A pair of Spanish-speaking YouTubers have spurred on extra rumors surrounding a possible Valve Steam console, which the corporate is rumored to be making as a follow-up to its handheld, the Steam Deck. In line with the rumors, the brand new system is about to make use of the identical AMD RDNA 4 GPU structure used within the new Radeon RX 9070, nevertheless it seems to be extra like a misunderstanding to us.
Valve’s Steam Deck is one of the best PC gaming handheld proper now, and for good purpose. The straightforward usability of its Linux-based SteamOS on the hand-held system units it aside from the others that use Home windows. In fact, as Valve is now actively concerned with sustaining a Linux distribution, it solely is smart for the corporate to touch upon Linux developments.
The rumor proper now, because it stands, is that Valve is doubtlessly engaged on a console primarily based on a brand new AMD RDNA 4 graphics card. This rumor comes from a Linux-focused outlet, Phoronix. On January 29, the positioning wrote a narrative primarily based on Valve’s lead Linux graphics driver developer, Samuel Pitoiset, including a remark to a code depot.
Pitoiset stated that the present driver for the upcoming AMD RDNA 4 {hardware} is “ok” in its preliminary implementation, however is lacking video-related options from the earlier RDNA 3 structure as a consequence of time constraints.
Each video hosts then took Pitoiset’s feedback on RDNA 4 software program to conclude that Valve should be engaged on new {hardware}. This has been spun as Valve trying to tackle Sony and Microsoft within the console area.
Nevertheless, what’s extra probably the case, is that Valve is making certain that upcoming, fashionable GPUs work tremendous on SteamOS, or Linux typically. Valve has constructed Proton, a translation layer that permits Home windows video games to run virtually natively on any model of Linux, and this must work with the most recent GPUs.
As such, not solely does Valve want to make sure that RNDA 4 GPUs run tremendous on its {hardware} and fork of Linux, but in addition by way of Proton. Translated by Wccftech, one of many leakers says of their video: “… from what my pal has heard, Valve is placing lots of effort into the drivers for these RX 9070 GPUs with RDNA 4. And the query he raises in his tweet, which all of us is perhaps questioning, is why Valve is so inquisitive about collaborating on this.”
A Redditor additionally identified that within the video they do say “we come to the conclusion” within the video. That is after studying a information article about how effectively the graphics drivers will work at launch.
Rumors do level to new Valve {hardware} being within the works, however this seems to be like it is going to be within the VR headset and PC controller area. Whereas the structure used within the new AMD Radeon RX 9070 is perhaps included in a future Valve venture, we don’t consider the rumors which can be presently swirling to be something greater than making an attempt to learn between the strains. Within the meantime, try our information to one of the best graphics card should you’re trying to purchase a brand new GPU now.
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