Valve appears to be in the process of discontinuing the production of the Steam Deck LCD, which signifies a change in its handheld gaming strategy, at least in the United States. The company has stopped restocking the 256GB LCD version of the Steam Deck in the US and has put a note on its store page saying that it will no longer be made. The device will no longer be available for purchase after the remaining stock is sold, but Valve has stated that it will continue to support LCD units that are already in use.
Even though Valve hasn’t officially said why they’re getting rid of the Steam Deck LCD, people in the industry think that rising component costs, especially for RAM and storage, may be one of the reasons behind the decision; it might become more challenging to keep the LCD model’s lower price point in the current market due to these rising costs. This could happen in other places too, but Valve hasn’t said for sure if it will only happen in the U.S.
Valve’s Steam Deck LCD, which retailed for $399 when it was first released in February 2022, was their most reasonably priced portable gaming PC, establishing the category and popularizing PC handheld gaming even before rivals like the ASUS ROG Ally and Lenovo Legion Go hit the market. It was especially appealing when it was on sale for up to 20% off during big shopping days like Black Friday and Cyber Monday; these sales may have been meant to get rid of any remaining stock before the product was taken off the market.
The OLED version of the Steam Deck is becoming the standard option for new customers as it is being phased out, but it is priced at $549, which is a significantly higher entry point. Customers on a tight budget who thought the original Steam Deck was a reasonably priced substitute for conventional gaming PCs and consoles may find it more difficult to purchase due to this price increase.
Silently taking away the Steam Deck LCD makes people wonder how Valve will price its hardware in the future. With powerful performance and a console-like price, the original LCD model contributed to the accessibility of PC handhelds. Its disappearance raises the possibility that it will become more challenging to maintain such affordability as component costs increase. Future Valve hardware expectations may also be impacted by this trend, particularly since Microsoft and other companies have hinted that future gaming devices might prioritize premium performance over affordability.
Despite being phased out, the Steam Deck LCD will probably be remembered favorably for its contribution to the introduction of portable PC gaming. If you want to buy one, the current availability may be your last chance to do so at the original or discounted price before supplies run out and prices go up when they’re sold again.
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