We could receive a new version of the Steam Deck next month, but Valve won't be the one developing it.
No, the arrival of a Steam Deck 2 is not imminent, but Valve plans to surprise at CES 2025 in January.
During next week's CES, an event organized by AMD and Lenovo will take place featuring two special guests: Pierre-Loup Griffais from Valve and Jason Ronald from Microsoft. This event is scheduled for January 7th, and it has been noted that it could be highly significant given the presence of representatives from Valve.
Valve's attendance is particularly noteworthy, especially following the launch of the Asus ROG Ally, where several similar events have brought together speakers from AMD, Microsoft, and portable console manufacturers like Lenovo and Asus. However, this marks Valve's first event participation, a significant fact considering the company is known for its Linux-based handheld console, the Steam Deck. Pierre-Loup Griffais, who has been working on the Steam Deck, has also shared insights regarding the development of Proton on this console.
Another interesting point is that Valve has recently updated its branding guidelines, incorporating new logos that include the phrase "Powered by SteamOS." Additionally, images of a black handheld console from Lenovo featuring a button displaying the Steam logo have leaked. All of this suggests that Valve is in the process of bringing SteamOS to other portable devices, raising expectations about what might be announced.
While it cannot be confirmed 100% what will be revealed at the event, the combination of these elements indicates that a new handheld device is likely to be presented. However, Valve has also stated that it will not launch a Steam Deck 2 until there is a true generational leap in performance. The designers of the Steam Deck have expressed their approval of competition in the market, but they will not join the trend of releasing enhanced versions on an annual basis.
On the other hand, the new Lenovo Legion Go is equipped with an AMD Ryzen Z1 Extreme, surpassing the performance of the chip in the original Steam Deck and its OLED version. The arrival of the Ryzen Z2 Extreme is also expected early next year, fueling speculation about the potential of this new device. With the lightweight performance of SteamOS and the capabilities of Proton, the new portable could be genuinely appealing to gamers.
In a few weeks, we will learn more details at the event, where Lenovo promises an opportunity to experience the latest line of Lenovo Legion Go.
