Valve has shown off several Steam Deck prototypes, dating back to 2019.
As part ofValvelaunching the handheldPCin Asian territories, the company unveiled several iterations of the handheld as it was refined and redesigned on its road to launch in 2021.
The prototypes, all of which are reportedly bootable, feature the same configuration of buttons, however, some of the older models don’t feature a D-pad, instead optioning for segmented buttons, like theNintendo Switch.
Older models of theSteamDeck also featured circular trackpads, rather than the square ones that made it to the retail model. These circular pads are similar to that used in the SteamController, Valve’s discontinued peripheral.
The earliest version of the hardware that was put on display also featured smaller thumb sticks, not unlikeSony‘sPlayStation Vita.
As part of the Asia launch press event, we made the design lab into a showroom of development history. My favorite are the playable prototypes: bootable Deck family tree from mid-2019 to now, from a couple of hand-built units onto gradual mass production.pic.twitter.com/TpU5I8D50p
The units were reportedly hand-built, so it’s possible that the thumb sticks on display are literally from a PlayStation Vita retail unit that was repurposed for these prototypes.
The similarity between the direction buttons and those of the Nintendo Switch could also point to Valve usingNintendo‘s hardware in the design process of the Steam Deck.
In an interview withWeekly Famitsumagazine, the team behind Steam Deck confirmed that it expects tocontinue iterating on the hardware going forward.
“Unless something major changes, there will be a next generation of Steam Deck products in the future,” designer Greg Coomer replied.
“The theme, size and shape will change, and it might even become a streaming machine. Development of the Steam Deck will continue.
“One reason is that it is an extension of our core Steam platform,” he said. “The Steam Deck is another PC in another form, but Steam has many other uses besides this handheld device, such as on TV or on the desktop, and we will continue to work to satisfy our customers as much as possible.”
Further reading
Last month it was noticed that a newly published Steam Deck booklet by Valverefers to future iterations of the Steam Deck, suggesting new hardware is planned.
“Steam Deck represents the first in a new category of Steam handheld gaming PCs,”the bookletreads. “In the future, Valve will follow up on this product with improvements and iterations to hardware and software, bringing new versions of Steam Deck to market.”
