With the ongoing success of Valve’s debut handheld console, many of you are wondering whether we can expect a Steam Deck 2 to arrive anytime soon. In this guide, we’ve got all the latest details, from Steam Deck 2 release date speculation, to insider quotes, and a few leaks and rumors thrown in for good measure.
So as not to be too unfaithful to Nintendo as we love the company and its Switch, allow us to tell you all about the best Resident Evil games, Mario games, Zelda games, FNAF games, and horror games that you can play on the hybrid console. Or, if the Steam Deck doesn’t do it for you, see what alternatives our list of the best portable gaming consoles has to offer.
Steam Deck 2 release date speculation
At the time of writing, there is no official Steam Deck 2 release date or indication of when Valve might announce the follow-up console. Still, that doesn’t mean we can’t start speculating, bringing together potential leaks, rumors, and quotes from insiders at Valve to formulate an idea of when the Steam Deck 2 might arrive.
In an interview with Rock Paper Shotgun, Valve lead designer Lawrence Lang shed some light on when the next iteration of the Steam Deck may hit the market. Unfortunately for all you PC gamers out there, he says that “a true next-gen Deck with a significant bump in horsepower wouldn’t be for a few years.” So, we’re pretty sure we’re not going to see the sequel arrive in 2024 unless there’s a drastic change in Valve’s approach.
Another quote from a Valve employee, Pierre-Loup Griffais, to The Verge in September of 2023 sheds more light on when we can anticipate a Steam Deck 2 release date. Griffais told The Verge that a follow-up is unlikely until the developer can improve performance without a “significant cost to power efficiency and battery life” and that he doesn’t “anticipate such a leap to be possible in the next couple of years.” With that in mind, we might be looking at 2025 or 2026 as the soonest possible Steam Deck 2 release date.
Both of those quotes came before the release of the Steam Deck OLED in November 2023. If you compare this handheld console to the Nintendo Switch, the Switch OLED arrived in 2021, and we still haven’t seen a follow-up console since, despite rumors it may arrive in 2024. While it’s just speculation, the arrival of an OLED version seemingly puts any possible Steam Deck 2 release date even further into the future, with the souped-up version improving the lifespan of the original iteration for those looking for longer battery life and a better display.
At the time of writing, just over halfway through 2024, we’ve not heard any new details from Valve regarding a Steam Deck successor or seen any rumors or leaks emerge online. However, according to our sister site PCGN, it appears a Lenovo Legion Go follow-up is in the works as of April 2024. Yes, we’re aware that’s a different console entirely, but we also think it’s fair to assume that if Lenovo is committing to the future of the handheld PC, Valve is probably doing the same thing.
Steam Deck 2 price speculation
It’s no easy job trying to predict the price of something we know so little about, but we’re trying it anyway. Before we get to estimating, though, it’s worth resisting the current Steam Deck pricing structure:
- $399 (£349) for the 256GB LCD model
- $549 (£479) for the 512GB OLED model
- $649 (£569) for the 1TB OLED model
From those price points and what’s bound to be an increase in the quality of technology, it’s likely that you can add an extra $100 to each of those models, assuming Valve sticks to this approach. Unfortunately, we probably won’t know the pricing structure until Valve announces a Steam Deck 2 release date, so keep your eyes on this page for all the latest.
Steam Deck 2 display and specs rumors
One big improvement we’re anticipating when the Steam Deck 2 release date comes around is a better refresh rate display. The ASUS Rog Ally X, one of the best Steam Deck alternatives around, boasts 120Hz. So, we think it’s fair to assume that Valve would at least want to match its competitors and improve on the Steam Deck OLED’s 90Hz limit.
If Valve wants to maintain its place at the top of the growing pack of portable PC gaming consoles, it’s going to need to step up its game in terms of Steam Deck specs to contend with some of the competitors. How exactly it does that is up to the crack team of engineers responsible for the original and OLED Steam Deck.
In terms of changes to the overall design, we’re not expecting anything drastic considering many critics have commended Valve on the ergonomic design of the original Steam Deck. While there might be some change to the original build, the quotes from those at Valve working on the Steam Deck 2 seem to suggest that they’re most concerned with improving the internals, and therefore the performance, of the follow-up console.
What do we want to see from a Steam Deck 2?
I love my Steam Deck, but that doesn’t mean there aren’t a few things I’d change about it or some things I’d add if I had the option. For a start, I’d like it to be just a touch thinner. I know this is difficult due to the trackpads, but after testing one of the latest competitors in my ASUS ROG Ally X review, a thinner form factor goes a long way toward offering a more comfortable experience.
I’d also like to see Valve put a bit of work into the UI. While the Linux-based software is still better than anything using Windows 11, all too often I find that the Steam store in particular isn’t doing what I’d like it to, especially when buying a new game. There’s nothing more annoying when you’re parting with $50 for something fresh than not knowing whether the payment has actually gone through or not.
Hardware-wise, as I mentioned earlier, I’d really like to see Valve boost the Steam Deck 2’s refresh rates to 120Hz. It’d just make that AAA gaming experience a touch smoother, especially in action-packed games where a lot is going on on-screen.
There you have it, all the Steam Deck 2 release date speculation, rumors, and insider quotes. While you’re here, why not find something to scratch that nostalgia itch with our picks for the best retro handhelds?