No firm details about the next iteration of the handheld device are currently available, but the launch delay in non-priority regions means the original device will already be at least one full year into its life cycle before it becomes available to the rest of the world.

That leaves future buyers with a complex decision: to purchase the original version of the Steam Deck, or to wait until a superior, improved version of the console launches. By the time preorders do open up, it’s highly likely that Valve will already be working on a superior follow-up device. Those in Australia, New Zealand, and other regions around the world have yet to gain access to the Steam Deck preorder system, more than a year on from the console’s launch. At this stage, no ‘Steam Deck 2’ has officially been announced – but the discussion of a follow-up should raise a flag for those still looking to preorder the first iteration of the device. As part of a ‘multi-generational’ product line, the console will undergo major change in future, likely via improvements to its battery, performance, game compatibility, and storage capacity.

Steam handheld release date