The Steam Deck has been making waves since its announcement, with many gamers excited to get their hands on Valve’s new handheld device. However, while the device has been a stunning success so far, many have wondered if an upgrade is on the horizon.
Valve coder Pierre-Loup Griffais recently spoke with PC Gamer to address these concerns. While Valve is considering all avenues for potentially improving the Deck, Griffais noted that replacing the screen with an OLED is not as simple as it seems.
According to Griffais, the screen is at the core of the device, and everything is anchored to it. Swapping out the screen would require a significant amount of work, as everything is architected around the current screen. “I think it would be a bigger amount of work than people are assuming it would be,” Griffais said.
Valve has not yet indicated whether the Deck will receive an incremental upgrade or a total rebuild with better specs. However, based on Griffais’ comments, it seems that a total rebuild is more likely.
Despite the challenges of upgrading the screen, it’s clear that Valve is committed to continually improving the Deck. “We’re looking at all avenues,” Griffais said. “We’re always looking for ways to improve our products, and we’re not going to stop with Steam Deck.”

As gamers eagerly await the release of the Steam Deck, it’s clear that Valve is dedicated to providing the best possible experience for its users. While an OLED screen may not be in the cards for the current version of the Deck, it’s exciting to see what improvements Valve will make in the future.
Valve’s Steam Deck has been a huge hit since it was announced, but gamers have been wondering if an upgrade is on the horizon. While Valve has confirmed that they are considering “all avenues” for improving the device, Valve coder Pierre-Loup Griffais has warned that swapping out the screen with an OLED is not as simple as people might think.
In a recent interview with PC Gamer, Griffais explained that the screen is at the core of the device and everything is anchored to it, making it a bigger amount of work than people are assuming it would be. While it is still unclear if the Deck will receive an incremental upgrade or a total rebuild, this interview suggests that the latter is more likely.
Despite the potential difficulty in upgrading the screen, Valve has been receiving positive feedback from early testers of the device, with many praising its portability and performance. The Deck boasts an AMD Zen 2 CPU and a custom AMD RDNA 2 GPU, making it a powerful handheld gaming device. The device is set to release in December 2021, and pre-orders have already sold out for the initial release window.
Valve’s commitment to improving the device is promising for gamers who are eagerly anticipating its release. While the prospect of an OLED screen may not be feasible, Valve’s willingness to consider all options suggests that future upgrades may be in store for the Steam Deck.
While Valve has not confirmed what upgrades are in store for the Steam Deck, Griffais hinted that Valve is currently considering the different options available to them. “We have ideas that we want to explore, but we’re not ready to talk about them yet,” he said.
Regardless of what Valve decides to do, the Steam Deck has been a runaway success so far. The handheld gaming PC sold out within hours of its announcement, and pre-orders for the device have continued to sell out since then. It’s clear that gamers are excited about the potential for a portable device that can run all of their favorite PC games.
The Steam Deck boasts an AMD APU that is capable of running modern games at a decent clip, and it features a seven-inch touchscreen display with a resolution of 1280×800. The device is also equipped with an impressive array of features, including USB-C, Bluetooth, and Wi-Fi. Additionally, the Steam Deck comes in three different storage sizes, with prices ranging from $399 to $649.
While gamers will have to wait to find out what Valve has in store for the Steam Deck’s future, it’s clear that the device has already made a significant impact on the gaming world. With its impressive performance, sleek design, and unparalleled portability, the Steam Deck is sure to be a fixture in the gaming industry for years to come.