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Yet another rumour has suggested Valve will wait until 2028 before releasing its next handheld gaming PC. The Steam Deck has been hugely successful since launching in 2022, but we’ve yet to hear confirmation of near-term upgrade plans from Valve themselves.
Digital Foundry contributor and leaker KeplerL2 tweeted the recent information claiming an inside knowledge of Valve’s target dates for the Steam Deck 2 hardware.
Speculation suggests a 2028 release date at this time, however there is potential for those plans to change based on component availability and pricing.
Leaks Suggest 2028 Release Date
The tweet claims Valve is shooting for a 2028 release window on Steam Deck 2 hardware, however delays may continue if RAM and NAND memory shortages persist.
Memory chip shortages have affected a number of industries already, and gaming handhelds are likely included.Delays aren’t always a bad thing though. Taking extra time to develop the Steam Deck 2 could allow for Valve to equip even better hardware than we may have initially expected.
Won’t Receive A Semi-Custom SoC From AMD
Unlike competing consoles such as the PS5 or Xbox Series X|S, it’s unlikely that Valve will receive a semi-custom system-on-chip (SoC) solution from AMD for its Steam Deck replacement.
That could allow them to select from the best available components when the time is right. That decision may also lead to longer development time as KeplerL2 suggests, as Valve may not want to rush out major generational upgrades until they feel it’s warranted.
Steam Deck Still Flying Off Shelves
Powered by AMD Zen 2 CPU and RDNA 2 graphics, the Steam Deck has sold tremendously since launching in 2022. In fact, it remains one of the best PC handhelds you can buy today.
Still hugely popular, stock issues have continued due to high demand. The Steam Deck’s popularity may be another reason Valve isn’t rushing to announce a Steam Deck 2 just yet.
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