Valve Dismisses Rumors of RDNA4-Based Steam Console, Regularly Tests Unused Hardware

Recently, the gaming community buzzed with whispers about a new Steam Console supposedly in the works. However, GamingOnLinux reported it was mere hearsay, and this was further backed by Valve’s developer, Pierre-Loup Griffais, on BlueSky. He set the record straight, explaining that while Valve is indeed keeping up with the latest GPU architectures, like AMD’s RDNA 4, this doesn’t signal a sudden return to their Steam Machine days. Since AMD’s Vega era, Valve has consistently worked on pre-release Mesa Vulkan software, and that’s all this is.

So, does this dash any hopes for a new Steam Console? For now, probably. Still, it’s worth dissecting Valve’s ventures into the console world and speculating about what the future might hold for the Steam Machine or the anticipated Steam Deck 2.

What we know about Valve’s hardware plans

Imagine a Steam Console on the horizon. Would the development of new GPU architecture, such as AMD’s RDNA 4, be enough evidence? Hardly. Most consoles, including the Steam Deck, come equipped with custom hardware derived from existing architectures. By the time these hit the market, the tech is already a generation behind cutting-edge hardware, owing to the lengthy planning and development required.

If we take a look back, the Steam Deck that launched in 2022 was built on AMD’s RDNA 2 architecture, initially unveiled in late 2020. This placed about 18 months between the Deck’s release and the GPU’s advent, and 2.5 years behind the preceding Zen 2 CPU architecture. RDNA 4 isn’t simply plug-and-play for a handheld device; adapting it into something like an APU for handhelds demands significant resources.

Right now, the most advanced integrated GPU solutions feature AMD’s RDNA 3 and 3.5 architectures. But the anticipated performance bump, especially on battery power, hasn’t quite materialized yet. While plugged-in performance can be impressive, handhelds face real limitations with their batteries. It’s only recently that we’ve started seeing Ryzen AI HX 300 Series APUs equipped with RDNA 3.5 iGPUs.

What’s more, Valve’s sights aren’t set on a new console presently—confirmed future Steam Deck iterations are still a way off, with expectations set for "at least two or three years" from now. They’re waiting on meaningful leaps in hardware technology. Even though an RDNA 4 iGPU for a potential Steam Deck 2 isn’t impossible, it’s certainly not imminent. Rolling out three different SteamOS hardware systems in seven years seems quite aggressive for Valve.

While RDNA 4 is intriguing, there’s still much we’re in the dark about, including its power usage, performance, and potential costs. It will take time before this technology is ready for something like a handheld device.

Peering into the future with our crystal ball

Let’s cast an eye forward into some thoughtful speculation, guided by what we currently know about PC hardware and how it shapes the handheld console market.

Towards the end of last year, some credible leaks regarding new Valve innovations surfaced. These outlined a fresh Steam Controller design, evidently drawing inspiration from the Steam Deck, and new VR controllers. Could this hint at a revival of something like the Steam Link or the Steam Machine? It’s a possibility, though it might also aim primarily at enhancing the unified experience between Steam Deck and docked gameplay, particularly for fans who enjoy leveraging the extensive Steam Input features.

Does this hint at a potential Steam Console? Hard to say for sure yet, but as Steam OS 3 rolls out more broadly, it might be picked up by various partners for PCs, laptops, and handheld devices. And a larger console format could feasibly incorporate real-time ray-tracing—something the current Deck handles only modestly with today’s older hardware and power-saving constraints.

For Valve to realize a significant performance upgrade in a handheld, they need more than just RDNA 4’s RT improvements. A capable GPU architecture delivering those results at roughly 25W TDP (like the ROG Ally or Legion Go) or 15W TDP (Steam Deck) would be a game-changer. Full-fledged RDNA 4 mobile GPUs, reportedly consuming 80-175W, suggest AMD still has a journey ahead.

Yet, should they choose to strive for this, paths do exist. RDNA 4 will leverage TSMC’s N4 process node, a familiar technology by now, while the Steam Deck’s Van Gogh APU uses the older N7 node. Transitioning to N5 or N4 would be beneficial, though in a few years, the more advanced N3 and N2 could offer the efficiency gains needed for a powerful chip in future handhelds, if size and cost are manageable.

But do we even need a dedicated Steam Console? Plug a Steam Deck into a docking station, and you’ve already outpaced the Nintendo Switch. If Nintendo has moved past traditional home consoles, perhaps Valve finds value in focusing on a hybrid-handheld strategy that doesn’t compete directly with mainstream consoles or gaming PCs.