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Steam Deck 2- Is It Even Possible Now?

Arsic

Loves his juicy stink trail scent
I love my deck oled, but I got it on release when pricing was more sensible.

I look at steam machine pricing, rising costs on other mobile/handheld devices, rising costs of everything, and is a Steam deck 2 even worth doing anytime soon?

What would you want the device to do? What kind of specs? Then take that and consider what you're willing to pay for that upgrade.

I don't think we will see a deck 2 for at least another 5+ years. Why? It isn't because pricing will come down it's because pricing will become more "normalized" as astronomical bull shit so they don't look out of pocket asking for a kings ransom like with the steam machine.
 
To be quite honest I'm fine with Steam Deck as is. I don't want to play Forza Horizon 6 and Cyberpunk on a handheld. The type of games I do want to play on a handheld run totally fine and look great on OLED.

I don't think AMD has even talked about iterating on the Z2e so who knows what their next handheld will be like. Maybe an ARM device?
 
Its not only pricing. There's still no sensible hardware solution in terms of the jump in performance Valve wants at an acceptable power draw (Around 15W). SOC technologies have to mature a bit more in order to have new hardware that makes sense.
 
There are new handhelds coming out every year with newer APUs, you can look at those to get an idea.

Currently devices that come close to PS5 performance (with AMD 8060s iGPU) cost $2000-3000 and have a ridiculous battery life.

They need an external battery because of temperature and capacity issues.

The actual Steam Deck 2 will probably use an ARM APU instead of x86 but the software is not fully ready yet. Steam Frame will be a step in that direction.
 
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I look at steam machine pricing, rising costs on other mobile/handheld devices, rising costs of everything, and is a Steam deck 2 even worth doing anytime soon?
There is no "rising costs of everything", only the memory is inflated right now.
As for whether SD2 is possible - sure, why not? We already have faster APUs at similar prices to what's in SD1. In a year or two we'll get even faster options, with better RT and AI h/w.
 
As _oni_ _oni_ said, at least other manufacturers are releasing gaming handhelds, and SteamOS being open and more generally available recently will help people kind of pick what they'd like their own successor to the Steam Deck be, if they choose to upgrade.

Valve themselves said they wouldn't even start designing the Steam Deck 2 until there's a radical shift in the hardware. An ARM APU might be the answer. Solid-state batteries are getting closer to mass production too, which would provide a huge benefit (80Wh battery with the same size and weight, 0-80% charge in under 15 minutes, no swelling or fire risks, etc.) which realistically is about 4-5 years out from being viable(?)

Whatever comes next is likely to be expensive no matter how you slice it though. But possible? Sure.
 
Hardware isn't there, and doesn't look like it will be for at least several years.

The price as it stands is too high and newer architecture will only reinforce that.

I was there day 1 for the first deck. I won't be this time.
 
If Steam Deck isn't possible, neither is PS6 or Helix, unless they are $1000.
Sony and Microsoft could make it work with an unconventional approach in a digital only world. It's been tried before!

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Not anytime soon if you dont want it to cost same or more as steam machine. I honestly would rec getting 2nd hand z2 extreme handheld. Its more than enough for now - if not just get laptop if need to game on the go. 5070 ti 12gb, 32gb and 275hx laptop costs same as new intel g3 and g3 extreme handhelds
 
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Of course it would be possible but probably too expensive for most buyers. At least I wouldn't buy a Steam Deck 2 for over $1000. I use my Steam Deck for emulation only.
 
If people don't adjust their price expectations on gaming hardware *no* new hardware will be "possible"

The price floor has increased. What $500 once got you now takes ~$1000.
 
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I love my deck oled, but I got it on release when pricing was more sensible.

I look at steam machine pricing, rising costs on other mobile/handheld devices, rising costs of everything, and is a Steam deck 2 even worth doing anytime soon?

What would you want the device to do? What kind of specs? Then take that and consider what you're willing to pay for that upgrade.

I don't think we will see a deck 2 for at least another 5+ years. Why? It isn't because pricing will come down it's because pricing will become more "normalized" as astronomical bull shit so they don't look out of pocket asking for a kings ransom like with the steam machine.
No
 
I always thought the Deck was cool but wanted to wait for version 2...I chose wrong. The time for it to really shine is over and 2 just never happened.
 
They should wait a while longer honestly. Like a previous poster said, there really isn't a SOC on the shelf that provides enough boost without killing the heat and battery. As someone who mostly streams to the thing Im sitting pretty for the foreseable future.
 
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