Citing "multiple sources familiar with the matter", Ars Technica reports that Valve is working on an "all-in-one PC with gamepad controls and a touchscreen". Sounds familiar to you? It should as this has been exactly what indie hardware manufacturers (yes it's a thing) have launched like the AYA NEO and GPD Win 3. Though niche, the popularity of such devices has interested bigger players to investigate a handheld gaming PC of their own though concepts (Alienware and Lenovo) or patents (Tencent) recently.

If Ars Technica's report is to be taken seriously (the reporter writes that he "can confirm the device's existence and development"), Valve might be the latest company to jump on this hype train. It's not just this report that points to the company's handheld gaming PC ambitions. Earlier this month during a panel conversation at a New Zealand school, Valve's Gabe Newell had a vague answer when asked by a student about whether Steam be porting any games on consoles. "You will get a better idea of that by the end of this year," Newell said. "... and it won't be the answer you expect. You'll say, 'Ah-ha! Now I get what he was talking about.'"

In another instance, SteamDB creator Pavel Djundik, noticed new changes to Steam's code this week. These pointed to a device named "SteamPal" and its "SteamPal Games", as well as a "quick access menu" and a "power menu". These changes led the developer to wonder whether Valve is making a handheld Steam console.

But Ars Technica's unnamed sources apparently provided more details. This "SteamPal" device has allegedly been in development "for some time" and is still in the prototype phase, where at least one "is quite wide compared to the Nintendo Switch" to accommodate for the controller hardware, joysticks and "at least one thumb-sized touchpad". It will run on Linux, have a touchscreen display, no detachable controllers and no physical keyboard (think AYA NEO); at least that's the state of the prototype version.

The report compares the "SteamPal" to a Nintendo Switch as it will apparently include a dock option via its USB-C port. But unlike the Switch, the device will not use an SoC from Nvidia but instead one from Intel or AMD. There's no indication if Valve will release multiple versions of the device with different specs to attend to different preferences. While Ars Technica doesn't provide an indication of the device's cost, it does mention that Valve plans to launch the handheld by the end of this year, "supply chain willing".

On top of taking these news with a grain of salt, we should keep our expectations in check since Valve is no stranger to pulling the plug on its hardware (or software) projects. That said, would you be interested in a Valve-made handheld gaming PC?

SOURCE

 

[1c4rus]

Yet another attempt for long term unsupported hardware waste for the planet earth from Valve that will makes sense and sells only to Valve fanatics. Prove me wrong Valve, please.

 

[onibaku]

If its anything like the AYA handhelds but more affordable, I'd buy it.

 

[StrayGuitarist]

If it doesn't stick around, there's always the option to get one of the handheld gaming PCs from China if you'd still like to experience PC games on a handheld.

True! I'm still looking into those, because while GPD's offerings are interesting, I'm anxious to see the more Switch-like form factor stuff hit the scene.

 

[Foxi4]

All I really want from a device like this is an exposed PCIe interface, either via a dedicated custom slot or via Thunderbolt. As long as that functionality is present, little UMPC's can function as desktop replacements with an appropriate dock - expansion is key.

 

[RedBlueGreen]

Please for the love of god actually let them support it this time. I don't want another Steam Machine scenario where it's just a budget but still overpriced prebuilt gaming PC. Oh and if they're not gonna give us Windows at least ship them with Pop OS or one of the lighter Ubuntu flavours (MATE, Kubuntu, whatever).

All I really want from a device like this is an exposed PCIe interface, either via a dedicated custom slot or via Thunderbolt. As long as that functionality is present, little UMPC's can function as desktop replacements with an appropriate dock - expansion is key.

That'd be great actually. The worst thing about portable PC gaming solutions (including laptops) is how much performance is compromised by the crappy GPUs. Just a PCIe that lets us use an external GPU makes a massive difference (unless the game is super CPU heavy).

 

[pustal]

Steam link
Release: 2015
Discontinued: 2018

Steam PC
Released: 2015
Discontinued: 2018

Steam controller
Released: 2015
Discontinued: 2019


Give it 2 or 3 more years... It just got released in 2019

Coincidentally all of those things got released in 2015 and ended in 2018/2019. You can definitely see a change on hardware investment type. All of the above were replaced by software solutions. Steam link still exists as software because you really don't need dedicated hardware, the steam controller was basically replace by the Big Picture controller profiles which make every controller potentially compatible with a game and Steam OS / Steam Machines were replaced with Linux support and Proton. The products didn't as much fail as we're entry tech for something else. And non of them are useless, they all still work (and you can replace Steam OS).

Index can't exactly be replaced by software, although their strategy is probably to use it as an industry standard until competitors reach their level. But for now it still the best you can get and been selling out.

