[DigitalToday reporter Jae-won Choi] Valve has not confirmed a release timing for its next-generation handheld game device, the Steam Deck 2, it said. It appears to be sticking to its existing principle of launching a new product only when a generational leap is possible, improving battery life and power efficiency as well as performance rather than offering a simple uplift.

The Verge reported on Sept. 15 that Valve designer Pierre-Loup Griffais (피에르루 그리페) said in a recent IGN interview about a Steam Deck successor, "We are looking at when and how we can provide such a product." Valve is not abandoning the Steam Deck 2 itself, but is not rushing a launch until suitable hardware emerges.

The key is a next-generation system-on-chip (SoC). Valve sees the current Steam Deck's strengths as a balance of price, performance and battery life. Griffais also stressed in 2023 that, "A performance improvement should not come at the cost of greatly sacrificing power efficiency and battery life," adding, "We need a clear leap, not a simple minor upgrade."

This year, Valve has indicated it is working hard on developing the Steam Deck 2, but has not presented a launch timing. Asked recently whether shortages in memory and parts supply affected development, Griffais drew a line, saying, "That is not the case." Rather than supply issues, a more important variable is whether a chip can deliver the desired level of performance and efficiency at the same time. The outlet rated Intel's Panther Lake-based handheld chip as a recent example close to such a "generational leap."

Valve is likely to work backwards from when a suitable chip can be supplied in mapping out product design and a release schedule. More than 4 years have passed since the first Steam Deck launched in 2022, but because Valve is prioritising a clear hardware generational shift over the name "Steam Deck 2," it is expected to need more time before release.