Probably the worst Deck 2 design I've seen

Missing the track pads, total garbage.

I agree. The article claims this mockup has better "trackpads", but I think they're just referring to the thumbsticks.
- Nah, I think the article and the image are both AI generated, so the "author" of the article really has no idea what the image actually looks like.
I only ever use them in desktop mode but I know if they disappeared I’d be mad about it
- And typing.
- Y'all need to look into radial menus. Will change your life.

This reminds me of the XBOX 720 memes from back in the day where the console was a sphere or some shit

IT'S SPHERICAL
Funny to see that it's turned out be a simple geometrical shape after all but just a little... edgier.

Please don't feed bullshit designs like this oxygen. It's bad enough seeing all the "PS5 Pro" and "Switch 2" articles.

Switch 2 was officially announced though.
- No, it wasn't.
  
  https://www.polygon.com/23633001/nintendo-switch-2-release-date-2024-backward-compatibility
  
  "Nintendo has not formally announced its next console, and has effectively ruled out releasing one anytime prior to April 1, 2024. The company said earlier this year that it wants to bolster Switch sales with new games and add-on content."

No trackpads = no thanks

Also why does the screen jut out like that?

How comes Valve is the only one to get inputs right? Not even fan renders get it right.
- Nobody else is thinking of it as "PC gaming on a console"
  
  They're thinking in terms of "A console which is a PC"
  
  In other words, their heads are in console mode rather than in PC gaming mode. They aren't thinking of an effective mouse option to play paradox games and the like.
100% agree. Loved the Steam Controller. Love the Steam Deck. Drop the trackpads and my use case gets 10x smaller - I’d pass on it.

Ragebait

Why is it upside down?

That pad and buttons look painful.

This has got to be rage bait

My wrists are sore just looking at that shape.

I am almost positive the Steam Deck 2 will be the same design with upgraded hardware, maybe additional USB port or something.

Valve put a lot of RND into the Decks design and ergonomics. I think it would be a waste of money to change it. Money i would rather them use towards an OLED screen or something.

I hope they find a way to make it almost as thin as a PSP or a Switch, and powerful enough to play games at 1080p. Maybe then I'll consider one.
Yeah, I'm expecting the same. Maybe some exhaust differences with newer heatsink tech.
Improving on things isn't a waste of money especially if they're successful enough to achieve the main goal, ie. make games more accessible to more devices, instead of making the perfect handheld (which is unlikely for a first iteration). The body is too big for the screen, too heavy, new SOC means new considerations internally like cooling and battery, keeping the current form is arguably more stupid since it will probably limit actual improvements.

That concept art is ugly though.
- I disagree. I think Valves current form factor for the deck is as iconic as the DualShock or the Xbox controller. They don't need to change anything externally other than the display, we don't even need it to be higher resolution, just a good OLED panel, which would probably introduce a screen with less of a bezel. better GPU/CPU would make it almost perfect.

Concepts are always made by the people I least want to actually be in charge of design

Part of the problem is that concept art needs to be flashy to be noticed, but most usability focused designs are plain or very similar to existing designs.
I'm so happy they don't actually get to design anything

Actually maybe one of them did ouya
That's why they're stuck making concepts instead of actual products.

holy shit this thing is ugly

This design is dumber than that one rounded boomerang ps3 prototype controller

At least the boomerang curved into your palms. This literally curves away. The only part of your body that will be holding onto this "prototype" when you use its joysticks are the tips of your fingers.
From what I’ve read, the boomerangs ps3 controller wasn’t actually dumb at all. It was apparently extremely comfortable to hold because of the way it curved into your palms and the placement of the buttons and sticks felt really natural. But the poor reception to the look of it basically bullied Sony into reverting to the classic DualShock layout.

What kind of prank is the artist trying to pull?

Sweet mercy that's ugly

I forgot these existed! I always wanted one...
- I had one. Those controllers were incredibly cheap and plasticky.

Shit looks hella uncomfortable to hold

It looks like it was designed by an AI, just like how the article was written

Cool! It even has an unintentionally belly-operated off-button!

(Sorry, but this design looks like a UX nightmare. The Sticks feel barely reachable, the buttons on the bottom will be touched unintentionally, the shoulder pads aren't clearly separated, the ABXY buttons are way too small, the speaker seems to be mono,... The list of shortcomings could go on forever...)

I love this shit. They're always so wrong but such fun designs. I wish I could find pictures of the old PS3 and Xbox 720 concepts that people were paying back in the day.

https://youtu.be/rzLIUgnKY40
- An all time classic right here
- The music makes it perfect
- The drowning pool really sets the ambience
- Of course it has that one song + movie maker, no unregistered hypercam 2 or notepad sadly

What? The Steam Deck needs trackpads and L4, L5, R4, and R5 buttons! Without them I wouldn't have been able to play modded Minecraft properly due to the amount of controls introduced by the mods I use.

If they ever drop the track pads I'm out. It's the only reason I got the Steam Deck as I play a lot of WoW on it and they are basically required. Plus I tinker in Linux a ton too and also they are super necessary.
It also looks like we got rid of the start and select buttons as well...
I could never play Guild Wars 2 without them either, and it's one of my most played games. One of the reasons I got a Deck too.

Rounded corners on the screen? Yuck

That’s probably the least disgusting feature of them all, kinda looking forward for a monitor with rounded corners even though I know the problems that it will carry. The inverted shape of the handles though…

This looks really clunky. Like the steam deck is simple and familiar to me

I love my deck but simple it is not lol

Don't worry, its just a concept design from Carota. Zero chance this gets out the door.

I've never seen a good fan render. Ever.

watch astartes (warhammer 40k)
- Oh no, I meant of "future" consoles. Astartes is fucking art.

Getting serious Wutang controller vibes.

Bait

It worked, I was successfully baited.

Didn’t think anyone would be inspired by this controller

Looks like a game gear

Holding this is the equivalent of trying to run in your dreams. Can’t be done.

Is it the 1st of April already?

Here is an archive version of the link for those that don't want to give clicks to rage-baiters.

It looks like an upsidedown Xbox controller with a screen in the middle.

Shit looks AI generated lmao, totally unusable shape lmao.

Maybe unpopular but I kinda like the design and the aluminium looking bottom line.. but it's still dumb and not repairable like this. Also, we just want the old one with a better screen.

When's the MadCatz brand Steam deck competitor coming out?

The lips around the d-pad and buttons look terrible.

They’re joking….right?

🦗
…Guys?

One speaker... in the middle.

Mono is the future

What's the point of the cutout around the screen?

Almost certain somebody is trolling with this design lol.

It seems like that design is made with the idea of removing the screen from the controller, which isn't bad

But it's genuinely missing hardware. It can't be used.

It seems like that design is made with the idea of removing the screen from the controller, which isn’t bad

Yes, but what's the point? What's going to power the screen once it's out? Pixie dust? What's going to drive the display? Whoever made this is unaware that a tablet is more than just a screen?
- Well it could be a similar design to the Switch screen, where the screen does separate from the controller.

I'd rather the taper come to the top.

the bottom should be as stable on a flat surface as possible while remaining comfortable.

There is normally very good stuff at Yanko Design. There is stuff like this sometimes though.

This is my first time seeing Yanko Designs, so they haven't made the best first impression.
- Understandable. If you are into industrial design, architecture or just general design is a good place for inspiration.

I wanted it to be more like a switch for using the joysticks to play on tv. that concept looks like the center docks into the controller which might be a good way to get the effect without impinging on any nintendo patents.