Valve Dismisses RDNA4 Steam Console Rumors, Clarifies Hardware Testing Routine

After rumors about a potential new Steam Console surfaced, whispers were quickly silenced with a confirmation from Valve developer Pierre-Loup Griffais on BlueSky. Griffais stated that while they’re indeed working on pre-release software for AMD’s upcoming RDNA 4 architecture, it doesn’t imply a reboot of the Steam Machine idea. This aligns with Valve’s ongoing efforts since AMD’s Vega days. Indeed, Valve is keeping pace with future GPU tech, but a new console isn’t on their immediate horizon.

So, for those hoping for a brand-new Steam Console, it looks like those dreams are on the back burner, at least for now. However, it’s worth delving into Valve’s current strategy in the hardware space and entertaining the possibility of what a Steam Machine revival or a follow-up to the Steam Deck might look like.

### What We Know About Valve’s Hardware Plans

The rumors pointing to a new Steam console weren’t resting on anything more than groundwork for new GPU architectures like AMD’s RDNA 4. Generally, consoles, including the Steam Deck, showcase custom hardware that’s already based on established frameworks. By the time these consoles hit the market, the technology they’re built on is usually trailing behind the leading-edge innovations by at least a generation, owing to the extensive planning required for such projects.

Consider the Steam Deck’s launch in 2022, employing AMD’s RDNA 2 architecture from November 2020. There was a good year-and-a-half gap between the Steam Deck and its GPU architecture, not to mention a two-and-a-half-year gap with the Zen 2 CPU architecture. Entering RDNA 4 into an APU suitable for a portable device would demand significant time and resources.

Today’s top integrated GPU options rely on AMD’s RDNA 3 and 3.5 architectures, yet performance improvements, especially on battery power, aren’t leaping forward drastically. While plugged in, you could see some gains, but handheld devices remain battery-dependent. Recently, AMD released the Ryzen AI HX 300 Series APUs featuring RDNA 3.5 iGPUs.

Adding to the hint that a Steam Console isn’t on the immediate horizon is that the Steam Deck 2 is expected to be “at least two or three years away.” Valve awaits more significant advancements in hardware before it moves forward. A console usually banks on a broader generational gap, so while RDNA 4 could become a contender for a future Steam Deck, it’s not arriving anytime soon. Launching three distinct SteamOS hardware platforms within just under seven years would be quite a stretch for Valve.

RDNA 4 is promising, no doubt, but there’s a vast unknown — power consumption, performance potential, and cost — that remains to be seen. It will be a while before such technology can fit into handheld PC designs.

### Peering Into the Future with Our Crystal Ball

Now, let’s venture into speculation while keeping grounded in the realities of PC hardware and its trajectory in the (handheld) console market.

There were genuine leaks late last year about Valve tinkering with new designs for a next-gen Steam Controller and VR controllers. The possible remake of the Steam Controller, possibly echoing the Steam Deck’s layout, might hint at a renewed focus on gaming peripherals compatible with both handheld and docked play, supporting their advanced input features.

So, is a Steam Console completely off the table? Not necessarily. When Steam OS 3 rolls out more broadly, we might see more adoption across mini PCs, laptops, and handhelds. Larger form factors would allow Valve to incorporate real-time ray tracing features more extensively. On current Deck hardware, ray tracing at 30 FPS is a stretch, limited by aging hardware and low power allowances.

To truly elevate handheld performance, Valve will need advancements beyond RDNA 4’s enhanced ray tracing. A GPU that delivers results within strict power constraints like 25W or 15W TDP is crucial. With full RDNA 4 GPUs predicted to demand 80—175W, AMD still has strategic hurdles to overcome.

However, with RDNA 4 utilizing TSMC’s N4 process node, a tech that’s proven dependable over the past couple of years, progress is more than imaginable. The Steam Deck’s Van Gogh APU sits on TSMC’s older N7 node, so moving up to N5 or N4 could deliver significant upgrades. Over the coming years, newer N3 and N2 nodes could become mainstream, bringing performance and efficiency gains essential for crafting a compelling future handheld device — provided manufacturing costs and die sizes remain manageable.

But do we even need a new Steam Console? Plugging a Steam Deck into a dock can offer a home console experience that might already surpass the Nintendo Switch. With Nintendo shifting away from conventional home consoles, Valve likely finds more promise in a hybrid handheld strategy for its hardware. This approach avoids a direct face-off against mainstream consoles and gaming PCs while leveraging the strengths of its unique ecosystem.