12 mo. ago • 82%

[News] Here’s the first proof a refreshed Steam Deck is nigh - The Verge

www.theverge.com Here’s the first proof a refreshed Steam Deck is nigh

Valve put a new Steam Deck through the FCC in August.

TechNews @radiation.party [VERGE] Here’s the first proof a refreshed Steam Deck is nigh

49 comments

Gonna laugh hard if valve is just sourcing wireless chips from a different vendor and tracking under a new sku

85
- That's basically all this is, same as they did for other components like fans and SSDs already.
  
  The new wifi chip might be faster or support more recent standards, but that's hardly worth even calling it a product refresh.
  
  I'm disappointed the Verge published these claims of "OMG this is a stealth upgrade!!1" with literally no other evidence.
  
  45
  
  Evidence for: new WiFi chip
  Evidence against: valve literally said they weren't going to do it
  
  Conclusion: steam deck 2!!!1!!
  
  36
- We know Valve has two upcoming devices using the Steam Deck APU with different internal code names, so probably a revised deck and a VR device.
  
  -2
Amiibo support coming soon! I can’t wait to give Dave the Diver Toad’s hat and diaper outfit.

31
- I am more than happy with my current Steam Deck but...
  
  ...fukken sold!
  
  8
  
  @FARTYSHARTBLAST @ShittyBeatlesFCPres buy buy buy. You got to get those numbers up, those are rookie numbers.
  
  -3
Just announce the next VR already, please 😭

18
- Valve has two different products coming up, I think we're getting both a Deck refresh and a new VR headset. Possibly announced together.
  
  6
  
  I hope so. I was looking to get an Index but then saw rumors online about a possible new version, so I figured I’d wait a little longer for the new tech. That was two years ago 💀
  
  5
  
  A VR deck perhaps?
  
  1
Seems crazy early for a refresh...

15
- Is your username a Slartybartfast reference?
  
  9
  
  Why yes it is! Douglas Adams was a wonderful writer.
  
  2
- It's been almost 2 years.
  
  *edit: I don't mean to say the deck needs a refresh. Just stating that its been 18 months. Phones get refreshed every year but most people cycle every 2.
  
  8
  
  What? No, it just released a few- Damn, I'm old.
  
  1
- because it is, a new model they said wouldn't come out until 2025 or later. these bullshit articles just take the most vague information and try sensationalise it as much as possible
  
  5
  
  Or it's literally just a different radio chipset lol
  
  2
Permanently Deleted

12
- They said they're not releasing a more powerful deck, and we already know from leaks that the upcoming valve hardware has the same APU.
  
  This doesn't rule out other changes, like a new screen, different form factor, etc.
  
  3
  
  My money's on a new Index. Possibly with onboard graphics like the Quest
  
  0
- I highly doubt Nintendo is attempting any kind of gap closure with the deck, because how could they and why?
  
  The only thing they share is a form factor. Nintendo is well aware that the reason they sell consoles is as a dedicated platform for their own games. I truly believe that is their bread and butter and all they really care about. If the system gets popular enough, then it will get some third party support which means it will have some very limited library crossover with PC/PS/Xbox, but I think we are past the point where Nintendo intends to rely on that as a selling point for this or any future generation of consoles. Ports of games that come to switch are pretty uniformly the worst version of the game to play, and it's pretty clear that doesn't bother Nintendo at all.
  
  Which is all to say, I don't think Nintendo and Valve think of each other as direct competitors, because they serve entirely different markets. I have both a switch and a deck. I love them both. I use my switch to play Nintendo games, I use my deck to play pretty much anything else. I don't think I'm unique at all in that regard, and frankly it never would occur to me that these devices have anything to do with one another.
  
  3
If its slightly smaller and has an OLED screen, then it'll be great. Those are really the only things the current Steam Deck needs.

12
- I'd buy an oled version hands down. Whether smaller or not.
  
  9
  
  @dom @ultrasquid that’s what she said.
  
  -1
- It probably could have an OLED screen if the screen was only 5-6". It's easy to get left over OLED screens from phone production in that screen size.
  
  3
  
  Phone screens aren't 16:9 anymore though, so they'd probably end up having to cut down a really big phone screen (like 9" or so) or just make it custom.
  
  -1
- @ultrasquid @Fubarberry refresh refresh refresh.
  
  2
I don't want oled, I don't want 4k. I would like better wifi, lighter, and better graphics capabilities. I can feel the blood returning to my hands when I set the deck down.

11
- Better wifi is basically confirmed, the certification is for a better wifi chip. The APU is the same, so same power, but maybe it could be smaller and lighter.
  
  That said, I think how hard you grip the deck has a bigger impact on your hand circulation. I used to have issues with my hands getting numb, but I was holding the deck too tightly. After adjusting my grip I don't have issues anymore and find it very comfy.
  
  5
- I don't really mind the weight. It's the shape that I can't stand. Whereas the steam controller is shaped like /0'0\ the deck is shaped like \°| |°/ . Keeping the wrists in such a sharp angle can't be healthy.
  
  4
I hope they revise the daughterboards to reinforce the bumper switches

8
- Yeah, I haven't had an issue with this but it sounds scary. The case I use (Spiggan) does have a part of the case that sticks above the bumpers, so I'm hoping that will protect me if I drop it.
  
  1
This is the best summary I could come up with:

The mystery “Valve 1030” that went through South Korea’s National Radio Research Agency has now been definitively identified as a Steam Deck, and it’s our first proof the hardware’s potentially close enough to release to justify showing it to regulators.

Quectel filed for a Class II Permission Change to simply allow its certified Wi-Fi 6E and Bluetooth chip, the FC66E, to retroactively work in a new Steam Deck, too.

It’s a clever technique — as you can see in the document above, Valve’s supplier is able to argue that the new Steam Deck has a weaker antenna, so its radio emissions don’t need to be retested.

Valve can hide whatever new features it likes behind the Wi-Fi chip certification because these agencies only tend to regulate radio emissions, not other specs.

I have to admit it could simply be an existing Steam Deck with a refreshed radio chip if its previous supplier, Realtek, ran out.

Lynch continues to find code snippets that suggest a wireless PC VR headset is also on the way — I wouldn’t be surprised if Valve announces both items simultaneously.

The original article contains 355 words, the summary contains 184 words. Saved 48%. I'm a bot and I'm open source!

8
They are still not selling in Norway. So then I simply dont care.

6
- I'd really like to see the deck more internationally available, Valve's limited experience as a hardware vendor really shows when it comes to the limited availability of the deck.
  
  2
Just give me usb4

2
- USB10 or why bother?
  
  3
- Two USB ports would be really nice. Is USB4 able to use an external GPU?
  
  3
  
  Is USB4 able to use an external GPU?
  
  Yes but it would be BS to use one with a power-contrained CPU like the Deck's.
  
  5
  
  yes, USB4 has thunderbolt in the spec. The cpu on the deck is just fine for games but the gpu with shared memory is really it's biggest bottleneck.
  
  1

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