Valve exits gaming, raises Steam Deck price $300 for comedy pivot
▼ Summary
– Valve has raised Steam Deck prices by up to 46%, with the 512GB OLED model now costing $789 and the 1TB OLED model costing $949.
– The 1TB OLED Steam Deck is now more expensive than the $899 2TB PlayStation 5 Pro.
– The price hike is attributed to current memory prices, but the article criticizes the cost for a four-year-old handheld with six-year-old hardware.
– The article argues that paying over $780 for a device that runs casual games well is unreasonable.
– Valve’s previously announced Steam Machine home console remains unreleased due to pricing issues, and the article suggests it may be best if it never launches given the Steam Deck’s pricing.
Valve has announced a dramatic price increase for its Steam Deck handheld gaming PC, with select models now costing nearly 50% more than before. The move has left many in the gaming community scratching their heads.
Effective immediately, the 512GB OLED Steam Deck jumps from $549 to $789, marking a near 44% rise. The 1TB OLED model sees an even steeper climb, going from $649 to a staggering $949. To put that in perspective, the new 1TB Steam Deck now costs more than the $899 2TB PlayStation 5 Pro, a far more powerful console.
Yes, memory prices have been volatile, but there are limits to what consumers will accept for a handheld that is now four years old and running six-year-old hardware. Asking customers to pay over $780 for a device that struggles with anything beyond casual games feels out of touch.
Last year, Valve teased a home console counterpart called the Steam Machine, but that project remains in limbo, likely due to the same pricing pressures. Given this latest price hike for the Steam Deck, many are hoping the Steam Machine never makes it to market.
(Source: GSMArena.com)
