Valve has just dropped another confirmation that the Steam Deck 2 is on the way. But that’s really all that the company is willing to reveal.
In a recent interview with IGN, Valve confirmed that development on the next-gen handheld console is progressing at full pace. However, it seems like they still aren’t ready to show anything, as the successor to the Steam Deck remains tightly under wraps.
Why there’s no Steam Deck 2… yet
Steam Deck 2 being in active development isn’t surprising. Valve has already revealed that it had plans for a next-gen model a while ago, but the company was against the idea of annual hardware releases. Just like with its games (Half-Life 3), Valve doesn’t want to make a sequel till there’s some “generational leap“.
The company definitely aims to deliver a clear generational jump in both performance and efficiency. So if hardware isn’t there yet, there’s no point in teasing something that’s still taking shape.
Why they are waiting for the right moment
At the center of this delay is silicon. Valve has talked about how current chip options don’t meet its expectations for a true next-gen handheld. Add the current component shortages and price hikes to the mix, and a release within this year really doesn’t make any sense.
The company just unveiled the new Steam Controller, which is a part of the new ecosystem Valve is trying to build. But the rest of the hardware, including the hotly-awaited Steam Machine and Steam Frame headsets, has been delayed.
Still a long road ahead?
As of right now, it’s hard to tell when we’ll get more concrete details about the Steam Deck 2. All we know is that the gaming handheld is a part of the roadmap. Valve seems willing to take its time, even as competitors push out faster updates in the handheld gaming space. Whether that patience pays off will depend on how big that eventual leap actually is.