Valve's importance to the game industry can't be understated. As the creator of Steam, it plays a major part in distributing PC games from acclaimed developers and indie studios alike. It also has a long, rich history of developing influential video games like Portal, Half-Life, and Left 4 Dead. Now Valve and Steam have their own console. Steam users can finally pick up the handheld Steam Deck for themselves, allowing them to play a huge number of Steam games on the go. Valve tried to break into the console industry before with the canceled Steam Machine, but based on the high number of Steam Deck orders, Valve's latest attempt has truly hit the mark.
The Steam Deck is particularly significant because it's a sign of what Valve is capable of. Although Valve has produced some very valuable games and gaming tools in the past, it hasn't been quite as productive in recent years. The Steam Deck serves as a reminder that Valve is a highly creative company that may still have a few tricks up its sleeve. Valve designer Greg Coomer recently told Axios that Valve has multiple games in development, which is great news in the wake of the Steam Deck's release. Returning to some of Valve's iconic franchises could make the Steam Deck an even bigger success.
Valve Games on the Steam Deck
Valve has a ton of franchises that could really shine on the Steam Deck, so it would be wise to promote them aggressively. If its new games are long-awaited titles like Portal 3 and Half-Life 3, then Valve could consider running discounts for these games that are exclusively available to Steam Deck owners, building new interest in these franchises ahead of new releases. Even if Valve's upcoming games are completely unrelated to its old franchises, it would be wise to offer special discounts on new games to Steam Deck users. That would simultaneously entice people to get Steam Decks for better deals on games and generate more interest in new Valve IPs.
Beyond special discounts, however, Valve ought to produce at least a few franchise spinoffs that make particular use of the Steam Deck's controls. Aside from button controls and a gyroscope, the Steam Deck notably features haptic trackpads that can imitate the use of a mouse. Valve could try making some Steam Deck exclusive games related to franchises like Portal that combine its button controls and trackpads in unique ways. Emphasizing the console's innovations in this way could be a clever way to draw in players. Creative control schemes could certainly generate a new wave of hype for Valve IPs.
Valve's Creative Powers
The Steam Deck doesn't just create opportunities for Valve games through its own powers. It also represents Valve's potential to develop strong new games. Aside from Half-Life: Alyx, Valve hasn't released many major games in the last few years, despite being a highly influential developer in the early 2000s. The Steam Deck's creative design and unique PC-like powers prove that Valve is still full of unique ideas and major talent that could very well translate into compelling new entries in franchises ranging from Portal to Counter-Strike to Team Fortress.
Now that the Steam Deck has released, perhaps Valve can divert more of its resources towards game development. Fans have been waiting for years to see what Valve can come up with next, and while the Steam Deck itself is a great concept, it'll only create a bigger hunger for more creative works from Valve. There's no telling for now what kind of games Valve is working on, but hopefully some of Valve's oldest IPs will see a renaissance in the coming years, receiving new games filled with mechanics that freshen up the formula of each beloved franchise.
