Valve’s latest update to its Proton compatibility layer, which adds support for Nvidia’s DLSS 3, has sparked speculation that the next-gen Steam Deck 2 could feature an Nvidia GPU.
This update, along with Valve’s testing of ARM64 support in SteamOS, points to the possibility of an Nvidia-powered Steam Deck 2.
Currently, AMD dominates the handheld gaming market, with devices like the Steam Deck and ROG Ally using Ryzen APUs. However, the Proton update suggests Valve might be considering Nvidia’s hardware for its next Steam Deck.
The company has long emphasized the need for significant performance improvements without sacrificing efficiency for the Steam Deck 2, and an ARM-based system might be the answer.
Nvidia is also rumored to be working on a new ARM-based SoC combining its GeForce GPU tech, which could be a strong contender for the Steam Deck 2.
While details are scarce, this move could offer better performance and power efficiency, following Apple’s success with ARM-based chips.
