Valve Dismisses RDNA4 Steam Console Rumors, Clarifies Routine Hardware Testing Procedures

A recent report from GamingOnLinux debunked the swirling rumors about Valve working on a brand new Steam Console. Valve’s developer, Pierre-Loup Griffais, clarified on BlueSky that this isn’t happening. He explained that the ongoing development involving the Mesa Vulkan for AMD’s RDNA 4 architecture is consistent with the work Valve has undertaken ever since AMD’s Vega days. Sure, Valve is fine-tuning software and testing for a future GPU architecture, but that doesn’t equal a Steam Machine 2.0.

So, does this mean the idea of a new Steam Console is just a pipe dream? For now, it seems so. But let’s dive deeper into Valve’s journey into the hardware market and explore potential avenues for a refreshed Steam Machine or the anticipated Steam Deck 2.

Valve’s Hardware Endeavors and What We Know

The supposed evidence of a new Steam console was never about the support for early GPU architecture like AMD’s RDNA 4. Consoles like the Steam Deck usually incorporate custom hardware derived from existing technology. Typically, by the time such consoles hit the market, the GPU and CPU components are usually a generation behind cutting-edge hardware, a delay due to the extensive preparation time required for such launches.

When the Steam Deck debuted in 2022, it did so with AMD’s RDNA 2 technology, which had made its first appearance back in November 2020. This meant a span of about a year and a half from RDNA 2’s introduction. RDNA 4 represents AMD’s next step for desktops, but incorporating it into a handheld device would demand even more resources and time.

Right now, top-tier integrated graphics solutions employ AMD’s RDNA 3 and 3.5, but noticeable performance improvements, especially when running on battery, have been scarce. While devices perform better when plugged in, handhelds are notably held back by battery constraints. It was only in recent months that Ryzen AI HX 300 Series with RDNA 3.5 iGPUs emerged.

Valve’s focus is unlikely on launching a Steam Console currently, especially given confirmation that the Steam Deck 2 is "at least two or three years away," as they wait for more substantial hardware advancements. Consoles usually aim for larger gaps between iterations, so integrating an RDNA 4 iGPU could be plausible for the Steam Deck 2—but not anytime soon. Launching three SteamOS hardware platforms in under seven years would certainly be a stretch.

Although RDNA 4 sounds thrilling, there’s still a lot unknown, particularly regarding its power consumption, performance benchmarks, and costs. It’ll be some time before we see it in a handheld form.

Gazing Into the Future

As we entertain speculation, it’s vital to stay anchored in current PC hardware realities and their implications for the portable console market. Late last year, credible leaks emerged showcasing Valve’s new designs for a reinvented Steam Controller with a Steam Deck-inspired layout and advanced VR controllers. Innovating the Steam Controller could hint at reviving the Steam Link or Steam Machine concepts. However, it might just be a move to ensure compatibility between handheld and docked play, especially for those enthusiastic about Steam Input’s features.

But could a new Steam Console be on the cards? It’s not entirely out of the question. With Steam OS 3’s broader rollout, more manufacturers may adopt it for mini PCs, laptops, and handheld devices. A larger console form would allow Valve to focus on-demand features like real-time ray-tracing, which, on the current Deck hardware, remains limited to targeting 30 FPS in less graphically intense games.

For a true leap in portable gaming power, Valve needs far more than RDNA 4’s RT improvements. They need a GPU architecture capable of performing under a 25W or 15W TDP constraint. AMD’s full discrete RDNA 4 mobile GPUs, potentially between 80-175W TDP, suggest they’re not there yet.

But there are paths forward. RDNA 4’s use of TSMC’s N4 process node is already tried and true, given its two-year existence. The aging N7 node forms the basis for the Steam Deck’s Van Gogh APU. Transitioning to the N5 or N4 nodes could make a significant difference, and in a few years, as N3 and N2 variants become more accessible, efficiency-focused smaller nodes might be the perfect fit for future handhelds.

Is a Steam Console truly needed, though? Placing a Steam Deck in a docking station already delivers a more powerful console experience than what the Nintendo Switch offers. If Nintendo is shifting away from traditional consoles, Valve might find greater value in a hybrid handheld approach that doesn’t directly rival mainstream consoles or gaming PCs.