After some buzz in the gaming world, it turns out that the much-talked-about Steam Console isn’t in the works after all. GamingOnLinux pointed out some misleading rumors about a Steam console in development, and Valve developer Pierre-Loup Griffais has confirmed on BlueSky that there’ve been some wires crossed. The excitement was about Valve working on AMD’s upcoming RDNA 4 architecture for drivers, which aligns with their ongoing work since AMD’s Vega days. While they are gearing up for a new GPU architecture, it’s not linked to relaunching their Steam Machine project.
So, should we put our hopes for a new Steam Console on ice? For now, it seems we should… but let’s not throw in the towel just yet. There are angles worth exploring about Valve’s history and potential future ventures into the console space, including a possible Steam Machine revival and thoughts on a Steam Deck 2.
### Valve’s Hardware Game Plan
There was never any solid evidence pointing to a new Steam console, especially not from enabling pre-release GPU setups like AMD’s RDNA 4. Consoles, Steam Deck included, usually feature custom hardware built on proven technologies, never the latest and greatest straight out the gate. Bringing a new console to market requires meticulous planning and time, which means by launch, the tech is often a bit older.
When the Steam Deck launched in 2022, it ran AMD’s RDNA 2 graphics tech, already unveiled in 2020. This put the Steam Deck about a year and a half out from its initial tech, and even more for its Zen 2 CPU base. Now, with RDNA 4 on the horizon as a desktop architecture, adapting it for handheld use would be a demanding venture, necessitating extensive resources and development time.
Today, leading integrated GPU solutions are leveraging AMD’s RDNA 3 and 3.5 architectures. However, we’re yet to see significant leaps in performance, especially for battery-operated devices. Yes, there’s better performance when plugged in, but handhelds face strict limits due to battery capacity. The latest Ryzen AI HX 300 Series APUs with RDNA 3.5 graphics are only starting to arrive now, further setting realistic expectations.
The other piece is Valve’s confirmation that the Steam Deck 2 won’t hit the shelves anytime soon — it’s a couple of years away as they wait for more powerful hardware to come up. Consoles tend to have larger gaps between releases, so while featuring an RDNA 4 iGPU in a future Steam Deck sounds feasible, it sure isn’t around the corner. Releasing three SteamOS hardware platforms in under seven years would be quite excessive.
While RDNA 4 appears promising, we lack crucial intel like power consumption, performance potential, and pricing. All of which are needed before it could appear in handheld PCs.
### Glimpse into the Future
Let’s dive into some speculation, still anchored in known facts about PC hardware and its ripple effects on the handheld console scene.
Last year, some credible leaks peered into possible future Valve gadgets, including a redesigned Steam Controller and advanced VR controllers inspired by the Steam Deck. The evolution of the Steam Controller might subtly signal a return to either the Steam Link or the Steam Machine idea, or it might simply enhance user experience between handheld and docked Steam Deck play, particularly for those who appreciate Steam Input’s advanced features.
So, is a Steam Console out of the question? Maybe not entirely. Should Steam OS 3 be released wider, we could witness more brands incorporating it across mini PCs, laptops, and handhelds. A larger form factor could also potentially allow Valve to implement features like real-time ray tracing, which, on the current Deck, struggles to maintain decent frame rates even in heavily rasterized games, while full RT remains out of the league entirely due to hardware limitations and energy constraints.
For a genuine leap in handheld capability, Valve requires more than just RDNA 4’s RT boosts. They need an efficient GPU capable of delivering RT power at 25W TDP or 15W TDP, depending on the device model. Current RDNA 4 mobile GPUs tip the scales at 80-175W, suggesting AMD hasn’t quite hit the mark yet.
But progress isn’t an impossible feat. With RDNA 4 stood to be crafted on TSMC’s N4 node, a process well-established over two years, there’s hope. The Steam Deck’s own APU traces back to the now-dated N7 node, so a transition to N5 or N4 would propel strides forward. In a few years, the availability of even smaller nodes like N3 or N2 could pave the way for more efficient and compelling chips for handhelds, provided that costs can be managed.
And do we even need a dedicated Steam Console? Attach a Steam Deck to a compatible docking station and you effectively have a home console far more potent than a Nintendo Switch. If Nintendo has shifted away from traditional home consoles, a company like Valve might perceive greater merit in a hybrid model that carves its niche while not going head-to-head with mass-market consoles or gaming PCs.
