The Steam Deck was supposed to stay as it is for a while. But it seems to be coming differently
New model already known to authorities
Valve has indeed already filed a new Steam Deck with the Federal Communications Commission (FCC). This is an independent authority in the USA that looks after broadcasting, satellite and cable
It was only recently that the identifier “Valve 1030” posed a mystery. It went through the National Radio Research Agency of South Korea.
A new Valve hardware device just received radio certification in South Korea
Valve Index was 1007
Steam Deck was 1010
? is 1030https://t.co/AfgKorlyFZ pic.twitter.com/ECJPhqxTsu– Brad Lynch (@SadlyItsBradley) September 7, 2023
Now it is clear that the model name “1030” is a new Steam Deck. We already know similar identifiers from Valve Index (1007) and the original Steam Deck with the model name 1010.
The fact that Valve is registering the hardware with authorities leads to the assumption that a release is not too far away.
What can the new Steam Deck do?
At the outset: You should still not expect a completely new Steam Deck. So far, Steam detective Brad Lynch only reports that it will be equipped with at least Wi-Fi 6E (6Ghz).
Valve Corporation Model: 1030 seems to be a revised Steam Deck model with AT LEAST a new Wi-Fi card capable of the 6E (6Ghz) spectrum pic.twitter.com/OLjzTPVXlr
– Brad Lynch (@SadlyItsBradley) October 4, 2023
It is unclear whether this will remain a minor change that only upgrades the Wi-Fi. It is also conceivable that even more improvements will be made.
In South Korea, for example, the new model is only certified for 5Ghz Wifi. So it seems reasonable to assume that even more changes are planned. However, we can’t say for sure.
Do you have a need for a new Steam Deck? What tweaks should Valve make to improve your Steam Deck experience? Do you think a small update to the Wi-Fi module will make a big difference? As always, feel free to post your opinions and experiences below in the comments!
