Valve Debunks RDNA4 Steam Console Rumors: Regularly Tests Unreleased Hardware

Following a report from GamingOnLinux debunking the buzz of a potential Steam Console in the works, Valve’s developer Pierre-Loup Griffais officially confirmed on BlueSky that these were indeed just rumors. Griffais explained that the pre-release work on Mesa Vulkan for AMD’s RDNA 4 architecture aligns with Valve’s ongoing efforts since AMD’s Vega days. Yes, Valve is actively working with and updating their software for an upcoming GPU architecture, but that doesn’t mean they’re reintroducing the Steam Machine anytime soon.

Does this mean we’re shelving the hopes for a new Steam console? For now, yes. However, it’s worth diving deeper into Valve’s ventures into the console arena and exploring what could be on the horizon, be it a revival of the Steam Machine or the next iteration of the Steam Deck.

### What We Know About Valve’s Hardware Plans

The anticipation around a new Steam console wasn’t built on just AMD’s RDNA 4 development. Consoles typically incorporate custom hardware built on existing architectures. By the time a console hits the market, the tech under the hood is often a generation behind the latest innovations due to the extensive planning and development involved.

Take the Steam Deck launched in 2022, for example. It utilized AMD’s RDNA 2 architecture, introduced in November 2020. This placed a gap of about a year and a half between the hardware’s original launch and its integration into the Steam Deck. Moving forward, incorporating RDNA 4 into a handheld APU would demand even more time and resources.

Currently, top integrated GPU solutions leverage AMD’s RDNA 3 and 3.5 architectures. While performance has improved, especially when connected to a power source, ongoing challenges remain in optimizing battery-powered performance. We’ve recently seen developments like Ryzen AI HX 300 Series APUs featuring RDNA 3.5 iGPUs, but widespread advancements are still unfolding.

Another strong indicator that a Steam Console isn’t on Valve’s immediate agenda is the timeline for the next Steam Deck—expected to be “at least two or three years away.” Valve is holding out for significant hardware advancements. The likelihood of packing RDNA 4 into a future Steam Deck is plausible, yet not imminent. Introducing three distinct SteamOS platforms within roughly seven years would indeed be an ambitious move for Valve.

While RDNA 4 holds promise, we lack insight into its power demands, performance potential, and cost implications. Our wait continues before it’s ready for handheld deployment.

### Peering into the Future

Let’s delve into speculation, while remaining grounded in what we know about PC hardware’s influence on the console landscape.

Late last year, there were credible leaks of new Valve designs, pointing to a revamped Steam Controller and next-gen VR devices. This could hint at a revival of the Steam Link set-top box or Steam Machine initiative. However, it might also be aimed at optimizing the Steam Deck experience, maintaining consistency between handheld and docked usage, particularly for those taking full advantage of Steam Input features like gyro control.

So, is a Steam Console completely off the radar? Not necessarily. With Steam OS 3’s broader rollout, we could see more manufacturers embracing it for mini PCs, laptops, and handhelds. A larger device might lend itself to features such as real-time ray tracing. Currently, achieving real-time ray tracing at 30 FPS on the Steam Deck is only viable for games heavily relying on rasterization, while full ray-tracing remains impractical due to hardware and power constraints.

For a significant leap in handheld performance, Valve needs more than RDNA 4’s improved ray-tracing capabilities. A new architecture capable of delivering results at power levels suitable for handhelds is essential. Considering that full discrete RDNA 4 mobile GPUs have TDPs between 80 to 175 watts, AMD is still striving to hit that target.

One path forward might involve utilizing TSMC’s N4 process node, which has been in production for a couple of years. The Steam Deck’s APU was built on TSMC’s older N7 node. Upgrading to N5 or N4 could offer significant benefits, and in a few years, N3 and N2 nodes should be more accessible, enabling the creation of more efficient, powerful chips for future handhelds.

So, do we really need a new Steam Console? Pair a Steam Deck with a docking station, and you essentially have a console that outperforms the Nintendo Switch. If Nintendo is moving away from traditional home consoles, Valve likely sees value in a hybrid approach, avoiding direct competition with mainstream consoles and PCs.