Lately, a few rumors are going around that suggests Valve is quietly working on the Steam Deck 2, though we are still early in the process. The info comes from the Moore’s Law is Dead podcast, who claims to have inside sources pointing to the next Steam Deck already being in the planning phase.
A Next-Gen AMD Chip Could Power It
The most exciting part seems to be the information that the Steam Deck 2 could feature a new AMD APU codenamed “Magnus”. This one would be based on AMD’s upcoming Zen 6 architecture. This chip is rumored to also be powering the PlayStation 6 and next-gen Xbox, so performance should be a huge improvement if it makes it into Valve’s next handheld. Maybe we finally get a powerful handheld console!
There is also mention of another leaked codename, “Mero”, and that one may be tied to the Steam Deck 2’s APU, according to some leaked documents that the Moore’s law is Dead had access to.
Of course, those are only leaked information, so take it with a grain of salt.
Do Not Expect It Before 2026
At CES 2025, Valve’s SteamOS designer Pierre-Loup Griffais said the company will not be creating new hardware before 2026. In a separate interview with The Verge, he explained that any new model would need a major performance jump to be even just worth launching. But this would actually be something Zen 6 might finally make possible!
Even with all those rumors, a Steam Deck 2 is likely still a couple of years away. AMD’s Zen 6 chips are not expected before 2026-2027, so do not expect a surprise launch anytime soon.
However, in the meantime, it seems like a ton of other companies are investing into handheld consoles as well:
- ROG Ally X launches this very soon
- Lenovo Legion Go S that will be running with SteamOS is on the way as well
- A Legion Go 2 prototype might also launch around September 2025
So until we get a Steam Deck 2, if you want a handheld console that is not the Switch, you should find something that fits you!
Make sure to keep an eye on our latest news, we will keep you updated!
