Steam Deck Shifts to Major Upgrades for Next Release

Valve has broken the mold of yearly upgrades commonly seen in smartphones and some handheld consoles by confirming that the Steam Deck will not follow this trend. Steam Deck designers Lawrence Yang and Yazan Aldehayyat have shed light on their unique approach to hardware updates.

Valve to Avoid Annual Upgrade Cycle for Steam Deck

“That’s Kind of Not Really Fair to Your Customers,” Said Steam Deck Designers

Valve has made it clear: the Steam Deck won’t adhere to the annual hardware release cycle. In an interview with Reviews.org, Lawrence Yang emphasized their stance against the "yearly cadence" adopted by competitors. "We’re not going to do a bump every year," Yang stated. "There’s no reason to do that. And, honestly, from our perspective, that’s kind of not really fair to your customers to come out with something so soon that’s only incrementally better."

Instead, Valve is committed to significant upgrades, referred to as a "generational leap," ensuring that any future iteration justifies the wait and investment without compromising battery life.

Yazan Aldehayyat highlighted Valve's focus on addressing user problems, particularly in enabling PC gaming away from traditional desktop setups. While the Steam Deck has made strides in this area, Aldehayyat acknowledges that there’s still "a lot of room for improvement." They welcome the innovations from competitors, such as the Steam Deck’s touchpads, which provide unique advantages in navigating PC games, unlike devices like the ROG Ally. "We would love if other companies use touchpads," Aldehayyat noted.

When discussing features they wished had been included in the Steam Deck OLED, Aldehayyat mentioned variable refresh rate (VRR) as a top priority. He expressed regret over not implementing VRR in time for the OLED launch, despite its popularity among users and designers. Yang clarified that the OLED Steam Deck was not intended as a second-generation device but rather as a refined version of the original LCD model.

The team is also exploring ways to enhance battery life in future Steam Deck models, recognizing the limitations of current technology. Users may need to wait for the next Steam Deck version or the Steam Deck 2 to experience these improvements.

Despite not updating hardware annually, Valve is not concerned about falling behind competitors. The Steam Deck faces increasing competition from devices like the Asus ROG Ally and Ayaneo products. However, Valve views this as beneficial for the gaming community, sparking innovation and variety in handheld gaming PCs. "We love the idea that a lot of companies are working on improving the experience of playing games outside of your office or away from your computer," said Aldehayyat. "So seeing people try all kinds of stuff and seeing what sticks and what doesn’t, and just improving that for users… We’re very excited about it and we’re kind of curious to see where that ends up being."

Steam Deck to Officially be Sold in Australia This November

Valve's global rollout of the Steam Deck may have influenced their decision to avoid annual hardware updates. The Steam Deck will officially launch in Australia this November 2024, as announced during PAX Australia. An exact release date has not been disclosed.

Before this, the only way to acquire a Steam Deck in Australia was through unofficial channels. When asked about the delay, Yang explained, "It takes a very long time to get everything buttoned up in terms of financial due diligence, and then setting up all the logistics and warehousing and shipping and returns and all that kind of stuff."

"Australia was on the list of countries we wanted to be in during the first day of even designing the product," added Aldehayyat. "It was designed to meet Australian requirements. It was certified the same time the US and Europe and Asia was certified." He noted that the lack of proper channels and business presence in Australia for handling returns was a significant hurdle.

At the time of writing, Valve does not officially sell the Steam Deck in several countries, including Mexico, Brazil, and many parts of Southeast Asia, such as the Philippines and Indonesia. While users in these regions can still obtain the device through unofficial means, they miss out on official support and distribution, including purchasing accessories and benefiting from warranties.

In contrast, the Steam Deck is available in numerous markets, including the United States, Canada, much of Europe, and parts of Asia like Taiwan, Hong Kong, South Korea, and Japan via Komodo’s website.