The popularity of handheld gaming consoles is increasing every day. This has captured the attention of manufacturers, and today we see more handheld consoles than ever before. Among these, the most surprising recent release is undoubtedly the Steam Deck. From the moment it was announced, it quickly caught the interest of gamers and has certainly become one of the most popular products of recent times.

Now, with advancing technology and increasing competition, a new question arise. When will a more powerful Steam Deck 2 be released? Recently, a Valve official provided a release date for the eagerly awaited handheld. Here are the details…

Steam Deck 2 on the Horizon?

For many years, Valve has wanted to be a part of the hardware market. After several unsuccessful attempts, they finally found what they were looking for with the Steam Deck. According to the research firm Omdia, the Steam Deck sold 1.62 million units in 2022. Their report estimates that by sometime during 2023, sales of the Steam Deck will surpass 3 million units since its launch.

steam Deck 2

Moreover, these are just estimates, meaning the handheld could sell up to 5 or even 10 million units in 2023 alone. Pleased with this popularity and sales, Valve has confirmed that there will be a Steam Deck 2. Don’t get too excited just yet. Valve employee Pierre-Loup Griffais, who confirmed the Steam Deck 2, has hinted that we might not see a Deck 2 until 2025 or even 2026.

He cited the company’s ambition to achieve a major performance improvement without significantly compromising battery life. As you may know, battery life is one of the biggest challenges for handheld consoles, and the Steam Deck is no exception. In an interview, Griffais commented that he doesn’t expect a significant advancement in battery technologies to happen in the next few years.

Certainly, this doesn’t mean that the current Steam Deck’s performance is sufficient. Although the handheld is quite popular, some users have complained about performance issues in certain games. Moreover, the device’s large size can be uncomfortable to hold for extended periods. A potential Steam Deck 2 might address these concerns with better hardware and a more ergonomic design.

However, a new model might also come with a higher price tag. Nonetheless, all these are just my speculations, and Steam might have unexpected surprises in the near future.

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