You have laptops, which are also portable, with more price ranged, more customizable. Plus PC games arent made to be ran in a small screen. It will have its audience for sure, but it wont be picked up like a console, you have alternatives (and i will bet WAY cheaper)

Screen size is relative to the distance you play from in terms of usability. And most Switch games are actually ports from TV consoles and PC, likewise. This is not a Gameboy or PSP size screen.

 

[orangy57]

Knowing valve, this will probably just stay as a rumor forever but it would be sick to see a handheld with a PC-optimized controller like the steam controller. The leaks are extremely vague though and these reportings seem like a giant game of telephone over a few strings referencing one of their billions of in-house projects, few of which ever actually get released

 

[pedro702]

it will go as well as the steam box fiasco, if they allow other companys to just slap the steam gaming handheld tag on their products they will go down for sure, also switch sells becuase it has exclusives and its own games, thats why consoles without their own games that just run pc games or emulated games just never get off the ground, if you dont have the games being spcialy made for them, they will never be optimized and coded exclusively to that platform.

this will never work and knowing valve they will just sell it for like 1000$ or more lol.

 

[RedBlueGreen]

Coincidentally all of those things got released in 2015 and ended in 2018/2019. You can definitely see a change on hardware investment type. All of the above were replaced by software solutions. Steam link still exists as software because you really don't need dedicated hardware, the steam controller was basically replace by the Big Picture controller profiles which make every controller potentially compatible with a game and Steam OS / Steam Machines were replaced with Linux support and Proton. The products didn't as much fail as we're entry tech for something else. And non of them are useless, they all still work (and you can replace Steam OS).

Index can't exactly be replaced by software, although their strategy is probably to use it as an industry standard until competitors reach their level. But for now it still the best you can get and been selling out.



Screen size is relative to the distance you play from in terms of usability. And most Switch games are actually ports from TV consoles and PC, likewise. This is not a Gameboy or PSP size screen.

The Steam controller really should've stayed. I love the idea of a little touchpad for gaming. I'm currently using a thumb trackball mouse.

 

[Vila_]

How about you give us portal 3 instead? The market for portable switches is very small nowadays and people already have decent options... please focus all your money into making new games

 

[p1ngpong]

It will be interesting to see if this is in any way affordable and to see if steam come up with anything innovative. I wonder if this will just be a windows based handheld or if it is Steam OS based. People are assuming that this will be a computer that just runs steam but it could end up being something a lot more console like and locked down. This "steamPal" moniker sounds like it could be its own thing.

 

[Deleted User]

it's probably going to cost $1600 like every other handheld pc and be discontinued in 2 years with less than no support

hopefully this means they will update big picture mode to be a bit more useful

 

[Clydefrosch]

ho boy. the 'popularity'.

it feels like most of these are bought by tech youtube and they're not gonna buy a dozen of them each

 

[eriol33]

Valve should stop focusing on Linux. Just accept that windows is better for pc gaming.

 

[limpbiz411]

I doubt its a new portable. I believe its the new valve index.

 

[Deleted User]

Valve should stop focusing on Linux. Just accept that windows is better for pc gaming.

it's probably because they want to attempt to make their own ecosystem and avoid paying royalties to microsoft for the operating system
steamOS is a pretty locked down variant of linux on the scale of things

 

[anhminh]

Why everyone act like they didn't leave the handheld market for the last ten years?

 

[The Catboy]

Valve should stop focusing on Linux. Just accept that windows is better for pc gaming.

This mentality honestly becomes more and more false as time goes on. Linux gaming has come quite a long way either from native ports actually being made or using Proton/Wine. Valve has done a lot of work towards making gaming a thing on Linux, there’s literally no reason for them to stop focusing on Linux gaming.

 

[Rahkeesh]

The whole SteamOS thing was a direct response to Windows 8. Microsoft introduced their own storefront and locked "modern"/UAP apps to it, this scared the hell out of Valve as it could make them about as relevant on PC as they are on Playstation. It wasn't super obvious at the time that the Windows store would fail about as badly as Steam OS was always likely to, even then you can't count out some kind of Microsoft resurgence down the road, which is part of Valve's continued support for linux.

The Steam controller really should've stayed. I love the idea of a little touchpad for gaming. I'm currently using a thumb trackball mouse.

Right touchpad really should've replaced the right stick in next gen controllers. Most games use this for camera control and touchpad is just superior for this. (Although gyro aiming is as or even more important.)

 

[eriol33]

it's probably because they want to attempt to make their own ecosystem and avoid paying royalties to microsoft for the operating system
steamOS is a pretty locked down variant of linux on the scale of things

valve pays royalty to microsoft? how does the revenue model work?