Just yesterday, The Verge posted an interview with Steam Deck designers Pierre-Loup Griffais and Lawrence Yang. In it, they answer a variety of questions on Valve’s future plans with the Steam Deck, which has seen quite a bit of success so far. One of those questions had to do with a potential upgraded version of the handheld, which Griffais and Yang confirmed would come later down the line. However, they suggest that this version would likely not implement any improvements to performance. Instead, the next Steam Deck would focus on incorporating an enhanced screen and battery life over the current models.
According to Griffais, Valve wants to keep the performance the next model the same largely because of its current verification system. The company values the simple, easy-to-understand nature of this system, which lets players know at a glance whether or not the Steam Deck can handle certain games. If Valve introduces a new variant that can run games the other models can’t, players could end up confused as they take extra steps to check which games are compatible with specific models.
Valve is keeping things simple for the next Steam Deck
So with this in mind, Valve aims to maintain consistent performance across all Steam Decks “for a little bit longer.” Griffais emphasizes that the company will “only look at changing the performance level when there is a significant gain to be had.”
Certain players may feel disappointed that Valve does not plan on making any performance upgrades for the next Steam Deck. However, the current models can already handle technically demanding games to an impressive degree. Plus, many will see an upgraded screen and battery as more than enough justification to purchase a newer model, especially since playing certain games on the current models can take a significant toll on their battery life. This is not the same situation as the Nintendo Switch, which really does need a performance upgrade after all the time it’s been around.
Image via Valve
