Semiconductor Crisis Impacts Valve, May Push Steam Deck 2 to 2028

Gamers anticipating a new generation of Valve's Steam Deck may have to wait until 2028, according to recent rumors. Insider KeplerL2 reported on the NeoGAF forum, via Alessio Palumbo, that Valve is targeting a 2028 release window for the Steam Deck 2. This timeline, however, is subject to change, depending on the resolution of the ongoing chip shortage. The shortage of RAM and NAND memory is reportedly challenging Valve's hardware development for the Steam Deck 2. If the memory shortage persists, the release could be delayed beyond 2028. The scarcity and rising prices in the memory market have already impacted the current Steam Deck, prompting Valve to reevaluate Steam Machine pricing earlier this year, as the global memory shortage is expected to last into 2026. Valve's current strategy involves waiting to ensure the next model offers a significant generational leap. The company aims for at least a 50% increase in performance per watt compared to the current Steam Deck before moving forward with new hardware. Valve has removed the LCD version of the Steam Deck from shelves in many locations, and deliveries of the OLED Steam Deck units have been delayed since March.

Potential Delay Enhances Steam Deck 2's Technical Advantage for Future-Proofed Launch in 2028

This potential delay will allow Valve to incorporate newer components than those in the PlayStation 6 or Xbox "Helix" when they launch around the same time. KeplerL2 suggests that unlike Sony and Microsoft, Valve doesn't need to finalize specifications early. This provides the flexibility to integrate newer components as they become available during development, partially because the Steam Deck isn't built on a rigid, closed, semi-custom SoC (System on a Chip). This flexibility also gives Valve an advantage in potentially releasing the device with significantly better technical specifications than initially planned, should the release be delayed. There are ongoing concerns about the sustainability of future portable consoles, particularly the limitation that CPUs with fewer cores could impose over a platform's lifecycle, considering the computational demands of upcoming games, such as advanced physics and NPC density. For the rumored PS6 Portable, which is said to be more powerful than an Xbox Series S and includes the advanced PSSR 3 upscaler, running next-gen games will depend on the compromises Sony and producers are willing to make. By contrast, the Steam Deck 2's potential delay until 2028 could provide Valve with valuable time to prevent the console from becoming outdated at launch.

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