Valve Prepping for the Steam Deck 2 Release

The American Software Company Valve is certainly not just relaxing after the success of the Steam Deck; they recently released the Steam Deck OLED and revealed that they are already working on the next-generation Steam Deck. This is not surprising, given how popular the device has become since its launch in 2022. There were concerns about whether Valve was rushing for another upgrade since neither Sony, Microsoft, nor Nintendo has released many details about their next-gen consoles.

A Valve designer shut out this concern from the Steam community since Steam Deck is already a generation behind the current-gen consoles. To be in the race, Valve has to release the next version sooner rather than later. Then the real question arrives: How much of an upgrade will it be? Will it hold its own against more powerful opponents such as the ROG Ally or Lenovo Legion Go?

There is not a lot of hype surrounding the Switch 2. We assume it is weaker than the PS4 Pro, which makes sense. Why would the community be enthusiastic about a gadget that is essentially weaker than the PS4 Pro? If this comes out, it feels like we're two generations behind.

On the other hand, other users are far more excited about the possibilities of Steam Deck 2. If Steam Deck 2 is released this year, when will it be available? Well, new improvements in mobile processors have sparked some speculation that it may be closer than previously thought. There is even conjecture that Valve will opt for a more traditional chip this time, potentially beating AMD's snazzy new mobile processor to market.

If we assume correctly, the Steam Deck 2 will most likely not be available until late 2025 or 2026. In an interview with Bloomberg, Valve designer Lawrence Yang stated that a next-generation power improvement will not take place for at least two or three years. That was in November 2023, when the OLED model debuted. However, before we see a full-fledged Gen 2 device, the original Steam Deck may be refreshed once more. Yang also stated that they are constantly considering Steam Deck 2, but they want to wait for a significant technological advancement before implementing major modifications.

It makes sense when we look at Steam Deck’s price. It wasn't easy for Valve to price the base model at $399, and the OLED version starts at $549. So, the Steam Deck 2 will undoubtedly cost more. In fact, Valve may consider developing a premium version that may likely exceed the current $649 price point. They want a longer battery life and an improved screen, possibly even a next-generation OLED like Samsung's QD OLED. A higher resolution or slightly larger monitor would be ideal.