Thursday, April 2nd 2026
Steam Deck 2 Ditches Semi-Custom APU for Off-the-Shelf AMD Silicon, Eyes 2028 Launch
Valve's next-generation Steam Deck 2 handheld console is reportedly planned for release in 2028, with significant manufacturing changes expected for this sequel to the highly successful handheld gaming device. According to a well-known industry leaker, KeplerL2, posting in the NeoGAF community, Valve is targeting a 2028 refresh for the second-generation Steam Deck. However, the ongoing supply chain shortages of DRAM and NAND Flash could cause disruptions to these plans, potentially leading to delays. Interestingly, this period is when the shortages are expected to start easing, so the Steam Deck 2 could still be released on time, depending on Valve's sourcing capabilities.
One of the most significant procurement shifts for the Steam Deck 2 is Valve's choice of the computing base that will power the handheld. Instead of using a semi-custom AMD APU, Valve is expected to use an off-the-shelf AMD APU that won't require any custom tuning from AMD to meet Valve's needs. This is welcome news, as the latest Steam Machine showed that Valve's reliance on a semi-custom APU solution made the hardware "obsolete" quickly while the rest of the industry advanced. With any semi-custom solution, stockpiling silicon and waiting for DRAM/NAND modules to arrive puts pressure on Valve to ship a product that is significantly underpowered or too expensive. However, with an off-the-shelf solution, Valve could use the best available option at the time of shipping and optimize SteamOS around it.
For example, Valve currently uses a 6 nm APU from AMD with four "Zen 2" cores with eight threads running in the 2.4-3.5 GHz range and eight RDNA 2 CUs clocked at 1.6 GHz. Back in 2022, this was a strong specification that contributed to the Steam Deck's success in the handheld gaming market. However, if Valve were to use another semi-custom APU and face delays due to DRAM/NAND shortages, its specifications would lag behind what other companies could offer, especially as many OEMs like Lenovo, ASUS, and MSI have entered the handheld market since then. Instead, Valve will use what's currently available and best, likely involving some SoC configuration with "Zen 6" cores and RDNA 5 GPU IP. AMD offers its APUs with configurable TDPs, so Valve could take any off-the-shelf APU and adjust its power envelope to fit the Steam Deck.
Source:
KeplerL2 on NeoGAF
One of the most significant procurement shifts for the Steam Deck 2 is Valve's choice of the computing base that will power the handheld. Instead of using a semi-custom AMD APU, Valve is expected to use an off-the-shelf AMD APU that won't require any custom tuning from AMD to meet Valve's needs. This is welcome news, as the latest Steam Machine showed that Valve's reliance on a semi-custom APU solution made the hardware "obsolete" quickly while the rest of the industry advanced. With any semi-custom solution, stockpiling silicon and waiting for DRAM/NAND modules to arrive puts pressure on Valve to ship a product that is significantly underpowered or too expensive. However, with an off-the-shelf solution, Valve could use the best available option at the time of shipping and optimize SteamOS around it.
44 Comments on Steam Deck 2 Ditches Semi-Custom APU for Off-the-Shelf AMD Silicon, Eyes 2028 Launch
Assuming AMD keeps the same packaging and pinout, we could probably see more frequent updates from Valve.
Between first party OS support, proven support quality, and a focus on profits from selling games instead of the hardware, I am quite looking forward to a new Steam Deck!
Also I would say the steam deck is still the best steam handheld product, superior to asus, lenova etc. because of its much more reasonable price point.
when i look at the gfx1101 code which reuses so much old code it should not matter for this or any amd apu.
i would also expect newer apus inside when buying a valve handheld. 2 years and than the newer amd apu should be put inside.
The Steam Deck essentially created the handheld PC gaming market, which is why there are lots of chips from AMD and Intel catering to that specific need now. So of course there's no reason to demand a semi-custom chip again now that AMD is designing APUs for this specific market.
There was APUs out there but nothing designed for that 5-30 watt envelope the Steam deck really targeted to make it viable as an actual handheld vs a tethered to a charger sofa surfer.
There was also "competition" from places like Ayaneo but they were 2-4 times the cost of a Steam Deck at the time and had lesser hardware in most cases.
That makes me wonder if some other vendor has also commissioned a chip that would be particularly well suited for handhelds, and Valve is just going to buy that chip too. Sony apparently has a PlayStation handheld using an AMD APU in the works, if for some reason Sony did not buy exclusivity on that chip, well it would work pretty well in a PC handheld too.
If you mean for the off-the-shelf AMD silicon, I think it would still benefit everyone because the AMD-related improvements from them are with Mesa and the Linux kernel, which Valve is contributing to. Or at least benefit those with AMD APUs/graphics.
I don't understand why we can't get dedicated silicon for handhelds, even as an off-the-shelf offering from AMD or Intel. Really just take an existing APU and drop the big cores (leaving the c or E cores) and optimize the firmware for games exclusively is all that is needed.
they did it with VR, they're doing it with the PC handheld (HW class they've basically created btw), and now, they're about to do the same thing with PCs with the Steam Machine (which doesn't need to sell in *huuuuge* amounts, its mere presence gives studios an incentive to optimize their games to get a "Machine Verified" certification)I am getting an Android handheld myself! should be getting here soon, couple weeks at most, pretty chunky SoC in there, can do some PC games emulation & I can naturally stream from desktop!
You remember my Cube, yeah? that'll be part of the same kit!My guess is, Valve is potentially aware of a "Z3" SKU coming *Soon:tm:* that has the oomph bump they're looking for at the same TDP, AMD already put out the Z1 & Z2 series, knowing that handheld type hardware is there to stay, I'd think they saw value in pursuing development of those APUs following what they've learned from the collaborations with Valve on the Deck & the Machine plus everything else the other HHD manufacturers gave them as feedbacksocketed chips on mobile devices died with the last of their kind back late 2000s, early 2011, the energy efficiency just isn't there... *maaaaybe* RAM could be "socketable", or rather, compressable by the use of CAMM2 but even then, on devices as low power as handhelds, soldered is, unfortunately, the way to go for maximum energy efficiency & signal integrity (to achieve higher clocks)
Valve has yet to release the steam machine... and the current steam deck still able to play new games.
The deck can have powerful hardware to power new games but valve should give the users ability to use less to conserve power on the go... for example i have mentioned in another thread that users have the ability to disable cores for the games they play that wont utilize them...
For example if the SD2 has 8 cores, 1 core to run the os and the game requires 2cores... u can disable 4 cores to save up power...
It's partly why Steam Deck is still king. All the other "new" CPUs except probably Pantherlake is not more efficient in the power range Steam Deck plays in. Not to mention the low cost of the handheld and great SteamOS.That won't save much power as you think. The unused cores are power gated and are consuming milliwatts, while the loaded cores are using 100x that.
Valve just picked up the contract for devilishly cheap for a chip that happened to fit their needs perfectly.
The steam machine hardware was chosen for much of the same reason I'm sure, price and availability that met performance targets.