Steam Deck 2 is reportedly targeting 2028 release window

The last time we reported on the Steam Deck 2, the speculation was mostly centered around Valve’s broader hardware roadmap, including the possibility of a new home console and closer alignment with Sony in the handheld gaming space. Now, a new rumor has further narrowed the timeline for the Steam Deck’s next generation, pointing to a release year of 2028.

The claim comes from hardware insider KeplerL2, who responded on gaming forum NeoGAF with a brief statement: "Steam Deck 2 is 2028." While the comment itself (see below) was not very info-heavy, it does add weight to older comments from Valve’s Lawrence Yang, who stated in late 2023 that a true "next-generation" Steam Deck would arrive years after the launch of the Steam Deck OLED (curr. $769.99 on Amazon). At the time, Yang stated that Valve would not release a successor until meaningful performance improvements were possible.

If KeplerL2's comment turns out to be accurate, the 2028 window would mean that Valve is taking a longer-cycle approach to its core handheld strategy. This would also allow AMD’s upcoming APU designs to mature. 

Valve’s first Steam Deck launched in February 2022 and has since established itself as a leading device in the handheld PC gaming space. It is one of the highest selling gaming handhelds after the Nintendo Switch, which is a feat in itself. It's powered by a custom AMD APU and running SteamOS (with Proton compatibility). The later OLED refresh in November 2023 was a step-up in display quality and efficiency (because of the 6nm process), but did not attempt to revamp the hardware entirely. You can check out our Steam Deck OLED review here. 

Like with every leak, this one should be taken with a grain of salt, even though KeplerL2's track record has been reliable. The rumor does fit within Valve’s previously stated philosophy, so we'll have to wait for any future news that corroborates the same.