Publishing an updated version Steam Deck with an OLED display is not as easy as people think, the key Valve the developer has said.
In an interview with PC gamerSteam Deck developer Pierre-Lou Griffais explained that while Valve is aware that the handheld’s IPS LCD display could be improved, it may not be a simple task.
“We want it to be better, too,” Griffais replied. “We are looking at all possibilities.”
He added: “I think people look at things like an incremental version and assume it’s easy to drop in. But really the display is at the heart of the device. Everything is anchored to it. Basically everything is designed around everything when you’re talking about such a small device.
“I think it would be a bigger amount of work than people assume it would be,” he noted, adding, “I don’t think we’re discounting anything. But the idea that you could just switch to a new screen and be done — that would require more than it’s feasible .”
In an interview with Famitsu last September, Griffais stated that battery life was the main thing Valve wanted to improve in the next iteration of Steam Deck.
“We have already made improvements [to battery life] between the time of launch and now,” he explained at the time. “For example, we’ve enabled playback at a refresh rate of 40Hz, and we’re working hard to give users more control over battery life.
“We also constantly optimize the operating system to reduce battery consumption when playing games that are not too demanding. This improves battery life. In any case, battery issues are at the top of the list for future improvements.
“I think the current Steam Deck is going in the right direction in terms of functionality and compatibility. We always pay attention to feedback.”
