Valve insists don’t expect Steam Deck 2 anytime soon

Steam deck It’s been on the market for less than two years, but there have been rumors about when the next version might be released for a long time. In fact, Valve has publicly admitted that it intends to introduce new generations of the console in the future. However, Gabe Newell’s people want to stick to realistic goals and insist that There are at least “a couple of years” left until the first major update of the device.

As part of the Tokyo Game Show. Pierre-Loup Griffetone of the minds at Steam Deck, said Edge that there is an important element to consider before launching a new console. What he? That the performance boost associated with a more powerful processor does not have a significant impact on battery life..

Of course, this is easier said than done. That’s why Valve doesn’t want to rush its plans to turn the Steam Deck into a more powerful and modern model. In fact, Griffe himself believes that it will take at least another couple of years before the balance of increased performance without loss of autonomy is achieved.

“It’s important to us that Steam Deck offers developers a fixed performance target and that the message to customers is simple: every deck can play the same games. We only want to do this when there is a significant enough increase. We also don’t want performance gains to come with significant costs in energy efficiency and battery life. I don’t expect this leap to be possible for several years. years. , but we continue to closely monitor innovations in architecture and manufacturing processes to see how things are going.”

Pierre-Loup Griffet, Edge.

Valve has no immediate plans for Steam Deck 2

Griffeis did not provide specific dates for when Valve might release a new version of Steam Deck. However, that reference to “a couple of years” could mean we’re hoping to see a generational leap on the console. from the end of 2025 onwards.

Of course, the company cannot rest on its laurels. The key element that can affect the release speed of Steam Deck 2 is performance of the current model with AAA games. Valve’s idea is that users can access the same game library from both PC and PC. games like through a handheld console. However, this task is becoming increasingly difficult.

Optimize video games with high hardware requirements to offer a similar experience on the Steam Deck. It is difficult and takes time and resources to learn.. Gabe Newell’s people have to work closely with the developers to achieve the best gaming experience possible. Even if this leads to critical losses in the graphics department. When star field This may be the most notable development today.

Keep an eye on the competition

On the other hand, Valve should keep an eye on how many portable consoles He appeared with the intention of removing the market from the Steam Deck. ASUS ROG Ally is the main established threat, but we should not forget about several AYANEO models or the promising Lenovo Legion Go.

Any improvements these devices can offer will certainly speed up plans for Steam Deck 2. But launching the second generation also isn’t as simple as taking new components, sticking them in a case, and putting them up for sale. The creators of the device have already noted in the past that the story is far from simple and that any change – no matter how minor – could require a total redesign of the console.

This was stated by Pierre-Loup Griffet himself in March last year, when rumors began to spread about a possible Steam Deck with an OLED screen. “I think people view things as incremental versions and assume it’s easy to do.”– he pointed out then.