Valve Debunks Speculation of RDNA4-Powered Steam Console — Regularly Tests Hardware Not Meant for Its Own Devices

After a recent article on GamingOnLinux refuted rumors about a new Steam Console being in the works, Valve developer Pierre-Loup Griffais directly addressed the speculation on BlueSky, confirming that the whispers were unfounded. Griffais explained that the ongoing pre-release Mesa Vulkan work on AMD’s RDNA 4 architecture aligns with Valve’s continuous efforts since AMD’s Vega days. So, while Valve is indeed testing and updating software for a forthcoming GPU architecture, this doesn’t mean they’re about to relaunch the Steam Machine project.

Well, that douses the hopes for a new Steam Console, right? At least for now, yes. But let’s dive into the broader picture of Valve’s ventures in the console arena and explore the prospects of a revived Steam Machine or even a possible Steam Deck 2.

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

The buzz around a potential Steam console was never going to revolve solely around some pre-release GPU architecture like AMD’s RDNA 4. Consoles, including the Steam Deck, usually come with custom hardware derived from current architectures. By release time, the GPU and CPU technologies are typically somewhat dated compared to the latest hardware due to the prolonged planning necessary for launching such platforms.

When the Steam Deck was unveiled in 2022, it featured AMD’s RDNA 2 architecture, which had debuted in November 2020. This timeline placed the Steam Deck about a year and a half behind in terms of GPU architecture and two and a half years behind the Zen 2 CPU architecture. RDNA 4 is tailored for desktops, not handhelds, and adapting this for a portable device would require significant time and resources.

Right now, the top integrated GPU solutions feature AMD’s RDNA 3 and RDNA 3.5 architectures, yet these haven’t unlocked substantial performance gains on battery power. While performance might spike when plugged in, handhelds remain constrained by battery limitations. It’s only recently that we’ve begun seeing Ryzen AI HX 300 Series APUs with RDNA 3.5 technology.

Moreover, the anticipated Steam Deck 2 is slated to be at least two or three years down the road. Valve is waiting for a significant leap in hardware capabilities before proceeding. Typically, consoles maintain broader generational gaps between iterations, so an RDNA 4 iGPU is conceivable for a future Steam Deck 2 but not imminent. It seems unlikely Valve would introduce three different SteamOS hardware platforms in less than seven years, which reinforces that a Steam Console isn’t a current priority.

RDNA 4 certainly seems alluring given what we know, but the unknowns — such as power consumption, performance specs, and pricing — dominate. It will be a while before we see this technology in a handheld format.

### Peering Into the Future with Our Crystal Ball

Now, let’s venture into the territory of what might be, albeit grounded in what we know about PC hardware and its effect on the (handheld) console market.

Real leaks surfaced late last year showcasing new Valve designs for a revamped Steam Controller inspired by the Deck’s layout and next-gen VR controllers. This evolution hints at potential continued support for the Steam Link or Steam Machine concept, or simply enhancing compatibility between handheld and docked play for Steam Deck users who appreciate the depth of Steam Input features.

Does this indicate a Steam Console is entirely off the table? Perhaps not. With the likely expansion of Steam OS 3, we might see more brands adopting it for mini PCs, laptops, and handhelds. A larger hardware format could also enable features like real-time ray-tracing. Currently, the Deck hardware only supports limited ray-tracing, aimed at 30 FPS in rasterized games, as full ray-tracing or path tracing falls beyond the reach of the existing hardware constraints.

Valve requires more than just RDNA 4’s enhanced ray tracing to achieve a significant jump in handheld performance. It needs a GPU architecture that performs well at lower TDP levels similar to existing handhelds. With RDNA 4 mobile GPUs expected to demand between 80-175W TDP, AMD isn’t quite there yet.

The path to such a solution exists, though. RDNA 4 will utilize TSMC’s N4 process node — familiar territory for over two years now. The current Steam Deck’s Van Gogh APU relies on what is now considered an older N7 node. Transitioning to N5 or even N4 could mark a significant improvement, and as N3 and N2 become available, a more efficient, smaller node could be key to a future handheld-friendly chip without escalating costs.

The real question is: do we even need a dedicated Steam Console? Attach a Steam Deck to a dock, and you effectively surpass the Nintendo Switch’s capabilities as a home console. Given Nintendo’s shift from traditional consoles, Valve might recognize more value in a hybrid approach, staying away from direct competition with mainstream consoles and gaming PCs.