Valve tends to keep its projects close to the vest. If the latest report is true, the company could lead a big change in PC gaming.
The Steam owner is making a PC gaming device similar to the Nintendo Switch, according to Wired on Tuesday. There are few details available about this new hardware, but a recent update to Steam added a bit of code found by SteamDB creator Pavel Djundik on Tuesday referring to a new controller called SteamPal. Wired also pointed to comments that Gabe Newell, Valve’s co-founder and managing director, made earlier in the month about plans to be announced at the end of the year.
Valve wouldn’t be the first company to come up with a take on the Nintendo Switch. Last year, Alienware showed off its Concept UFO prototype at CES. The Switch-like device would play Windows games and can be played either handheld or with the side paddles removed to form a controller. But since its reveal, Alienware has yet to provide any other details.
Qualcomm is reportedly working on its own Switch-like device using Android OS. Though it won’t be able to play PC games right out of the box, there’s a way to play Windows games on Android devices.
Valve didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment.