STEAM DECK NEWS – Valve's laptop could be getting a proper boost, as Gabe Newell's patent suggests, but it's still up for debate when we can expect the innovation…
The Steam Deck first appeared two and a half years ago in February 2022. The laptop with Linux-based SteamOS offered a fair experience and started the competition (Asus ROG Ally, Lenovo Legion Go, MSI Claw…). Of the original LCD models, only the 256 GB model is available, and in the case of the OLED version, we have 512 GB or 1 TB of storage available. It was tough, but it found a balance between battery life and performance. You can also stream from your PC to your device, but latency (lag) can be a problem, and that is exactly what Valve is currently working on…
Valve files patent for low-latency, high-resolution wireless transmission and display between console and HMD or handheld device
bySh/TareXmd tendonGame Leaks and Rumors
A Valve patent has surfaced on Reddit, which on the one hand provides lower latency, and on the other hand, improves the image quality between the device running the game and the Steam Deck. They mention wireless data transfer, but they also talk about display between the console and a head-mounted device (Valve Index?) or a handheld device (Steam Deck). This means that not only can lag be improved, but virtual reality can also be taken into account, which could make Valve's machine, already technologically outdated compared to its competitors, a more powerful device in our toolbox.
Valve has previously talked about a standalone Steam Deck VR headset: according to them, the device's unique AMD APU will work well and will be relevant to the company's plans. The Gabe Newells family already has experience in virtual reality, because in addition to Valve Index, Half-Life: Alyx was also their work. Therefore, the patent may refer to a new version of the headset, and a standalone device may be created in the process.
Clearly, minimal lag and simple streaming would improve the Steam Deck, and development around the Valve Index seems very optimistic. But the brand was only recently introduced, so it could be a few years before anything comes to fruition.
source: GameRant
