Valve has been a big name in the gaming world for decades. This is the very company behind Steam, the most popular PC gaming platform, and the Steam Deck, a handheld gaming device that is considered one of the best. Not to mention the Half-Life and Portal series (and the mods that spawned from the former). Anyway, if you’re a big fan of Valve and are looking forward to what’s next, you’ll be excited to know that 2025 might end up being a big year for the company, at least for the hardware side of the operation.
Valve hasn’t officially announced anything yet, but rumors and leaks suggest exciting devices are on the way. According to Brad Lynch, who follows Valve leaks and data mining closely, we might not see new hardware until mid-to-late 2025. However, Lynch believes 2025 could be a “wild year” for Valve hardware. This hints that Valve might release multiple devices next year, as since it is waiting for a ‘generational leap‘ for Steam Deck 2, let’s focus on some leaked devices.
It has at least been confirmed that “future new hardware” is being worked on, and based on what we know so far, that could encapsulate two key things: Steam Controller 2 and the Deckard VR headset. There are also rumors that Half-Life 3 will be revealed at The Game Awards this year, but that’s something to take with a bucket of salt as usual.
Steam Controller 2
The first Steam Controller was released in 2015, and since then, fans have been eagerly waiting for its sequel. And finally, after around nine years, Valve is reportedly working on a new version, codenamed Ibex. Lynch says the new Steam Controller will look more like a standard gamepad.
Right away, we noticed that this new rendition of the Steam Controller replicates the Steam Deck’s dual trackpad design. The trackpads, which were a standout feature of the original, will be reshaped and resized to make the controller feel more like a traditional one. The new controller will also have symmetrical thumbsticks.
Deckard
Valve released a VR headset called the Index back in 2019. But while the Index is an amazing device, it has one drawback: it needs a PC and external sensors to work. In other words, it isn’t a standalone device like we’ve seen in the popular Meta Quest series. However, the next big thing from Valve could be the Deckard, which is reportedly a standalone VR headset.
The references to this headset were spotted in Valve’s SteamVR code, and Lynch says that this headset might not need a PC to function. If this turns out to be true, the Deckard will offer a built-in processor, which will allow it to be more portable and easier to use. However, this was first spotted by Lynch back in 2021, and we haven’t heard much about it since then.
VR Controller
The Deckard isn’t the only VR-related product Valve is focusing on, as the company is reportedly working on a new VR controller, codenamed Roy. Lynch found references to Roy in Valve’s SteamVR code, and this controller might double down as a gamepad. This is because, in addition to motion controls for VR, the controller is believed to feature D-pad, shoulder buttons, and traditional ABXY buttons. This will allow you to use it as a regular controller when you’re not playing VR games.
In any case, Valve hasn’t confirmed any of these devices, so we’ll have to wait and see what happens. Lynch only claimed that 2025 will be a wild year for Valve hardware, but did not confirm which devices will arrive. We could either see only one product or all of them making their way into the market by mid-to-late 2025.
