Valve is working on a Steam Deck 2 but there’s just one thing holding it back

As a seasoned gamer with over two decades of gaming under my belt, I can’t help but feel a mix of excitement and patience as Valve unveils their plans for Steam Deck 2. While the original Steam Deck has revolutionized portable gaming, I’ve seen this industry evolve at a rapid pace, and it’s heartening to see Valve not only keeping up but pushing the boundaries even further.


According to confirmation from Valve, they are developing a second version of the Steam Deck, which they’ve named as such, but there’s one aspect that is causing a delay: its performance capabilities.

2 years ago, Valve significantly shifted the gaming landscape by launching the Steam Deck. Although the Nintendo Switch revitalized handheld gaming, it was only with the arrival of the Steam Deck that contemporary games started to run smoothly on portable devices for the first time.

Since then, various competitors have made their mark in the market, such as the ROG Ally and the Lenovo Legon. Despite feeling encouraged by the competition, Valve is diligently working behind the scenes on what’s to come next.

During a conversation at PAX Australia, both Hardware Engineer Yazan Aldehayyat and Designer Jay Shaw spoke frankly about the future of Steam Deck. They shared insights on its upcoming version and highlighted the key stages in its development process.

Steam Deck 2 is happening, just not anytime soon

Even though the Steam Deck, particularly the OLED versions, is still quite new and hasn’t been on the market long, there’s currently no pressing need for a new model or even a complete replacement. However, surprisingly, Valve has started discussing the possibility of a successor to the Steam Deck.

Shaw confirmed that we’re definitely planning for the future, even though there’s no concrete news at the moment. Our past projects, including the development of the Steam Deck, have played a significant role in shaping our decisions moving forward.

“We are working on Steam Deck 2,” Aldehayyat chimed in. “There is going to be a successor.”

Valve is working on a Steam Deck 2 but there’s just one thing holding it back

In their openness, they made it clear that fans might not need to anticipate the next handheld device immediately.

Aldehayyat stated that the key factor for Steam Deck 2 is its performance. To achieve this, we require a significant leap in performance compared to the current generation. Essentially, we’re simply waiting for this upgrade before moving forward.

In simpler terms, Shaw explained that the hardware team is always thinking ahead, continually refining their work.

Regarding particulars, it’s primarily about the apparent elements. The company values itself, specifically, are aiming to extend battery life, and they are actively pursuing this goal.

Any hardware improvements are going to be welcome,” Shaw added.

Currently, it’s uncertain if or when we might see the release of Steam Deck 2, as it hinges on Valve deciding that a significant technological advancement is worthwhile to pursue.

When the handheld devices have significantly advanced beyond our existing models, that will be the sign that Valve is ready to release their next upgrade.

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2024-11-11 09:18