Steam Deck 2 Specs Leak Highlights Major AMD Chip Upgrades

A recent driver update leaked potential specifications for the Steam Deck 2, pointing to a new AMD Gainsborough chip with significant performance boosts.

NationPulse Desk

Oct 21, 2026 · 12:28 PM 2 min read

Key takeaways

Valve developer Pierre-Loup Griffais confirmed active development for the Steam Deck 2 earlier in 2026.

An Adrenalin 26.9.2 driver update revealed a new AMD chip codenamed Gainsborough.

The leaked APU features six cores, twelve threads, and 24GB of LPDDR5 RAM.

The tech industry is facing a RAM crisis that makes parts harder to acquire and more expensive.

Valve recently released the Steam Machine, Steam Controller, and Steam Frame.

Valve developer Pierre-Loup Griffais confirmed active development for the Steam Deck 2 earlier in 2026, stating the company wants a substantial performance jump rather than a modest gain. A recent software update has now exposed potential hardware details for the upcoming portable console.

The Leaked Steam Deck 2 Specs & AMD Gainsborough Chip

An Adrenalin 26.9.2 driver update recently exposed a new AMD processor codenamed Gainsborough. Because the original device used chips named Aerith and Sephiroth, this shared naming convention connects the processor to the upcoming console.

Leaked details show the Accelerated Processing Unit features six cores and twelve threads, providing a 50% increase over the original processor. The Gainsborough unit also includes 24GB of LPDDR5 RAM, an increase from 16GB, with speeds reaching 9600 MT/s up from 6400 MT/s. The chip features a base clock speed of 2.4 GHz, though Valve has not officially confirmed these specifications for the finished device.

Production Delays & the RAM Crisis

An ongoing RAM shortage driven by high demand for artificial intelligence parts has caused assembly component scarcity and higher prices across the tech industry. This same supply issue previously forced Valve to increase the price of the Steam Frame.

Valve aims to prevent similar pricing problems for its mainstream handheld console by balancing performance with affordability. As a result, the company may wait for market stability before setting official release plans.

Valve Focuses on Existing Hardware

Valve is currently managing high demand and waitlists for recently released products like the Steam Machine, Steam Controller, and Steam Frame. Launching another major console immediately could frustrate customers currently stuck in reservation queues.

Despite facing growing competition from other companies entering the market, Valve still intends to release a true successor, though buyers will likely wait a long time before the product launches.

Questions and answers

What are the leaked specs for the Steam Deck 2 chip?

The leaked AMD Gainsborough chip features six cores, twelve threads, 24GB of LPDDR5 RAM running at 9600 MT/s, and a base clock speed of 2.4 GHz.

Why might the release of the Steam Deck 2 be delayed?

An ongoing RAM crisis driven by high demand for artificial intelligence components has caused component scarcity and higher prices, prompting Valve to consider waiting for market stability.