The valve can plan to release Steam tire 2 2028, according to a leaker. Official news about the sequel to the successful handholder has been sparse, but the portable PC space has become increasingly crowded in recent years. Despite the growing competition, the next steam tire may take a while before it hits the market.
While Valve's previous attempt to break into the hardware market did not make the best impression among the fans, the steam tire was another story. It was not the first handheld PC, but the popular concept and kicked off a wave of similar systems from several manufacturers. Now the steam tire sales have dropped after the Switch 2 disclosure and Xbox has revealed its own range of PDAs, but it may still be a bit before Valve's next system arrives.
Leaker claims that steam deck 2 can come in 2028
Gaming Hardware Leaker Keplerl2 commented on a Neogaf thread that the steam tire would come up in 2028 in response to another user wondering if Valve would overshadow ROG Xbox Ally by releasing its new system soon. It would place it six years after the first steam tire and five years after the OLED version. It may seem like a long wait, but Valve has previously said that it will not release Steam Deck 2 until it can achieve a “generation jump” in performance without sacrificing the console's battery life. Given the previous comments, a release window in 2028 would not be too surprising.
Another leaker, Moore's law is dead, has argued that Sony aims to release the handheld PS6 at the end of 2027 or early 2028. If it is true, Steam Deck 2 may have a solid competitor around its launch window, although it will not be released enough for Xbox vs. The Valve battle that some had expected. Of course, neither Valve nor Sony have announced specific release windows for their respective PDAs, so both timelines are still uncertain.
What Valve's “generation jump” can look like is also the subject of speculation right now, but fans may have some tips. In 2024, some valve patents suggested when upgrades of steam tires such as improved streaming and VR support. It is worth noting that companies sometimes patent technology without plans to integrate it immediately, and Valve can also implement the new systems in another steam tire model before Deck 2. The players will have to wait for official news to know for sure, and given these latest leaks, which may end up a long wait.
