With the Nintendo Switch putting up some serious numbers and Project xCloud bringing Xbox games to smartphones, gaming on the go has never been better. Now, it seems that Valve wants a piece of the portable pie.
What Is Valve Planning?
As reported by Ars Technica, several anonymous sources have claimed that Valve has been working on “a Switch-like portable PC.” The sources claim that Valve has had gears in motion for a few years now and that the gaming giant wants to ship them by the end of this year.
Now, more evidence has bubbled up to support this claim. SteamDB operator Pavel Djundik noted that a recent Steam update added references to a new device that hasn’t been announced yet.
The code calls the device “SteamPal” and replaces an earlier codename, “Neptune.” The device will look and feel similar to a Switch, but without the removable controllers. The idea behind it is to let you play your Steam games no matter where you are.
Reports claim that the prototypes of the SteamPal are a good deal broader than its Switch cousin. The extra size is due to Valve adding multiple control schemes to the SteamPal, such as a touchscreen and a “thumb-sized touchpad.”
In fact, the SteamPal will mirror so close to the Switch, you’ll even be able to dock it. Using a USB Type-C cable, you can plug the SteamPal into an external monitor, just like how a regular Switch can swap to TV Mode.
This is likely what the Valve CEO Gabe Newell meant when he said that Steam could be coming to consoles. While it may arrive on a Sony, Microsoft, or Nintendo console, there’s an equally good chance that the “console” in question is actually Valve’s own.
So if Valve is making a gaming PC you can carry around with you, what operating system does it use? As it turns out, the sources claim that Valve wants to use a Linux-based system for the console.
Unfortunately, because the device itself is still in the prototype phase and hasn’t been announced yet, there are no concrete details on what hardware the SteamPal will sport, how big it will be exactly, and how much it will cost. However, if Valve does want to get this out by the end of 2021, it shouldn’t be too long until more details emerge.
Letting Off Steam, Wherever You Are
With more companies moving toward the portable gaming market, it appears that Valve wants to join in the fray with its own product. Hopefully, Valve will spill the beans soon enough so we can get an idea of how much it’ll cost and how beefy the hardware will be.
Did you know that Microsoft has also silently been bolstering its mobile offerings? A recent Xbox Game Pass update turned its dual-screen device, the Surface Duo, into a DS-like gaming machine for when you’re on the go.
Image Credit: T. Schneider/Shutterstock.com