Valve Dismisses RDNA4 Steam Console Rumors, Clarifies Routine Hardware Testing

Recently, speculation about a potential new Steam Console was debunked when Valve’s developer, Pierre-Loup Griffais, clarified on BlueSky that the rumors were merely unfounded. Addressing the buzz, he explained that the work on the pre-release Mesa Vulkan for AMD’s RDNA 4 architecture aligns with Valve’s routine operations since the days of AMD’s Vega architecture. Although Valve is indeed in the testing phase for AMD’s upcoming GPU architecture, this doesn’t suggest a reboot of the Steam Machine project.

So, does that squash the hopes for a new Steam Console anytime soon? Unfortunately, it does—at least for now. But let’s dive deeper into Valve’s past ventures into console territory while pondering the potential for either a refreshed Steam Machine concept or the anticipated Steam Deck 2.

### Valve’s Hardware Roadmap

The mere fact that work is being done on AMD’s RDNA 4 doesn’t scream “new Steam console.” Typically, consoles, including Valve’s own Steam Deck, are released with custom hardware based on existing tech. By the time they hit the market, the CPU and GPU it’s built on often lag a generation behind. This delay is due to the extensive development time required for launching such platforms.

To put this into perspective, when the Steam Deck launched in 2022, it was equipped with AMD’s RDNA 2 architecture, which initially appeared in late 2020. That’s a year and a half gap from architecture release to console launch. For AMD’s RDNA 4 to be integrated into a feasible handheld console setup, the time, effort, and financial investment are notably significant.

We’ve seen top integrated solutions utilizing RDNA 3 and 3.5, but improvements—especially in battery-powered scenarios—have been limited. While boosting performance when plugged in sounds intriguing, handheld gaming devices are fundamentally restricted by their battery life. Recently, advancements have been made with Ryzen AI HX 300 Series chips integrating RDNA 3.5 iGPUs.

Another indication that a freshly minted Steam Console isn’t on Valve’s current agenda is that the Steam Deck 2 isn’t expected for another two to three years. They are waiting for substantial advancements in hardware. Given the typical extended intervals between console generations, the use of an RDNA 4 iGPU for the Steam Deck 2 could happen, but it won’t be anytime soon. Rolling out three distinct SteamOS-powered devices within just under seven years sounds overly ambitious.

Certainly, RDNA 4 is exciting, but much remains unknown — like its power needs, expected performance gains, and price. It’s something that would require patience before we ever see it in a portable PC form.

### Gazing into the Future

Let’s venture into some educated guesses, staying tethered to the realities of PC hardware and its sway over the console market.

Around late last year, real leaks surfaced showcasing Valve’s new designs, including a revamped Steam Controller inspired by the Deck’s design. Additionally, there were next-gen VR controller concepts. This could hint at a revival of the Steam Link system or the Steam Machine project or aim simply to improve the gaming experience when connecting the Steam Deck to a screen, especially for those who maximize features like the Deck’s touch-sensitive gyro with Steam Input.

Does this mean a Steam Console is entirely out of the question? Perhaps not. As Steam OS 3 becomes more broadly available, there’s a good chance it could be adapted for mini PCs, laptops, and other devices. A larger device format would certainly open new doors, like enabling real-time ray tracing, a feature currently unfeasible on the existing Deck hardware due to power and hardware limits.

If Valve is eyeing a substantial upgrade in handheld performance, what’s essential is not just enhanced RT capabilities in RDNA 4 but a fitting GPU architecture that achieves these results within a tight power budget, like those seen in devices such as the ROG Ally, operating between 15-25W TDP. Yet, AMD isn’t quite set for this—current RDNA 4 mobile GPUs are speculated to need between 80-175W TDP.

Potential progressions stem from transitions to smaller, more efficient manufacturing processes. The Steam Deck utilizes the quite mature N7 node from TSMC. A shift to something like TSMC’s N5 or N4 could mean substantial performance efficiency. Furthermore, forthcoming N3 and N2 nodes may prove instrumental in crafting a competitive handheld APU in the future, provided the die size and cost remain controlled.

But do we even need a Steam Console? Plug a Steam Deck into a docking station and you’re already wielding a more potent console than the Nintendo Switch. Considering how Nintendo has phased out traditional home consoles, Valve, too, might find greater value in a hybrid handheld-console approach, enabling them to sidestep direct rivalry with mainstream consoles and gaming PCs.