Valve has decided to make iFixit its first authorized seller to offer replacement parts for the Steam Deck.
Back in October, Valve stated that it was going to make replacement parts for the Steam Deck available to buy, but didn't explain how. Since then, it seems work has been ongoing to find some authorized sellers to be responsible for handling replacement part orders, and iFixit is an obvious choice.
In a news post, Valve admitted that, "We are still hammering out the details, and will be sharing more info on this soon." VR gamers will be happy to hear that the deal being struck also sees iFixit take on responsibility for providing replacement parts for Valve's Index VR headset and peripherals.
iFixit made a name for itself by offering repair guides and product teardown videos, as well as offering the parts and tools required to fix your own devices. As you can see above, the Steam Deck didn't dodge the company's teardown treatment. iFixit does have a few gripes about the hardware, but also found a lot to like.
The Steam Deck is due to start shipping on Feb. 28, and Valve is making the hardware as open as it can for owners. That includes being able to replace internal parts yourself, expanding the storage, easily loading different operating systems, and even creating your own exterior shell thanks to the release of detailed CAD files.