Just recently I wrote about potential new hardware coming from Valve related to "Galileo" and "Sephiroth" that could be a Steam Deck refresh or new VR kit. Now we have basic initial details on a device being certified in South Korea.
We still have no idea what it will be, so this is all pure speculation as usual until Valve actually announce something.
This next one comes from Brad Lynch on X, who found it. The certification (translated) dated August 28th reads:
Specific low-power wireless devices (wireless devices for wireless access systems including wireless LAN (5150-5350 MHz, 5470-5850 MHz frequency band))
Not really much at all to go on, except whatever this is it will have 5GHz WiFi. Many devices have WiFi capabilities including the Steam Deck, so it's still not much.
Doesn't really point either way to it being a Steam Deck refresh or the long leaked Deckard VR headset. However, from patents, we did see previously the Deckard VR kit will have a standalone mode so perhaps this is related to that? On top of that, we've seen Valve begin to improve SteamVR for Linux again recently so I am definitely leaning more into this all being work towards the successor to the Index.
Additionally, Lynch also noticed that there's actually a Valve Galilieo-specific mirror of Steam OS that's password protected.
Clearly, Valve are up to something. What do you think it will end up being?
Article taken from GamingOnLinux.com.
Some you may have missed, popular articles from the last month:
Probably standalone VR device (codename Deckard), it's been long time rumored. I remember there was rumor of Half-life game (codename Citadel), a sequel to HL: Alyx, probably launch/demo title for new VR device, just like Aperature Desk Job was demo game for Steam Deck.
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I don't think we should get our hopes up too much for a new device or devices. It may just be a minor revision to the Steam Deck hardware. Deck was code named Jupiter, and Galileo discovered the big moons of Jupiter / a space probe sent to Jupiter. Deck's SOC was code named Aerith after a character from Final Fantasy 7, and this is named Sephiroth who of course kills Aerith in FF7.
We are also approaching the time in the Deck's life cycle where initial supply contracts may be expiring and new contracts for a refresh of the SOC with power consumption improvements and lower costs might be possible.
We are also approaching the time in the Deck's life cycle where initial supply contracts may be expiring and new contracts for a refresh of the SOC with power consumption improvements and lower costs might be possible.
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slaapliedje Sep 8, 2023
Quoting: pbSteamDeck-based-standalone-VR pretty please.Would be interesting to have this running SteamOS as well. Get all that VR love on the Linux side from Valve!
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benstor214 Sep 8, 2023
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Mohandevir Sep 8, 2023
Quoting: benstor214Quoting: MohandevirBruce Gardiner just said[...]Bruce Gardiner the professional ice hockey player?!
Oh crap! Yeah! That guy must have left an eternal imprint in my subconscious! I meant Bryant Gardiner. Sorry!
Thanks for correcting me!
Last edited by Mohandevir on 10 September 2023 at 1:16 pm UTC
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ElectricPrism Sep 8, 2023
I'm the guy who predicted Deckard when Steam Deck launched simply using logical observance, deduction, and considering the hardware achievements of Valve. Steam Link -> Steam Controller -> Steam VR Controllers -> Index VR Headset -> Steam Deck ... Deckard.
I agree with @mad_mesa ^^^ my best guess is that it's a Steam Deck Episode I ;P Steam Deck Episode II or maybe Steam Deck 1.5.
Valve was very cautious making Steam Deck and wasn't even sure how popular or much of a market it would draw. I think they are pleasantly surprised, hardware contracts are probably expiring and the available chips on the market may be changing -- and they may be keen to do some minor hardware upgrades.
Prediction:
A. They will do away with the glossy screen entirely -- and go to Etched Glass.
B. They will upgrade the joysticks to be more wear resistant
C. Bigger Battery / Better battery life.
D. They might bump the resolution to 1920x1200 (Although I have no personal problem with the 1280x800.
E. OLED screen to conserve more power and for brighter use in daytime spaces (bus stop, etc...)
F. Thinner screen bezel. (that black boxy border around the screen)
G. Slightly smaller size (Similar to how the original Xbox had those big controllers at first and then the next iteration was more refined and slightly smaller)
H. Next Bump up of the CPU/GPU -- it would most likely be very similar.
I. More RAM.
J. More accurate touch screen.
K. And obviously -- better Wifi Module (Steam Deck v1 Wifi Module doesnt play nice with all routers and was a PITA requiring reflashing from recovery4.img and on all my 5 decks)
L. Oh, and of course all the NVME would get bumped up to the faster speed, 64bg would be replaced by 128GB, 256GB, 512GB and 1TB options (as 1TB 2230 NVME is a thing now, technically 2TB is aswell, however they usually skip a generation of top tech to keep costs affordable.)
I would really be curious to see them shrink it by 10% or 15%.
It would be a total banger too if as part of their new WIFI they made it possible to do 4-8 player LAN over WIFI without a router with 1 of the decks acting as the "hot-spot".
I could EASILY see Steam Deck parties where PC gamers get together and LAN in person on the couch, this is a space that is untapped and dripping with maple syrup.
Oh and lastly, improved CPU/GPU cooling.
Last edited by ElectricPrism on 8 September 2023 at 11:13 pm UTC
I agree with @mad_mesa ^^^ my best guess is that it's a Steam Deck Episode I ;P Steam Deck Episode II or maybe Steam Deck 1.5.
Valve was very cautious making Steam Deck and wasn't even sure how popular or much of a market it would draw. I think they are pleasantly surprised, hardware contracts are probably expiring and the available chips on the market may be changing -- and they may be keen to do some minor hardware upgrades.
