Valve Confirms Steam Deck 2 Release Still Years in the Future
Valve's upcoming OLED Steam Deck may be impressive, but fans will have to wait several years for a genuine next-gen handheld device that can truly replace PCs
Valve has specified that the recently released upgraded Steam Deck OLED is still part of the first generation of Steam Deck. In response to the question of when a true Steam Deck 2 can be expected, Valve stated that it does not anticipate developing a new iteration of the device for at least a couple of years. This decision is primarily based on the current lack of available technology that would significantly improve upon the current Steam Deck. Yazan Aldehayyat, a Valve hardware engineer, explained that while they would love to achieve higher performance within the same power constraints, such technology does not yet exist, which would be what they consider as the Steam Deck 2.0.
"The introduction of the initial Steam Deck marked a significant milestone for us as it was the first time we experienced sufficient GPU performance in a portable device, allowing users to play their Steam games," stated Aldehayyat. "While we hope for further advancements in perf-per-watt, we acknowledge that we haven't reached that point just yet."
Pierre-Loup Griffais from Valve also discussed the possibility of a Steam Deck 2 with The Verge, emphasizing that Valve's focus is not solely on improving performance but also ensuring optimal battery life and efficiency.
Valve's approach to hardware generations ensures that the Deck provides a consistent performance target for developers and a clear message to customers, as every Deck can play the same games. Changing the performance level is a decision taken seriously, only when there is a significant enough increase to be gained. Additionally, Valve prioritizes maintaining power efficiency and battery life, without compromising on performance. While a substantial leap in these aspects may not be feasible in the next few years, Valve remains vigilant in monitoring advancements in architectures and fabrication processes.
The Steam Deck OLED is currently the most notable upgrade available to players, providing substantial improvements to battery life and display quality, alongside other enhancements. Pre-orders for the new Steam Deck will commence on November 16, with shipping to commence shortly after. Additionally, the original Steam Deck will receive a price reduction following the release of the new model.
Editor's P/S
As a Gen Z fan, I am both excited and disappointed by the news that the Steam Deck 2 is still years away. On the one hand, I am thrilled that Valve is taking its time to develop a truly next-gen handheld device that can replace PCs. I believe that this is the right approach, as it will ensure that the Steam Deck 2 is a significant upgrade over the original model.
On the other hand, I am disappointed that I will have to wait several years to get my hands on the Steam Deck 2. I am a huge fan of the original Steam Deck, and I have been eagerly anticipating the release of the next model. However, I understand that Valve wants to make sure that the Steam Deck 2 is a truly groundbreaking device, and I am willing to wait for that. In the meantime, I will continue to enjoy my original Steam Deck and look forward to the day when I can finally get my hands on the Steam Deck 2.
