Summary
- Valve may be working on new technology to improve game streaming to the Steam Deck from a PC.
- The patent for low latency, high fidelity wireless transmission could benefit Steam Deck, Valve Index, and potential future devices.
- There is speculation that Valve may be developing a "Steam console" to compete with Xbox and PlayStation in the gaming market.
it's difficult to beat the Steam Deck in of sheer accessibility. A fantastic piece of hardware that's made all the better by being deeply integrated with Steam's software and ecosystem, one of the few areas where it struggles is streaming data from an external source, a limitation of the hardware and general infrastructure.
Per a post on Reddit by TareXmd, Valve recently submitted a patent for "Dual Detail Encoding in a Distributed System," which will allow for improved low latency, high fidelity wireless foveated transmission, and rendering between a console and a head-mounted device or handheld system.
It's worth noting that a simple patent isn't an indication that Valve is actively developing something but it does suggest that the company is considering its options. Should the patented system come to fruition, it would make streaming to a Steam Deck from a PC significantly better.
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What Could Valve's New Patent Be For?
Maybe More Than The Steam Deck
Aside from the Steam Deck, the "Dual Detail Encoding in a Distributed System" patent could also be a major upgrade for the Valve Index, the company's virtual reality headset. The current iteration of the hardware sports a wire that must be connected to a suitable power source, but using a low latency, high fidelity wireless transmission could make for a powerful untethered device. Whether that's the case remains to be seen, but it would make sense that Valve patents technology that could be utilized across several of its homegrown products.
The patent has also fueled rumors that Valve is working on a "Steam console" that would compete alongside the likes of the Xbox Series X|S and PlayStation 5. Having hardware that synergizes with the Index and Steam Deck could allow Valve to be the go-to provider of gaming ecosystems, establishing a foothold in a more casual market that lies outside the typical PC . Valve has dabbled in the market before with the Steam Machine and Steam Link but neither managed to make an impact.
Whatever the case may be, Valve is clearly making some major moves behind the scenes. The company's worst-kept secret is Deadlock, a hero shooter that's been leaked on several occasions, that has a chance to be another hit multiplayer experience. Additionally, rumors continue to abound that Valve is already working on the next generation of the Steam Deck although these claims have yet to be verified.
Source: TareXmd/Reddit, PatentGuru
