Steam Deck Ditches Annual Upgrades and Aims for \"Generational Leap\" Release

Unlike smartphones with their yearly upgrade cycles, Valve has confirmed the Steam Deck won't see annual releases. This decision, explained by designers Lawrence Yang and Yazan Aldehayyat, prioritizes substantial improvements over incremental changes.

Valve to Avoid Annual Upgrade Cycle for Steam Deck

“That’s Kind of Not Really Fair to Your Customers,” Said Steam Deck Designers

Valve explicitly stated the Steam Deck won't follow the yearly hardware release trend common among smartphones and some handheld consoles. Yang explained their aversion to this "yearly cadence," stating, "We’re not going to do a bump every year. There’s no reason to do that. And, honestly, from our perspective, that’s kind of not really fair to your customers to come out with something so soon that’s only incrementally better." The focus is on significant, "generational leap" upgrades, without compromising battery life.

Aldehayyat highlighted Valve's commitment to addressing user needs, particularly in playing PC games outside traditional desktop environments. While acknowledging ongoing room for improvement, they welcome competition, viewing it as beneficial for gamers. They cited the Steam Deck's touchpads as a key advantage over competitors like the ROG Ally, expressing a desire for others to adopt similar features. "We would love if other companies use touchpads," Aldehayyat stated.

Regarding the OLED Steam Deck, Aldehayyat identified variable refresh rate (VRR) as a highly desired feature omitted from the launch, due to timing constraints. Yang clarified that the OLED model was a refinement of the original, not a second-generation device. Future improvements, including enhanced battery life, are under development, but are subject to technological limitations.

Despite the lack of frequent hardware updates, Valve doesn't view the competition (like Asus ROG Ally and Ayaneo) as an "arms race." Instead, they celebrate the innovation spurred by the Steam Deck and welcome the diverse design choices of competitors. Aldehayyat expressed excitement about the overall improvement of the handheld PC gaming experience, stating, "We love the idea that a lot of companies are working on improving the experience of playing games outside of your office or away from your computer... We’re very excited about it and we’re kind of curious to see where that ends up being."

Steam Deck Officially Launches in Australia This November

The staggered global rollout, including the recent November 2024 launch in Australia (announced at PAX Australia), may have influenced Valve's approach. Yang explained the delay, citing the extensive logistical and financial preparations required for a new market. Aldehayyat added that while Australia was a target market from the outset, establishing the necessary infrastructure for sales, support, and returns took considerable time.

Currently, the Steam Deck isn't officially sold in several countries, including Mexico, Brazil, and parts of Southeast Asia. While unofficial access exists, users in these regions lack official support, warranty coverage, and easy access to accessories. Conversely, the Steam Deck is available in the US, Canada, much of Europe, and parts of Asia (Taiwan, Hong Kong, South Korea, and Japan via Komodo).