A pair of Spanish-speaking YouTubers have spurred on extra rumors surrounding a possible Valve Steam console, which the corporate is rumored to be making as a follow-up to its handheld, the Steam Deck. In line with the rumors, the brand new system is ready to make use of the identical AMD RDNA 4 GPU structure used within the new Radeon RX 9070, nevertheless it appears to be like extra like a misunderstanding to us.
Valve’s Steam Deck is the perfect PC gaming handheld proper now, and for good purpose. The simple usability of its Linux-based SteamOS on the hand-held system units it aside from the others that use Home windows. After all, as Valve is now actively concerned with sustaining a Linux distribution, it solely is sensible for the corporate to touch upon Linux developments.
The rumor proper now, because it stands, is that Valve is doubtlessly engaged on a console primarily based on a brand new AMD RDNA 4 graphics card. This rumor comes from a Linux-focused outlet, Phoronix. On January 29, the positioning wrote a narrative primarily based on Valve’s lead Linux graphics driver developer, Samuel Pitoiset, including a remark to a code depot.
Pitoiset stated that the present driver for the upcoming AMD RDNA 4 {hardware} is “adequate” in its preliminary implementation, however is lacking video-related options from the earlier RDNA 3 structure attributable to time constraints.
Each video hosts then took Pitoiset’s feedback on RDNA 4 software program to conclude that Valve have to be engaged on new {hardware}. This has been spun as Valve trying to tackle Sony and Microsoft within the console house.
Nevertheless, what’s extra seemingly the case, is that Valve is guaranteeing that upcoming, fashionable GPUs work advantageous on SteamOS, or Linux on the whole. Valve has constructed Proton, a translation layer that permits Home windows video games to run nearly natively on any model of Linux, and this must work with the newest GPUs.
As such, not solely does Valve want to make sure that RNDA 4 GPUs run advantageous on its {hardware} and fork of Linux, but additionally by Proton. Translated by Wccftech, one of many leakers says of their video: “… from what my buddy has heard, Valve is placing numerous effort into the drivers for these RX 9070 GPUs with RDNA 4. And the query he raises in his tweet, which all of us is perhaps questioning, is why Valve is so considering collaborating on this.”
A Redditor additionally identified that within the video they do say “we come to the conclusion” within the video. That is after studying a information article about how nicely the graphics drivers will work at launch.
Rumors do level to new Valve {hardware} being within the works, however this appears to be like like will probably be within the VR headset and PC controller house. Whereas the structure used within the new AMD Radeon RX 9070 is perhaps included in a future Valve venture, we don’t consider the rumors which might be presently swirling to be something greater than attempting to learn between the strains. Within the meantime, take a look at our information to the perfect graphics card should you’re trying to purchase a brand new GPU now.
You can even observe us on Google Information for every day PC {hardware} information, opinions, and guides, or be part of our group Discord to remain within the know.
