Valve Dismisses RDNA4 Steam Console Rumors — Regularly Tests Hardware for Non-Device Use

Valves’s recent supposed plans for a new Steam Console turned out to be nothing more than a flashy rumor, as clarified by Valve developer Pierre-Loup Griffais on BlueSky. The chatter around them working on the Steam Console was swept aside when Griffais explained that Valve’s current software updates focus on AMD’s future RDNA 4 architecture. However, don’t start dreaming about a return of the Steam Machine just yet. Valve’s been engaging with AMD’s architectures since the Vega days. Sure, they’re testing and updating for a forthcoming GPU setup, but it’s far from any intention of reviving the Steam Machine venture.

Does this mean that hopes for a new Steam Console are dashed? For now, yes — but there’s more to consider. Let’s dive into Valve’s broader gaming ambitions, pondering the revival of Steam Machines and contemplating the successor to the Steam Deck.

### Diving into Valve’s Hardware Prospects

The recent buzz about Valve brewing up a new console hinged on enabling new GPU architecture, like AMD’s RDNA 4. But hold up! Consoles, including the likes of the Steam Deck, often leverage custom hardware based on established frameworks. When a console finally hits the shelves, its tech is usually a step behind the cutting edge. A lot of groundwork is needed to launch such platforms.

When the Steam Deck debuted in 2022, it utilized AMD’s RDNA 2 tech, which first broke cover in November 2020. That established a gap of about 18 months between the Steam Deck and its GPU origins and a longer gap for Zen 2 CPU architecture which preceded even further. Considering that RDNA 4 is meant for desktops, translating that into a viable handheld system would demand substantial resources.

For the latest iGPU solutions, AMD’s RDNA 3 and 3.5 architectures lead the pack, but the performance, especially when battery-reliant, hasn’t seen radical leaps. Plugged-in performance is a different beast, but handhelds depend heavily on their battery capacities. We’ve only just begun to see Ryzen AI HX 300 Series APUs sporting RDNA 3.5 in the wild recently.

A key factor indicating that a Steam Console isn’t imminent is Valve’s tacit confirmation that Steam Deck 2 is still at least a couple of years out. Valve is waiting for hardware innovations that truly up the ante. Consoles usually seek a wider generational gap before launching, so while an RDNA 4 iGPU for Steam Deck 2 isn’t implausible, it won’t appear anytime soon. It would thus seem improbable for Valve to introduce three unique SteamOS hardware setups within a short seven-year window.

While RDNA 4 seems enticing based on the buzz, critical specifics remain unclear — such as its power needs, performance metrics, and cost. It’ll be some time before we witness a handheld device shaped by it.

### Gazing into the Future

Let’s venture into speculative territory while staying grounded in our understanding of PC hardware and its ripple effects on the (portable) console landscape.

Late last year, genuine leaks surfaced hinting at fresh Valve blueprints for both new Steam Controllers and next-generation VR controls. A redesigned Steam Controller may indicate a possible comeback for Valve’s Steam Link or Steam Machine projects… or it might simply cater to bringing Steam Deck’s in-home play more in line with its docked configurations, especially for fans who love leveraging advanced Steam Input features, like those nifty touch-sensitive gyros.

Is a Steam Console off the table completely? Perhaps not. Once Steam OS 3 is more available, we might see it embraced across mini PCs, laptops, handhelds, and more. Moreover, larger hardware forms might enable Valve to dabble with features like real-time ray tracing. Currently, the Steam Deck hardware can barely achieve 30 FPS with mostly rasterized games, and full ray tracing is a no-go due to its outdated setup and restrictive power thresholds.

For Valve to usher in a new era in handheld performance, RDNA 4’s enhanced ray tracing prowess needs to be coupled with a GPU architecture that delivers at 25W (ROG Ally, Legion Go, MSI Claw, etc.) or 15W (Steam Deck). Since complete RDNA 4 mobile graphics are estimated to fall between 80-175W, AMD seems still far from achieving this goal.

However, there are pathways to get there if determined. RDNA 4 plans to harness TSMC’s N4 process node, an established technology. The current Steam Deck’s Van Gogh APU is based on the now-dated N7 node. Transitioning to N5 or N4 would bring notable gains. As N3 and N2 become more accessible, these smaller, more efficient nodes could offer the enhancements needed for future handheld devices — assuming the overall component size and expenses can be maintained.

But really, do we need a full-blown Steam Console? Mount a Steam Deck on a suitable docking station, and you essentially have a powerful home console rivaling if not surpassing the Nintendo Switch in performance. With Nintendo stepping back from traditional home consoles, Valve might find more merit in a flexible, hybrid handheld methodology that steers clear of clashing head-on with mainstream consoles and PCs.