Valve Dismisses RDNA4 Steam Console Rumors, Clarifies Regular Hardware Testing

Recently, GamingOnLinux debunked the rumors about a Steam Console being in development, labeling them as mere speculation. Valve developer Pierre-Loup Griffais subsequently confirmed on BlueSky that these rumors were false. Griffais explained that the ongoing Mesa Vulkan development related to AMD’s RDNA 4 architecture is simply a continuation of Valve’s efforts that started way back with AMD’s Vega lineup. While Valve is indeed working on software for new GPU architectures, this doesn’t signal a revival of the Steam Machine project.

Does this crush the hopes of a new Steam Console? At the moment, it seems so. Yet, let’s dive deeper into Valve’s console attempts and explore future possibilities, whether it involves the Steam Machine or the next iteration of the Steam Deck.

### Insights on Valve’s Hardware Roadmap

The anticipation surrounding a potential Steam console wasn’t really grounded in its use of AMD’s RDNA 4 architecture. Consoles, including devices like the Steam Deck, usually use tailored hardware based on current architectures. When these consoles hit the market, they often have hardware that’s already a generation old. Building such platforms requires significant lead time.

When the Steam Deck launched in 2022, it utilized AMD’s RDNA 2 architecture—introduced in November 2020—meaning it was leveraging hardware tech that was over a year old. Rolling RDNA 4 into a feasible APU for handhelds demands time, resources, and financial investment.

Presently, top integrated GPU (iGPU) solutions leverage AMD’s RDNA 3 and 3.5 architectures, but frankly, performance improvements on battery power are still limited. While higher performance when plugged in is advantageous, handhelds are constrained by their battery life. Recently, we started seeing Ryzen AI HX 300 Series APUs equipped with RDNA 3.5 iGPUs on the market.

It’s evident a new Steam Console isn’t a priority for Valve right now, especially since the anticipated Steam Deck 2 is aimed for a release “two or three years down the road.” Valve’s waiting for substantial hardware improvements before pushing forward. While an RDNA 4 iGPU could potentially feature in a future Steam Deck 2 model, a launch is not imminent. Introducing three separate SteamOS hardware platforms in just under seven years would seem overly ambitious.

Although RDNA 4 stirs excitement for what’s to come, many questions linger—its power consumption, performance, and cost remain unknown. A lot needs to happen before RDNA 4 can power a handheld PC.

### Gazing into the Future

While it’s intriguing to ponder what’s on the horizon, let’s ground our speculation in what we know about PC hardware and its impact on handheld consoles.

Near the end of last year, we saw real leaks revealing new Valve designs for a revamped Steam Controller inspired by the Steam Deck, along with next-gen VR controllers. Updating the Steam Controller could imply a revival of the Steam Link box or the Steam Machine concept—or it might just cater to those enjoying Steam Input’s features when docked or handheld.

Does all this mean a Steam Console is entirely off the table? Not really. Once Steam OS 3 is more widely released, it could inspire manufacturers to integrate it with mini PCs, laptops, and even new handheld consoles. A larger device would allow Valve to implement advanced features like real-time ray-tracing. Currently, with the existing Deck hardware, ray-tracing is limited to 30 FPS in mainly rasterized games, with full RT or path-traced experiences not feasible due to hardware limitations and low power thresholds.

For a meaningful leap in handheld performance, Valve requires more than just RDNA 4’s enhanced ray-tracing capabilities. It needs a GPU architecture capable of such feats within a 25W TDP for high-performance models (like the ROG Ally) or around 15W TDP for the Steam Deck. With RDNA 4 estimated to operate between 80-175W TDP for full mobile GPUs, it’s clear AMD still has a mountain to climb.

But there’s a path forward if they choose it. RDNA 4 harnesses TSMC’s N4 process, established over two years ago. The Steam Deck uses what’s now the relatively dated N7 process from TSMC. Moving to a more modern N5 or N4 node could offer significant benefits. In a few years, more efficient N3 and N2 nodes should be available, potentially offering the efficiency needed for future chips suitable for handhelds, assuming the die size and cost remain manageable.

Is there a real need for a Steam Console, though? Attach a Steam Deck to a compatible docking station, and you effectively have a more robust home console than the Nintendo Switch. With Nintendo seemingly stepping away from traditional home consoles, a company like Valve might place greater value in hybrid-handheld tech that doesn’t directly clash with mainstream consoles or PC gaming.

For now, Valve continues to play its cards close to the chest, and while the future of a brand-new Steam Console remains murky, the innovations around their existing platforms keep the industry eagerly watching.