The company takes the time to make the technical leap worth it and not just a simple increase in power.
Valve has once again stirred up the hardware hornet’s nest, although not exactly as many expected. While they announced their new Valve Deckard virtual reality headset and a Steam engine updated, the most attentive players have noticed a big absence: no mention of Steam Deck 2the successor to its popular handheld console launched in 2022.
It’s not a matter of rushing
Pierre-Loup Griffais, software engineer at Valve, explained to IGN that the company he prefers to wait until the technical leap is truly significant before releasing a new version: “We want to make sure that the performance improvement it’s worth it as a standalone productIn other words, there’s no need to release a revision with 20, 30 or even 50% more power if it doesn’t feel truly “next-gen.”
The statement is not surprising: the original Deck It continues to sell well and has an active community that has made it the benchmark for portable PC gaming. However, in recent months competition has intensified. Models like the ASUS ROG Ally
A new chip or nothing
Griffais made that clear The problem is not the design, but the technology: “We are building on advances in silicon and architectural improvements, but there is currently no SoC (System on a Chip) that delivers the performance that we consider truly next-generation.” In summary, Valve is waiting for the right chip in order to guarantee a real leap in quality without sacrificing autonomy.
The phrase also indicates one of the company’s obsessions: the balance between power supply and battery. Valve engineers want to avoid repeating common industry mistakes, such as rushed releases with excessive consumption or poor cooling, which suggests that the next laptop isn’t coming anytime sooneven if they already have a pretty solid idea of its final form.
Four years of portable reign
It sounds like a lie, but The original Steam Deck is approaching its fourth anniversary since its launch in February 2022. Since then, Valve has kept the device alive through software updates, OLED releases, and small improvements, but fans have long been calling for a true successor.
And even if the wait is long, Griffais’ statements suggest that Steam Deck 2 is more advanced than it seemsjust waiting for the technological evolution that allows us to respect the standards that Valve has set for itself.
Meanwhile, the gaming laptop market continues to expand. Hybrid consoles have gone from being a curiosity to becoming a new front for the industrywith companies such as Sony, Lenovo and Ayaneo launching their own offerings. Valve, however, remains true to its “slowly but surely” philosophy.
And the price? The great unknown
If there is something that worries the players, beyond the performance, it is precisely this how much will Steam Deck 2 cost. The rise of models that easily exceed 1,000 euros, such as those from ASUS, has raised the alarm. Griffais didn’t comment on pricing, but fans hope Valve maintains its bidding policy a range of stepped modelswith more accessible versions than the top of the range.
At the moment, developers continue to optimize games for the original deckand Valve is in no rush to close that loop. In a market increasingly saturated with intergenerational revisions, the decision to wait can be as risky as it is smart.
A future that boils
Everything indicates it Steam Deck 2 will be the portable equivalent of a complete generational leapnot a simple incremental improvement. Valve doesn’t want a “faster” product, but one that redefines what a pocket PC can do.
And knowing the history of the company, which prefers to launch something late but revolutionary rather than rush it, the wait might be worth it.
