Image via Valve

SteamDB founder Pavel Djundik has uncovered some interesting details in the latest Steam client beta update. Djundik claims that he managed to find references to a Valve project thought to exist codenamed "Neptune" and several strings that could indicate progress towards Steam'due south compatibility with consoles or a console built to apply Steam to run games.

The latest Steam client update includes the strings of text, "SteamPal and SteamPal Games." It's idea that these could be how games are named when using a specific version of the marketplace on consoles or "Neptune." Calculation to this, other string references for "quick admission, ability, restart, and shut downwardly" were also found. Apparently, the Steam client beta too has back-end functionality for airplane way and Bluetooth. All of these are listed in SteamDB's tracking GitHub. There, you can also observe a reference to the "Callisto Developer Program," which could be a codename for the developers involved in working on titles for "Neptune."

Djundik even went as far equally questioning if Valve was doing more than bringing Steam to consoles, stating that the company could be making its own handheld device. The device would probably have the form of a handheld PC, not unlike the Alienware UFO. However, all the handheld-specific details mentioned could merely as hands be references to a mobile Steam customer.

Valve is no stranger to the hardware market. The visitor has produced the Valve Index VR headset, the Steam Controller, and the Steam Link. It'south not out of the question that Valve would be making a handheld panel, just no official discussion has been provided at the time of writing.

When asked about the possibility of Steam coming to consoles during a recent visit to Sancta Maria College, Valve co-founder Gabe Newell answered, "Y'all will get a better idea of that by the end of this year… and it won't be the answer yous await." Notation that Newell's statement could link to the "Callisto Developer Program" in what he'due south proverb here too.