Steam Deck 2 could be a real powerhouse! Valve will give it a significantly better chip, and a possible collaboration with Sony is also emerging

The successful handheld console Steam Deck could soon see a significantly more powerful successor. According to information published in the Broken Silicon podcast on the popular Moore’s Law Is Dead channel, Valve is working not only on Steam Deck 2 but also reportedly on a full-fledged home console. Unlike the first model, which was more of an experiment, Valve is now approaching development with a long-term vision, following the example of traditional console manufacturers.

Powerful Next-Generation Hardware

The heart of the new Steam Deck 2 could be an AMD chipset based on the Zen 6 architecture, codenamed „Magnus“. This powerful APU could also reportedly power some of the next-generation consoles from Sony or Microsoft. Interestingly, it is said to feature 11 CPU cores, which would be a significant leap compared to the current model with four cores and potentially much better performance when playing demanding games.

Surprising Collaboration with Sony

A very interesting aspect is the alleged quiet collaboration between Valve and Sony. Podcast host Jimmy Champagne pointed out that Sony significantly supports Steam Deck – many exclusive PlayStation titles have received „Steam Deck Verified“ certification, indicating perfect compatibility with Valve’s portable console, and the company has even released its own boot animations for games like God of War, Ghost of Tsushima, and The Last of Us.

This support is significantly higher than Microsoft’s and suggests that Sony may see Valve as a less threatening ally in the portable device space. Given that Sony does not have a true portable PlayStation on the market – the nearly two-year-old Portal is limited to streaming only – the Steam Deck could effectively function as an unofficial Sony handheld, especially as more and more PlayStation exclusives become available for purchase on Steam.

Microsoft Is Not Lagging Behind

Meanwhile, competitor Microsoft has joined forces with ASUS to develop the ROG Ally X, which is referred to as an „Xbox device“. However, according to podcast discussants, this collaboration seems somewhat rushed. They mention ambiguities in branding and communication, which may have opened the door for Valve and Sony to gain more attention among fans of portable gaming devices.

According to the latest speculations, the ROG Ally X consoles should hit the market in October, with their prices in the Czech Republic starting just under 20 thousand Czech crowns.

The Future of the Gaming Industry

Although nothing has been officially announced yet, the discussion in the podcast suggests that the individual pieces of the puzzle may gradually fall into place. Thanks to a significantly more powerful APU from AMD and surprisingly proactive support from Sony, it is no longer unthinkable that Valve’s console could one day stand alongside the PS6 and the next generation of Xbox.

If the speculations are confirmed, we could see a much more powerful portable device in the near future, capable of handling demanding games like God of War Ragnarök or The Last of Us Part II in much better quality than the current generation. Steam Deck 2 could thus be the answer to the wishes of players who desire a powerful portable device with full support for the latest AAA titles. The operating system SteamOS could then become a full-fledged competitor to Windows 11.

What would you expect from the new Steam Deck 2?

Sources: Notebookcheck, Moore’s Law Is Dead (YouTube), TechRadar