Steam Deck 2 hasn’t been derailed by the ongoing RAM crisis, Valve insists

The wait for the next Steam Deck continues

(Credit: Valve)

• 🤞 Valve insists that development of the Steam Deck 2 remains on track despite the ongoing RAM crisis

• 🎯 Developers are targeting a clear, delineated performance upgrade and enhanced user experience for the successor

• 📈 Memory shortages have already increased pricing across Valve’s hardware lineup, including the Steam Deck OLED

• ⏳ Valve is biding its time until market conditions allow it to deliver a true generational leap

After finally announcing the Steam Frame price and release date to the world, the next piece of Valve hardware we’re eagerly waiting to hear more about is the Steam Deck 2 – the successor to the most popular PC handheld on the market.

After a steep price rise and ever-aging hardware, it’s fair to say that the Steam Machine isn’t quite appealing as it once was, and an upgrade would be welcome by many. Thankfully, it seems that Valve is still toiling away on the device, and the ongoing memory crisis hasn’t derailed its plans.

Speaking to IGN, software developers Pierre-Loup Griffais and Jeff Leinbaugh said that progress hasn’t really been affected and said: “We’ve talked before about how we want to make sure there’s a very delineated performance improvement for something like a future Steam Deck, and I think we’re still looking at it in the same way.

“It’s just a matter of looking at the current conditions and seeing how and when we can deliver something like that. But from what we’re working on, as far as the user experience goes and what the product that we’re trying to build goes, it’s very similar goals.”

Clearly, the memory crisis has squeezed manufacturers and consumers alike, leading to higher pricing all round. However, the comments sound like Valve is biding its time to deliver something it feels is truly a step over the Steam Deck aside from merely a spec upgrade, and waiting could circumvent the issues it’s currently facing.

We’ve already seen the Steam Machine and Steam Frame release for far higher prices than expected because of the memory shortage, and the Steam Deck OLED 512GB model increased from $549 to $789.

For now, we’ll have to make do with Valve’s current crop of hardware, which includes the Steam Controller, Steam Machine, and Steam Frame, all of which are now available to purchase after lengthy waits.

Up next: Steam Machine and Nvidia GeForce Now are a match made in cloud gaming heaven

Adam Vjestica is The Shortcut’s Senior Editor. Formerly TechRadar’s Gaming Hardware Editor, Adam has also worked at Nintendo of Europe as a Content Marketing Editor, where he helped launch the Nintendo Switch. He also runs a retro gaming YouTube channel called Game on, boy! Follow him on X @ItsMrProducts.