When Valve unveiled the Steam Deck, it promised a unique blend of PC capabilities in a console-like form factor. However, expectations for frequent hardware updates similar to PCs have not materialized. In fact, Valve seems to be taking a more console-oriented approach, with no major updates to the Steam Deck hardware since its early 2022 launch. It appears that Steam Deck 2 might not arrive until 2025 or 2026, as Valve aims for a significant performance boost before releasing a new version.
Valve’s Pierre-Loup Griffais emphasized the importance of maintaining a consistent performance standard for all Steam Deck owners. The goal is to ensure that every Steam Deck can play the same games, creating a straightforward message for customers. Consequently, Valve is cautious about altering the performance level unless a substantial increase in power is achievable. Griffais stated:
“It’s important to us that the Deck offers a fixed performance target for developers, and that the message to customers is simple, where every Deck can play the same games. As such, changing the performance level is not something we are taking lightly, and we only want to do so when there is a significant enough increase [in power] to be had. We also don’t want more performance to come at a significant cost to power efficiency and battery life. I don’t anticipate such a leap to be possible in the next couple of years, but we’re still closely monitoring innovations in architectures and fabrication processes to see where things are going there.”
While Valve’s approach aligns with providing a consistent gaming experience, it raises concerns among Steam Deck owners who hoped to play AAA PC titles on the go. In practice, many of this year’s major AAA releases are challenging to run on the Steam Deck, deviating from the initial promise of compatibility with most PC games. While the Steam Deck continues to excel as a platform for indie titles, those who invested in it for AAA gaming on the move might find it less appealing to wait for a potential update in a few years.
Are you a Steam Deck owner? How do you feel about the current hardware and its ability to meet your gaming needs? Are you willing to hold out for a couple more years in hopes of an upgraded Steam Deck?
Source: The Verge