close to where you play, you can experience less lag. You can avoid malware and ads by using the NordVPN CyberSec feature. They also have a browser extension for Firefox and Chrome. NordVPN can be used on up to 6 devices. I hope you enjoy gaming with a VPN.
3. Private Internet Access
PIA is a good choice for gamers. They will mask your IP address and replace it with a new one. This will help you stay safe online. Private Internet Access also blocks trackers, ads, and malware. Your privacy is at the forefront of PIA’s concerns. The company does not log and supports P2P. They will encrypt your data. This also protects against DDoS attacks and SWAT’ing. A good VPN allows you to get around firewalls. You will be able to play blocked games at school or work with a VPN. Private Internet Access is great for protecting yourself, while gaming online.
Unlike the other VPNs in our list, Private Internet Access is headquartered in the United States. Some have reservations using a VPN service based in the US for privacy reasons, but we have found PIA to be one of the fastest VPNs in North America. This makes them a great choice for gaming in the United States and Canada. The PIA team manages thousands of servers in key locations. This gives them an advantage over most VPNs when it comes to performance. We recommend connecting to their VPN servers in NYC and Los Angeles for gaming. PIA offers all new members a 30 day money back guarantee.
Why are Games Blocked at School or Work?
Most gamers have experienced the frustration of network restrictions. Whether it’s a firewall at school or work, you will find that popular game servers and social media sites are often blocked. A VPN will hide your traffic so that the network can not detect that you are playing a game or visiting your favorite sites like YouTube, Facebook, Reddit, etc. The VPN will encrypt your data which will stop it from being blocked by your network administrator.
Why is the Game Restricted by Region?
You will find that many games (and streaming sites like Netflix) have set restrictions based on the region of the world you are in. For example, Rainbow Six has servers in North America, South America, Europe, and Asia. Players are restricted to playing in their own region. What if you want to play with friends in another country? The solution is to use a VPN. Simply connect to a VPN server in the region you wish to play in. Preferably as close to the game server as possible for the best performance. You can also use a VPN to buy and play games that are not otherwise available in your region.
Not All VPNs Support Fast Online Gaming
It doesn’t help to have a VPN that won’t place you in the proper geographic region or isn’t fast enough for gaming. There are literally hundreds of VPN services that won’t cut it for online gaming. There are very few that support the speeds necessary to fix lag issues and provide the proper IP location. The key is using a leading VPN and making a connection close to the game server you wish to play on. The difference in routing can boost your speed. We recommend using ExpressVPN for the best performance.
