It’s now rumored that Valve may choose to use an off-the-shelf AMD processor to power the Steam Deck 2 for a greater generational leap. Valve has previously confirmed that the Steam Deck 2 is still probably years away, something rumors continue to support, with release happening sometime in 2028 or possibly 2029. Pierre-Loup Griffais, lead developer behind SteamOS, said: “The thing we’re making sure of is that it’s a worthwhile enough performance upgrade to make sense as a standalone product.”
Valve has also made it clear that it wants the Steam Deck 2 to be a true generational step forward as opposed to a mid-level upgrade. Now, according to AMD leaker Kepler_L2, an internal timeline sees the Steam Deck arriving in 2028, but external factors like memory supply issues could still affect the final schedule, and they also noted, “They were targeting 2028 AFAIK, but the whole RAM/NAND situation could delay it.”
This is, of course, due to the ongoing RAM/NAND supply shortage, which has also been an issue for Valve releasing its Steam Cube and accessories. However its not all doom and gloom as the leaker has also suggested Valve may be considering another strategy for the Steam Deck 2. As of yet, no official reports indicate that AMD has locked in an agreement with AMD for another custom SoC, unlike Sony and Microsoft. This means that Valve could be weighing its options in using an off-the-shelf Zen6 part featuring RDNA 5 graphics, which might outperform the PlayStation 6 or Xbox Project Helix.
“Also since they don’t have a semi-custom SoC, unlike the PS6/Xbox if it gets delayed it could end up with better specs.
– Kepler_L2
Meanwhile, those still looking for the current OLED model are mostly out of luck since they are often sold out, something of a shock considering its four-year-old hardware. Folks looking for something more up-to-date may want to consider the ASUS ROG Ally/Ally X or perhaps the Lenovo Legion Go.