Although Valve recently rolled out its latest and greatest handheld gaming PC, the Steam Deck, the company is already working hard at a successor device. This is no surprise, given how many people want a dedicated all-in-one console with a library of games beyond what the Nintendo Switch offers.
However, there are no specifics regarding the upgrades to the hardware and whether or not it will be able to compete with similar devices already on the market.
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Valve is keeping everything secret for now, yet there are certain things that audiences can expect in comparison to the current generation.
Release date of the Steam Deck 2
The original Steam Deck was made available for preorder in July 2021, and the earliest shipments were sent out in February 2022. The rollout of shipments was delayed due to an unexpected surge in purchases and manufacturing shortages.
Furthermore, given how recently the first model Steam Deck was released, gamers should not expect to see a Steam Deck 2 come out anytime soon. Of course, this does not rule out the possibility that we could be getting refined versions of the Deck in the nearer future, similar to the OLED model of the Nintendo Switch.
Price of the Steam Deck 2
Gabe Newell, the CEO of Valve, previously talked about how hitting the low price point of $399 USD / £349 MSRP for the base model Steam Deck was “painful.” The higher-end versions offer increased capacity and flash storage. Given how much space the average game needs to be installed locally on a PC, investing in the low-end model is already a stretch.
Unless the cost of manufacturing the Steam Deck 2 is cheaper to meet similar standards in accordance with Moore’s Law, the successor device will likely cost more. Newell went on to confirm in an interview with Edge magazine that the Deck’s “most popular SKU is the most expensive one.”
Specs for the Steam Deck 2
Currently, no leaks are detailing the potential specs of the Steam Deck 2, but Valve has commented about what would be necessary to improve in newer versions of the device. Two of the biggest improvements Valve wants to make include a better-quality screen and expanded battery life.