Valve Won’t Launch Steam Deck 2 Until There’s A Real Upgrade

Don’t anticipate a Steam Deck 2 hitting the market anytime soon—at least not within the next year. Valve has confirmed their plans for an official successor to its beloved handheld gaming console, but the company isn’t interested in embracing the annual hardware release trend.

During a discussion with Reviews.org (reported by The Verge), Steam Deck designers Lawrence Yang and Yazan Aldehayyat shared insights into the future of the product. While they acknowledge the value of competition and the enhancements that can be made to the Steam Deck concept, they reject the notion of releasing new iterations with only slight upgrades.

“We’re not going to do a bump every year. There’s no reason, and honestly, from our perspective, that feels kind of unfair to our customers to launch something so soon that’s only marginally better,” Yang stated. He emphasized that the team is looking for a “generational leap in computing power without compromising battery life” before they roll out a proper successor to the Steam Deck.

However, this doesn’t mean Valve lacks interest in enhancing the Steam Deck. Aldehayyat emphasized that the device addresses a significant issue for gamers, but improvements are still needed. “We aim to let you enjoy your Steam games anywhere. The Steam Deck has made significant strides in that direction, but we don’t consider this challenge completely resolved. We see plenty of opportunities for further advancements,” he said.

Other members of the Steam Deck team have speculated about the potential launch of a second-generation handheld. In September 2023, designer Pierre-Loup Griffais reiterated the company’s desire for an upgrade but mentioned they are holding out for a notable generational leap. He estimated that a Steam Deck 2 could debut in late 2025 or possibly 2026.

“It’s crucial for us that the Deck establishes a consistent performance standard for developers, and the message to customers remains straightforward, ensuring that every Deck can run the same titles. Therefore, adjusting the performance tier is a serious decision for us; we will only do so when there’s a substantial benefit,” Griffais explained.

While there might be a chance for another interim release, like the Steam Deck OLED, Valve has yet to mention any plans for it. The OLED version made a few changes, notably upgrading from LCD to OLED for the display and enhancing battery performance slightly.