Fans of Valve and the price of its handheld console may be disappointed Steam Deck It is increasing in some areas. While the Western world will not be affected by the new Steam Deck pricing, it is the latest in a troubling development in Valve's hardware.
The Steam Deck has been a popular gaming handheld since its initial launch in 2022, but recent developments surrounding the device are worrying. The Steam Deck is currently completely sold out in the US, as well as in other territories such as the EU and Canada. Valve has said that due to high demand for RAM, there is a shortage of supply and that the system is now taking another hit in select regions.
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Steam deck prices go up
Now, the official retailer for Steam Deck systems in Japan, South Korea and Taiwan has announced that the price of the system is going up. Komodo Station says that starting on March 6, prices will increase by up to $100 USD per system, with the largest price increase occurring in Japan. Both capacities, namely the 512GB and 1TB versions, are being affected. Comodo notes that pricing is increasing due to exchange rate volatility and rising logistics costs, so this may be a separate issue from the current computing parts shortage.
|
area |
512GB old price |
512GB new price |
1TB old price |
1TB new price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Japan |
84,800 JPY |
99,800 JPY |
99,800 JPY |
114,800 JPY |
|
South Korea |
839,000 KRW |
898,000 KRW |
989,000 KRW |
1,048,000 KRW |
|
Taiwan |
18,880 TWD |
18,980 TWD |
21,980 TWD |
22,480 TWD |
Unfortunately, the steam deck valve isn't the only piece of hardware that has been affected by the current component demand. Back in November, Valve unveiled three new pieces of hardware, including the Steam Frame, a new Steam Machine, and a brand-new VR headset called the new Steam Controller. These devices immediately excited the gaming community, and many were eagerly looking forward to getting their hands on them when they were released in early 2026. Although Valve announced in February 2026 that the systems are still in the works and that it still wants to release in the first half of 2026, the company cannot announce release dates because of the initial dates of the market or the terms of the compilation. Pricing.
While Valve is being hit particularly hard with increased demand for RAM and other parts, it's not the only company that could be affected by these changes. While the price of the Nintendo Switch 2 has remained stable for now, the company has admitted that it may raise prices in the future if supply disruptions and parts prices remain high. Some industry analysts have expressed concern that the next generation of gaming consoles, including those from Sony and Microsoft, could see potential delays if the situation does not improve.
While these console concerns are only possibilities at the moment, PC gamers are already feeling the pinch, as parts like SSDs and RAM have seen huge price increases in recent months. Things may get worse before they get better, as some manufacturers are exiting the consumer market and choosing to sell exclusively to AI corporations instead. AI development and hosting is one of the biggest reasons behind price increases and shortages, so companies choosing to only sell to AI companies can add further insult to affected gamers. This is a particularly unfortunate situation, as gamers were already hit hard by shortages and price hikes during the COVID pandemic, especially affecting GPUs. With some games even increasing their prices to $80, it can be hard to keep up with gamers' wallets, with no apparent end to the parts shortage in sight.