Prediction:
A. They will do away with the glossy screen entirely -- and go to Etched Glass.
B. They will upgrade the joysticks to be more wear resistant
C. Bigger Battery / Better battery life.
D. They might bump the resolution to 1920x1200 (Although I have no personal problem with the 1280x800.
E. OLED screen to conserve more power and for brighter use in daytime spaces (bus stop, etc...)
F. Thinner screen bezel. (that black boxy border around the screen)
G. Slightly smaller size (Similar to how the original Xbox had those big controllers at first and then the next iteration was more refined and slightly smaller)
H. Next Bump up of the CPU/GPU -- it would most likely be very similar.
I. More RAM.
J. More accurate touch screen.
K. And obviously -- better Wifi Module (Steam Deck v1 Wifi Module doesnt play nice with all routers and was a PITA requiring reflashing from recovery4.img and on all my 5 decks)
L. Oh, and of course all the NVME would get bumped up to the faster speed, 64bg would be replaced by 128GB, 256GB, 512GB and 1TB options (as 1TB 2230 NVME is a thing now, technically 2TB is aswell, however they usually skip a generation of top tech to keep costs affordable.)
I would really be curious to see them shrink it by 10% or 15%.
It would be a total banger too if as part of their new WIFI they made it possible to do 4-8 player LAN over WIFI without a router with 1 of the decks acting as the "hot-spot".
I could EASILY see Steam Deck parties where PC gamers get together and LAN in person on the couch, this is a space that is untapped and dripping with maple syrup.
Oh and lastly, improved CPU/GPU cooling.
Last edited by ElectricPrism on 8 September 2023 at 11:13 pm UTC
2 Likes, Who?
Quoting: ElectricPrismI'm the guy who predicted Deckard when Steam Deck launched simply using logical observance, deduction, and considering the hardware achievements of Valve. Steam Link -> Steam Controller -> Steam VR Controllers -> Index VR Headset -> Steam Deck ... Deckard.And a pony! Can't forget the pony.
I agree with @mad_mesa ^^^ my best guess is that it's a Steam Deck Episode I ;P Steam Deck Episode II or maybe Steam Deck 1.5.
Valve was very cautious making Steam Deck and wasn't even sure how popular or much of a market it would draw. I think they are pleasantly surprised, hardware contracts are probably expiring and the available chips on the market may be changing -- and they may be keen to do some minor hardware upgrades.
Prediction:
A. They will do away with the glossy screen entirely -- and go to Etched Glass.
B. They will upgrade the joysticks to be more wear resistant
C. Bigger Battery / Better battery life.
D. They might bump the resolution to 1920x1200 (Although I have no personal problem with the 1280x800.
E. OLED screen to conserve more power and for brighter use in daytime spaces (bus stop, etc...)
F. Thinner screen bezel. (that black boxy border around the screen)
G. Slightly smaller size (Similar to how the original Xbox had those big controllers at first and then the next iteration was more refined and slightly smaller)
H. Next Bump up of the CPU/GPU -- it would most likely be very similar.
I. More RAM.
J. More accurate touch screen.
K. And obviously -- better Wifi Module (Steam Deck v1 Wifi Module doesnt play nice with all routers and was a PITA requiring reflashing from recovery4.img and on all my 5 decks)
L. Oh, and of course all the NVME would get bumped up to the faster speed, 64bg would be replaced by 128GB, 256GB, 512GB and 1TB options (as 1TB 2230 NVME is a thing now, technically 2TB is aswell, however they usually skip a generation of top tech to keep costs affordable.)
I would really be curious to see them shrink it by 10% or 15%.
It would be a total banger too if as part of their new WIFI they made it possible to do 4-8 player LAN over WIFI without a router with 1 of the decks acting as the "hot-spot".
I could EASILY see Steam Deck parties where PC gamers get together and LAN in person on the couch, this is a space that is untapped and dripping with maple syrup.
Oh and lastly, improved CPU/GPU cooling.
7 Likes, Who?
All hardware Valve makes are not totally new inventions, rather variations of devices other companies have made before. With that in mind, I bet people will think, Ah, one of those.
0 Likes
spacemonkey Sep 9, 2023
Unpopular opinion:
I think it's too soon for a standalone VR headset for PC games (rumored as Deckard), unless Valve expects developers to specifically target Deckard. But you won't be able to play current gen PC VR games on it.
The Steam Deck has awesome performance, but for portable VR (like the Quest) we need 3664x1920 resolution and at least 72fps. The problem is that the Quest has it's own low spec library. Deckard has to be able to run VR games intended for a (high end) PC (because that is what people have in their Steam library)
That said, I still hope it's Deckard, but I expect the slightly upgraded Steam Deck.
Last edited by spacemonkey on 9 September 2023 at 6:17 am UTC
I think it's too soon for a standalone VR headset for PC games (rumored as Deckard), unless Valve expects developers to specifically target Deckard. But you won't be able to play current gen PC VR games on it.
The Steam Deck has awesome performance, but for portable VR (like the Quest) we need 3664x1920 resolution and at least 72fps. The problem is that the Quest has it's own low spec library. Deckard has to be able to run VR games intended for a (high end) PC (because that is what people have in their Steam library)
That said, I still hope it's Deckard, but I expect the slightly upgraded Steam Deck.
Last edited by spacemonkey on 9 September 2023 at 6:17 am UTC
3 Likes, Who?
benstor214 Sep 9, 2023
Quoting: Purple Library GuyAnd a pony! Can't forget the pony.You are mistaken, that was Vermin Supreme who promised everyone* a (free!) pony.
Here is a video proof wherein it is also explained that the ponies are part of a Federal Pony Identification program, where you will need your pony with you at all times.
*restrictions may apply, U.S. citizenship may be mandatory, eligibility may depend on election results
1 Likes, Who?
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