Valve is signaling a potential expansion of its Steam hardware ecosystem, hinting at a future beyond the steam Machine and exploring possibilities for Steam-powered phones. The company is actively soliciting feedback on a potential “Steam Phone” concept, following years focused on the Steam Deck and its predecessors.
The move represents a notable shift for Valve,which initially envisioned a range of Steam Machines – modular,living-room PCs designed to bring Steam gaming to the big screen – in 2014. While that effort ultimately faltered, the success of the Steam Deck, launched in February 2022, has demonstrably revived Valve’s hardware ambitions. Now,the company appears to be considering extending the Steam experience to mobile devices,possibly creating a new category of handheld gaming.
Recent surveys distributed to Steam users directly inquire about interest in a portable PC capable of running the Steam library, alongside questions about desired specifications, price points, and features. These surveys follow Valve designer Lawrence Yang’s comments at a recent industry event,where he acknowledged the possibility of Steam phones in the future,contingent on technological advancements and market demand. “we’re definitely thinking about that,” Yang stated, adding that the current limitations of mobile processors and battery life are key hurdles to overcome.
Valve’s initial Steam machine project, announced in 2013, aimed to partner with multiple manufacturers to create a diverse range of Steam-powered hardware. Tho, the project faced challenges including high costs, inconsistent performance, and a lack of compelling software differentiation. The Steam Deck, in contrast, benefits from a unified hardware and software experience, leveraging Valve’s existing Steam ecosystem and Proton compatibility layer to run a vast library of windows-based games on Linux.
The potential for a Steam Phone builds on this success, offering a dedicated handheld gaming experience with access to the entire steam catalog. While details remain scarce, Valve’s renewed interest in portable gaming hardware suggests a long-term commitment to expanding the Steam platform beyond the PC. Further developments are expected as Valve continues to gather user feedback and evaluate the feasibility of a Steam Phone.
