Valve Dismisses Rumors of RDNA4-Powered Steam Console, Clarifies Routine Hardware Testing

Rumors had been swirling about a new Steam Console in development, but they’ve now been put to rest. Following a detailed report by GamingOnLinux, Valve developer Pierre-Loup Griffais took to BlueSky to clear the air, effectively dispelling the speculation. He explained that while Valve is working on Mesa Vulkan updates for AMD’s forthcoming RDNA 4 architecture, this aligns with their ongoing work since the AMD Vega days. Testing and software updates for new GPU architecture are indeed underway, but this does not equate to a revival of the Steam Machine project.

So, does this mean the idea of a new Steam Console is off the table? For now, it appears so. But let’s delve deeper into Valve’s trajectory in the console realm and explore the potential for both a renewed Steam Machine endeavor and the much-anticipated Steam Deck 2.

### Understanding Valve’s Current Hardware Strategy

If you were hoping for imminent news of a Steam console, unchanged GPU architecture isn’t exactly a giveaway. Consoles like the Steam Deck typically utilize custom hardware built on existing frameworks, which inherently trails behind the latest tech upon launch. This is mainly due to the extensive preparation required for such releases.

The Steam Deck, introduced in 2022, features AMD’s RDNA 2 architecture launched back in November 2020. This put a year and a half gap between the Steam Deck and its GPU, with a two-and-a-half-year gap for its Zen 2 CPU. On the horizon, AMD’s RDNA 4 is set for desktop, but adapting it for a handheld device involves significant investment in time, effort, and resources.

Presently, leading integrated GPU (iGPU) solutions employ AMD’s RDNA 3 and 3.5 architectures, which haven’t dramatically improved performance on handhelds due to their battery constraints. It’s been only recently that we’ve seen Ryzen AI HX 300 Series APUs with RDNA 3.5 iGPUs surface.

Another indicator that a Steam Console isn’t on Valve’s radar right now is the Steam Deck 2, which is expected to debut in at least two to three years. Valve is waiting for substantial advancements in hardware to make this move. Given the longer intervals typically preferred between console generations, RDNA 4 might eventually suit the Steam Deck 2, but it’s not happening soon. It would be surprising for Valve to introduce three unique SteamOS platforms in about seven years.

Though RDNA 4 holds promise, there’s still plenty we don’t know about it — power usage, performance metrics, and costs are all up in the air. It will take some time before a handheld PC equipped with this tech becomes a reality.

### Gazing into the Future: What Could Be Next?

Let’s entertain some educated guesses within the confines of our current knowledge of PC hardware and the impacts on the handheld console landscape.

Late last year, some intriguing Valve prototypes were leaked — these included designs for a reimagined Steam Controller, drawing clear inspiration from the Deck, as well as next-gen VR controllers. The possibility of a new Steam Controller might signal a resurrected Steam Link or Steam Machine, but it might also facilitate better integration with Steam Deck docking usage, enhancing features like touch-sensitive gyro functions for avid Steam Input fans.

Does this mean a Steam Console revival is completely out of the question? Maybe not. As Steam OS 3 reaches a broader audience, more devices like mini PCs, laptops, and handhelds could adopt it. A larger console format could also potentially support advanced features like real-time ray tracing, which, within the current Deck hardware, is only feasible at 30 FPS for mostly non-ray-traced games due to hardware limitations.

For a true leap in handheld performance, Valve will require more than just RDNA 4 enhancements. A GPU architecture capable of delivering ray-tracing results at a 25W or 15W TDP is essential. With RDNA 4 mobile GPUs expected to operate within an 80-175W TDP range, we’re still waiting for the right breakthrough.

There are pathways to improvement, though. RDNA 4 uses TSMC’s N4 process technology, which has been proven for over two years. The Steam Deck’s older Van Gogh APU uses TSMC’s N7. Upgrading to an N5 or N4 node could yield noticeable benefits, and in the coming years, N3 and N2 nodes should become more accessible. These more efficient, smaller nodes might be key to developing a pragmatic chip for future handheld capabilities — assuming die size and cost remain manageable.

But is a Steam Console really necessary? By docking a Steam Deck, you essentially have a much more powerful home console than a Nintendo Switch. If Nintendo has shifted away from traditional home consoles, it seems likely that Valve would also find more value in a hybrid handheld strategy, one that avoids direct competition with mainstream consoles and gaming PCs.