In a moderately decisive assertion made shortly after the launch of Valve’s handheld in Australia, Steam Deck product designer Lawrence Yang outright condemned the discharge of yearly merchandise which can be solely “incrementally higher” than the earlier design.
Whereas the Steam Deck continues to be one of the best handheld gaming PC all-around, it’s growing older AMD APU is beginning to fall behind rivals when it comes to energy. Regardless of this, Valve isn’t going to show to annual releases and can as an alternative await the proper expertise to come back alongside earlier than releasing an all new handheld.
In an interview with Critiques.org, Steam Deck designers Lawrence Yang and Yazan Aldehyyat spoke on the success of the Deck, it’s Australian launch, and most significantly, what’s subsequent for the model.
Probably the most curious quote comes from Yang who, when addressing what’s subsequent, says “It is very important us, and we’ve tried to be actually clear, we’re not doing the yearly cadence”.
This was adopted up with “we’re not going to do a bump yearly. There’s no cause to do this. And, actually, from our perspective, that’s sort of probably not honest to your prospects to come back out with one thing so quickly that’s solely incrementally higher. So we actually do wish to await a generational leap in compute with out sacrificing battery life earlier than we ship the actual second era of Steam Deck.”
It’s a reasonably damning assertion that exhibits Valve isn’t dashing into it’s plans for a Steam Deck 2, and whereas the Steam Deck OLED has confirmed well-liked regardless of it’s lack of enhancements, it hasn’t tempted the corporate into pushing an annual launch mannequin, and all however confirms no bulletins are coming in 2024.
Whereas it isn’t outright said, it’s exhausting to disregard that Yang could also be referring to Asus and it’s three ROG Ally handhelds, all launched throughout the house of 13 months, though the non-Excessive mannequin was by no means bought as being an improve, however as an alternative a less expensive various with much less energy. That being stated, Valve’s OLED launch was hardly in step with what’s being preached right here with reference to incremental upgrades.
Valve, nevertheless, seem completely satisfied to attend for a real next-generation system earlier than pushing a brand new handheld, and I’ve to confess, it’s the neatest play given it’s present perceived standing because the main handheld gaming PC.
When you await a brand new Steam Deck, you may try our Asus ROG Ally X assessment for a peak on the greatest risk to Valve’s handheld crown.