The upcoming AMD and Lenovo event during CES week has sparked significant excitement in the handheld gaming PC community. With special guests Pierre-Loup Griffais from Valve and Jason Ronald from Microsoft, this event, scheduled for January 7th, promises intriguing developments. I’ll be attending and reporting live from the event, originally detailed by Sean Hollister at The Verge.
Valve’s presence is particularly noteworthy. While AMD and Microsoft representatives have appeared at similar events alongside handheld manufacturers like Asus and Lenovo, Valve’s involvement marks a departure from the norm. Considering Valve’s focus on the Linux-based Steam Deck, their presence at a Windows-based handheld launch raises questions. Pierre-Loup Griffais, instrumental in the Steam Deck’s development and a key figure behind Proton, attending this event suggests a deeper collaboration.
Adding fuel to the speculation, Valve recently updated its branding guidelines to include “Powered by SteamOS” logos. Furthermore, leaked images from Evan Blass showcase a black Lenovo handheld featuring a prominent Steam logo button. These factors, combined with Valve’s stated goal of bringing SteamOS to other handhelds, strongly suggest a SteamOS-powered Lenovo Legion Go is on the horizon.
Leaked image of the upcoming Lenovo Legion Go S in black.Image Credit: Evan Blass / X
While this upcoming device might not be officially dubbed the “Steam Deck 2,” it’s certainly generating comparable anticipation. Valve has indicated that a true Steam Deck 2 will coincide with a significant performance leap. However, this new Lenovo handheld still holds considerable promise. The Legion Go utilizes the AMD Ryzen Z1 Extreme, surpassing the Steam Deck and Steam Deck OLED in processing power. Moreover, AMD’s next-gen Ryzen Z2 Extreme is slated for release early next year, further fueling speculation about this device’s potential.
The specifications of this mystery handheld remain undisclosed, but it’s safe to assume it will outperform the current Steam Deck. Combining this enhanced performance with the efficiency of SteamOS and the compatibility provided by Proton could result in a truly compelling gaming experience.
The wait is almost over. Lenovo has promised attendees a chance to “play with the latest Lenovo Legion Go lineup,” and I’ll be there to experience firsthand whatever they unveil. Stay tuned for my on-the-ground coverage.
