Valve gives Steam Deck 2 update, hinting Steam Controller will influence handheld

Even with Valve launching a trio of hardware, some fans continue to wait for a new gaming handheld. The company’s immediate focus is on the Steam Controller, upcoming Frame VR Headset, and Steam Machine. Still, a Valve programmer provided IGN with a brief update on the Steam Deck 2 release date.

The latest on the Steam Deck 2

When asked about the handheld, Pierre-Loup Griffais said, “We're hard at work on it.” He then connected the development of its latest products to the sequel:

And obviously every step of the way, if you look at our hardware projects over the years, you can draw a straight line from the original Steam Controller and Steam Machine to Steam Deck, to everything that we're announcing and shipping this year. And we expect Steam Deck 2 will be a lot of the same where a lot of what we're doing here will be learnings that build up to it.

The $99 PC controller, which will ship on May 4th, is not a standalone gaming system. Nevertheless, it’s likely that Valve will introduce some of its advancements on a new handheld.

Arriving in 2022, the original Steam Deck mirrored design elements from the first Steam controller. Most notably, the dual trackpads on the accessory were adopted for the mobile device. The latest iteration boasts enlarged tracking areas and the promise of more precise inputs.

Valve also feels that the analog sticks and buttons are in a more natural position. The Steam Deck 2 may be larger, but designers could struggle to improve its layout. Very few Windows alternatives offer two trackpads. Even so, some critics find it cumbersome to access the buttons and sticks on the current SteamOS system.

Valve's next handheld could be years away

Unfortunately, the Steam Deck 2 release date remains a mystery. Pierre-Loup Griffais did not provide an update, but leaker KeplerL2 recently suggested 2028 was a target. However, the memory shortage that delayed the Steam Machine has raised doubts about its launch window.

The manufacturer also won’t finalize a gaming handheld unless its specs deliver a noticeable performance boost. That’s frustrating for buyers since the Steam Deck OLED and cheaper model are frequently out of stock.