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.
Discussion (15 replies)
Join Discussion →I mean, anything is possible really. Current Steam Deck was custom but it wasn't a huge deviation from anything you could buy off the shelf.
Eggxactly.
Im sure by the time they are deciding, theyll probably do custom anyway, unless theres too much issues with the # of units they need to pay out of the gate or something.
I have a feeling they only did "Custom" because AMD gave them a deal on some wafers that binned out too low
icwydt
Makes way more sense to use off the shelf.
I get the feeling that valve could go for qualcomm apu fabbed on samsung
AMD fabbed on TSMC would be unaffordable, imo
Intel 18a is an option, but Intel needs to demontrate GPU capabilities on their fabs
outside chance is AMD zen 7 fabbed on samsung !!
I think Steam is more interested in making the best gaming potato they can. Meaning it will be capable but won't need a long lifecycle in the market. They are creating a market much like they did with linux based hand held gaming devices. They prove the market. Let everyone else jump in with 'better' devices and then sit back and reap their 30% of every game sale.
Lord Gaben as they call him, and Valve/Steam, are probably the most favorably viewed leader and company in the gaming space. Having their own branded hardware and OS is working out. Never underestimate brand power.
Im getting a feeling there wont be any Steam Deck built anywhere in asia, we may get a deck in 2037 possibly made in the USA.
I don't think it's a bad strategy honestly. Graphics and FX can only get you so far, it's the games (and the communities that spring up around the games) that drive revenue and engagement.
I mean, honestly... who would have thought the top money-making entertainment IP in the world ... not Star Wars. Not Grand Theft Auto. Not Call of Duty or Madden franchise.... Not Mickey Mouse. Not DC Universe or Marvel. But Pokemon. By a long long ways too. And that has always run on a potato.
Roblox looks like Minecraft vomited up a bag of Skittles. And both of those titles are huge money makers. If I go to Steam right now and look at Top Sellers... the one on top right now is CS2, which is ... almost 14 years old now? And almost every other game on that list is pixel or mobile-quality graphics, and the rest of what are left over are mostly capable of being tuned down to run on a potato if necessary.
Your hardware only needs to be good enough... It's only people like us, on these forums, that really chase those last few frames or must check every last box in the graphics options - and at great expense
Lets be real it's always the people willing to spend for the best be that tv's, refrigerator's, or PC gaming that drive the rest of that segment of the industry forward.
With the abandonment of the DIY space advancement for home compute will slowly grind to a halt until money shifts.
You are not wrong.
I predict, if it gets that bad, the market will turn parallel to the mobile phone market - where they are just upgrading the camera for some rediculous reason and nothing else ever really changes generation over generation.
Sure, probably won't be a camera, but it'll be something... I mean, the consumer PC space is already mostly that way - where they will prominently display whatever the latest generation CPU is, and it's almost always some budget crap that's slow as molasses without nearly enough RAM and some tiny drive space so it can hit that magic price point for Wal Mart.
It was indeed the case going way back. But that was then, this is now. Enthusiast whale spending power has become a joke. Kaijus drive everything. Before things get better, if they do, we are going to get thoroughly ROFLstomped Godzilla style. As I would not expect DRAM and NAND prices to stop inflating anytime soon.
Yea, I mean it's crazy even for enterprise. A server that would have cost 10k after discounts with a vendor is now costing 30k. And lead time is projected at one FLIPPING year. It's just STUPID.
zen 7 Snowmass — a semi custom apu
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