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Valve raises Steam Deck OLED prices by over 40%
The company increased the cost of its two handheld gaming PC models, citing higher memory and storage expenses. The 512GB OLED model now retails for $789 (£649), while the 1TB version is priced at $949 (£779).
Details of the price adjustment
Valve stated that the hardware itself remains unchanged. The price hikes reflect current component costs and broader industry-wide logistical challenges. The 512GB model saw a 43% increase, equivalent to £170, while the 1TB model rose by 46%, or £210.
"There goes my hopes of ever getting an OLED,"
a disappointed gamer
Background on the Steam Deck OLED
The Steam Deck OLED launched in November 2023 as a significant upgrade to the original LCD version. Valve no longer sells the cheaper LCD models directly, meaning customers must purchase the OLED variant if buying from the company. Both OLED models had been out of stock for months prior to the price announcement.
Industry reactions and broader implications
Gamers and analysts are speculating about the potential impact on Valve's upcoming Steam Machine, a gaming PC with no confirmed release date or price. Chris Scullion, deputy editor of Video Games Chronicle, told the BBC that rising RAM costs could make the Steam Machine prohibitively expensive to manufacture. He suggested Valve might delay its release until market conditions improve.
Valve recently launched its official Steam Controller, which also sparked debate among gamers due to its £85 price tag.
Recent trends in gaming hardware pricing
The gaming industry has seen multiple price increases across hardware and subscriptions, often attributed to inflation, hardware tariffs, and shortages of RAM-a critical memory chip used in computing devices. The surge in demand for RAM is partly driven by the expansion of data centers powering AI technologies.
In March, Sony increased the PlayStation 5 price by £90 in the UK and $100 in the US, citing "continued pressures in the global economic landscape." The company also raised the cost of its PlayStation Plus subscription in some regions, blaming "market conditions."
Nintendo announced that the Switch 2 will see a global price increase starting in September, rising from $449.99 to $499.99 in the US and from €469.99 to €499.99 in most European countries. The revised UK price, currently £395.99, will be confirmed later.
Microsoft recently bucked the trend by reducing the price of its Game Pass subscription, though this came at the cost of removing day-one access to new Call of Duty titles.
What's next for consumers
Valve's decision underscores the ongoing challenges in the gaming hardware market. Consumers may face further price adjustments as companies navigate rising production costs and supply chain disruptions.
