Steam Deck gets a significant price increase

Valve has recently raised the prices of the Steam Deck OLED models, with the increase attributed to rising memory and storage costs. This lines up with a broader trend in the gaming industry, where hardware prices are climbing across the board.

New prices

The price of the 512GB Steam Deck OLED is now set at $789, while the 1TB model will cost $949. These increases are substantial, especially considering these models previously sold for $549 and $649 respectively. That means the 1TB model has gone up by $300 compared to its original price.

International impact

The price hike is not limited to the United States and is also affecting prices in other countries. In the United Kingdom, for example, the 512GB model has risen from £479 to £649. The 1TB model has seen a similar jump, from £569 to £779. The new prices are as follows:

• Steam Deck OLED 512GB: now $789 USD (CAD 1,129; EUR 779; AUD 1,199; PLN 3,279)

• Steam Deck OLED 1TB: now $949 USD (CAD 1,349; EUR 919; AUD 1,429; PLN 3,879)

Sales

It is notable that the Steam Deck, despite these significant price increases, sold out again quickly. Just 24 hours after restocking, inventory was completely gone. This suggests the Steam Deck remains in demand among both casual gamers and PC enthusiasts, despite the rising cost.

Future outlook

Valve has not yet set a price for the upcoming Steam Machine, which is expected to be a hybrid console/PC. Given the recent price increases, there is some concern that the Steam Machine could also carry a high price tag. The expectation is that Valve will be cautious with pricing, taking the current economic situation and rising component costs into account.

So it remains to be seen how the market develops and how much gamers are willing to pay for this popular handheld gaming PC, especially now that it is priced similarly to other high-end handhelds like the ASUS ROG Ally X.