Valve, the renowned gaming and technology company, has quietly made its way through the Federal Communications Commission’s (FCC) certification process for a new model of its popular handheld gaming device. This development was revealed when the FCC documents unveiled a device bearing the model name “1030.” Interestingly, the same model name was associated with a mystery device previously certified by South Korea’s National Radio Research Agency.
The attention to these filings remained somewhat elusive, primarily because they were submitted not by Valve itself but by Quectel, a company specializing in Wi-Fi and Bluetooth chips and serving as a vendor for Valve. The discovery of these filings was made by internet sleuth Brad Lynch, who believes that this new Steam Deck model might feature an upgraded modem capable of Wi-Fi 6E connectivity.
Lynch also shared a copy of Quectel’s letter to the FCC, requesting a Class II Permission Change to enable its already certified Wi-Fi 6E and Bluetooth chip, the FC66E, to work retroactively in the new Steam Deck. Quectel argues that retesting is unnecessary due to the chip’s weaker antenna, resulting in lower radio emissions.
While the filings primarily revolve around regulatory aspects related to radio emissions, speculation is rife about potential additional features and improvements that the new Steam Deck model might incorporate. However, these details remain undisclosed for now.
Valve had previously communicated that the existing Steam Deck is a multi-generational device, suggesting that a successor wouldn’t be expected until at least 2025. Pierre-Loup Griffais from Valve stated, “I don’t anticipate such a leap to be possible in the next couple of years.” This reaffirms Valve’s commitment to evolving the Steam Deck over time rather than rushing into a new iteration.
The Steam Deck, initially released in February 2022, has garnered attention for its unique handheld gaming experience. Beyond the Steam Deck filings, Brad Lynch’s discovery also hinted at Valve’s potential development of a new wireless PC virtual reality headset. As Valve continues to explore new avenues in gaming and technology, gamers and enthusiasts eagerly await further updates on these exciting developments.
