The Steam Machine is formally prepared to launch, however that hasn’t stopped us from questioning how shut Valve is to unveiling the long-awaited Steam Deck 2. Talking to IGN forward of in the present day’s Steam Machine evaluation, Valve’s engineers hinted that the Steam Deck 2 is nearer than ever, however that they nonetheless haven’t seen the “generational leap” they’re ready for to make a second-generation Deck value it.
“I would say we’re nearer than we have been the final time we talked,” mentioned Valve Engineer Pierre-Loup Griffais. “We’re undoubtedly getting there.”
For these preserving monitor, Griffais advised us Valve has a “fairly good concept” of what Steam Deck 2 goes to be in November of final yr, and reiterated they have been “onerous at work” after we spoke forward of the Steam Controller launch earlier this yr.
Within the time since then, a new era handheld gaming processor hit the market – the brand new Intel Arc G3, which can launch within the $1,799 MSI Claw 8 EX AI+, in addition to a handful of different Home windows-based handhelds within the coming weeks.
The Arc G3 is a strong chip to be certain, however it nonetheless wasn’t sufficient to transfer the needle for Valve.
“I’d say that the brand new chips which might be popping out are nonetheless in energy envelopes that aren’t fairly the suitable section that you simply’d need for a real handheld expertise,” Griffais mentioned. “I feel quite a lot of them are extra low-end laptop computer chips or taking part in in that kind of kind issue which might be then repurposed for handhelds and possibly not main to, I suppose the trade-off that we’d’ve chosen by way of energy and higher life and that and all that.”
In different phrases, there’s doubtless sufficient energy within the chips popping out as of late, however they wouldn’t have the ability to hit these numbers whereas additionally sustaining the type of battery life that Valve desires to see in its next-generation handheld. After all, the continued RAM disaster is probably going an element as properly, and I don’t doubt that Valve would favor to wait till provide – and costs – return to extra regular ranges on that entrance earlier than committing to placing out a brand new handheld, particularly if it hopes to launch at or close to the unique value level of the Steam Deck, which itself not too long ago noticed a major value hike.
All that mentioned, Griffais was clear {that a} Steam Deck 2 remains to be within the works.
“We’re working in direction of our subsequent gen for positive,” Griffais mentioned. “We’ll undoubtedly be speaking about that within the coming years, however proper now we’re specializing in Machine.”
For extra on the Steam Machine, take a look at our full evaluation.
Bo Moore is IGN’s Senior Supervisor of Tech. You could find him on-line @usebomswisely.