Valve’s portable PC gaming handheld, the Steam Deck, finally began shipping to customers this past week.
Reviews for the machine have been very positive across the board even as there are the standard launch teething issues with software and compatibility which will improve with time.
With the hardware, the most common complaint seems to be about sacrifices made to bring the machine in on a budget so there’s no OLED screen, limited battery life, and various minor quibbles expected from any ‘first iteration’ of a piece of hardware.
Now though, in a new interview for the latest issue of Edge Magazine (via PC Gamer), Valve co-founder Gabe Newell has revealed that plans are underway for a follow-up that could address those hardware shortcomings.
According to Newell, the most expensive and powerful of the three Steam Deck models available has been “far and away” the most popular version for sale despite costing considerably more than the entry-level model (USD$649 vs. $399).
That has impacted the early development for the next version which will likely offer more power and a higher price tag:
“That’s why we always love to get something out there and ship it. Because we learn a lot from that, and it helps frame our thinking for Deck 2… They’re basically saying ‘We would like an even more expensive version of this’ in terms of horsepower capabilities or whatever.
The first step is to let you play the great games that exist today. The second iterations are going to be more about: what are the capabilities that mobile gives us, above and beyond what you would get in a traditional desktop or laptop gaming environment?”
Newell also says Valve is excited to see what other companies will do with the software it has created to power Steam Deck and how this is just the first step towards a future of highly portable powerful PCs:
“One of the things [Steam Deck] represents is battery-capable, high-performance horsepower that eventually you could use in VR applications as well. You can take the PC and build something that is much more transportable. We’re not really there yet, but this is a stepping stone.”
For Valve, the Steam Deck apparently isn’t a one-off with Newell seeing it as a “permanent addition” to the PC gaming sector.
