Valve Announces New Steam Deck OLED, Cites Nintendo Switch’s Influence
Valve, the company behind popular game series like Half-Life and Portal, has just announced the release of the new Steam Deck OLED. This is an update to its original portable device with a longer-lasting battery, faster downloads, and many other features.
In an interview with The Washington Post, Valve product designer Greg Coomer acknowledged the influence of the Nintendo Switch OLED, stating that it has made customers around the world “super happy.” He noted that the Switch OLED showcased the fidelity of an OLED screen and praised Nintendo for creating a great product.
Valve also revealed that the success of the Steam Deck has led to the expansion of its operations. The new Steam Deck OLED comes with a 7.4″ screen that is larger than the previous one and has less bezel. Comparatively, the Nintendo Switch OLED has a 7″ screen and weighs 420g with the Joy-Con attached.
While the Switch was not the first gaming portable to use an OLED panel, its popularity has undoubtedly helped popularize these brighter and more colorful screens. A comparison shared by Washington Post games reporter Gene Park showed the Switch OLED alongside the Steam Deck OLED and PlayStation’s Portal device.
Valve has hinted at the possibility of a “Steam Deck 2” in an interview with IGN, mentioning that it may still be quite a while away. However, the team is constantly thinking about the potential for a sequel.
The Steam Deck OLED is set to launch in the US and Canada on 16th November. With its enhanced features, it is sure to draw comparisons to the recently released Switch OLED. What are your thoughts on the new Steam Deck OLED compared to the Switch OLED? Are you interested in getting one? Let us know in the comments.