A Valve spokesperson confirmed that Steam's Big Picture mode will be replaced by the Steam Deck user interface.Big Picture mode is Steam's version of a console-like user interface: controlled with a controller. to do, and was pretty slick back when Steam Machines was still touted as possibly changing the console landscape (spoiler: it didn't). Big Picture has not received a major refresh since 2015, so long out of date may be an understatement.

Asked on the Steam forums if the Steam Deck UI would replace Big Picture, Valve moderator austinp_valve answered in the affirmative. 'BigPicture will be replaced by the new Deck UI. But we don't have an ETA to share yet."

Based on the small glimpses already provided, the Steam Deck UI appears to be surprisingly better than Big Picture mode. Once rolled out, it means that if you want your gaming PC to run like a console, but don't want to spend the money on Steam Deck or aren't interested in portable gaming, you can do that fairly easily.

Big Picture mode was launched in beta in 2012, and if you want a glimpse of what this mode was like back in 2012, this thorough walkthrough is pretty interesting; Steam Deck will start shipping in December, if you're lucky enough to get a reservation.