Steam Deck 2 launch date window hypothesis, specs rumors, and worth prediction

The speculated Steam Deck 2 launch date window

Again in November 2023, Valve designer Lawrence Yang informed Bloomberg that he anticipated the ‘next-generation energy improve’ they’d be in search of to justify bringing out the Steam Deck 2 wouldn’t be obtainable for ‘at the very least two or three years’. Initially it appeared doable that we might see a Steam Deck 2 2025 launch date, which was initially bolstered by AMD exhibiting a slide that appeared to point out a Steam Deck powered by their new Z2 Collection processors (you’ll be able to see this beneath). Nonetheless, a coder who works for Valve on the Steam Deck, Pierre-Loup Griffais, stated over on Bluesky that “there is and will be no Z2 Steam Deck“. It might be that Valve is engaged on their very own customized variant of this APU which has a distinct title and can nonetheless launch it this yr, nonetheless, it appears to be a fairly direct rebuttal.

Though some shops are nonetheless sticking to the earliest date within the Lawrence Yang estimate, saying this might nonetheless imply we would see a Steam Deck 2 launched in November 2025, we take into account this to be unlikely following the feedback by Pierre-Loup Graffais. Moreover, the choice of the corporate to permit the Legion Go S handheld to run on SteamOS (the SteamOS model is arriving in May) suggests they’re not notably involved that it’s going to pose competitors to their very own handset releases this yr… in all probability as a result of they aren’t doing any.

Primarily based on the above, our prediction is that we received’t see a Steam Deck 2 launched in 2025, however presumably someday in 2026 after the massive tech reveals of CES that yr in January, doubtlessly on some new Ryzen (or different cellular processor) tech that might deliver this next-gen energy improve the corporate is ready for. February – November 2026 is our present Steam Deck 2 launch window prediction, although this stays very speculative, and it might find yourself popping out even later.

The considerably deceptive AMD Z2 Collection slide

Mr Griffais’ response

Steam Deck 2 specs predictions

Given their said goal of delivering true next-generation power with the Steam Deck 2, we are able to count on a considerable uplift in processing and graphical processing energy. This might include the subsequent iteration of Ryzen cellular processors, or it might be that Valve themselves are engaged on a custom-made APU, which might doubtless use a Ryzen chip as its foundation. Past this although, there’s not lots to go on.

Given the rising demand for it within the really helpful specs of the newest video games, RAM might enhance to 32GB from the present LPDDR5. Storage in all probability received’t enhance an excessive amount of, although there’s all the time an opportunity that the higher SSD threshold might be upped from 1TB to 2TB.

An improved battery will doubtless be a significant precedence for Valve, given this can be a handheld gadget in any case. The present Steam Deck OLED battery period in real-world situations (not based mostly on Valve’s advertising claims) varies very a lot relying upon the form of recreation you’re taking part in, however sometimes lasts wherever between 1-and-a-half to seven hours, and we count on they’ll be seeking to enhance this. The 50.08Wh battery within the OLED was an improve over the 40Wh one within the authentic Steam Deck with LCD display, and introduced a battery period enchancment of round 30-50%, so we’re hoping for the same leap with the Steam Deck 2. Manufacturers akin to ASUS have already made large leaps within the battery division, with the ROG Ally X doubling the battery of its predecessor, for instance.

It appears doubtless that the Steam Deck 2 may have an OLED display, because the distinction ratio, HDR brightness, and very quick response instances, had been all very extremely praised elements of the Steam Deck OLED. Upping the refresh price to at the very least 120Hz to compete with the present ROG Ally X can also be doubtless, although we don’t think about Valve will see it as a lot of a precedence to go one higher – the subjective person expertise for most individuals received’t be considerably improved by reaching the very best refresh price, and gaming on the present Steam Deck OLED show simply seems to be higher than most competing fashions, regardless of being capped at 90Hz.

Display screen measurement might enhance barely, although we think about the corporate will solely achieve this if it will possibly preserve the identical total measurement of the console – portability stays key right here. That is what they did once they elevated the Steam Deck OLED’s display measurement to 7.4″ from the 7″ within the LCD variant, while sustaining very related dimensions and likewise lowering the burden considerably. Display screen decision might enhance from the native 1280×800 (primarily a 720p display however upped to a 16:10 facet ratio with extra vertical head area), although personally, we wouldn’t take into account this a precedence – given the small measurement of the display, this decision is completely effective. Native VRR assist is one thing we count on so see for the built-in show, although what kind this can take stays to be seen. If it comes with an AMD APU then FreeSync appears the almost definitely.

Lastly, WiFi 7 assist appears a really doubtless and apparent improve, as does a Steam Deck mount just like the one which has simply come out for the current variations.