A few days before Christmas, Valve announced it was shutting down production Steam Deck The LCD model, which was a cheaper version of the popular gaming handheld. Valve's Steam Deck announcement has resulted in its handheld becoming indirectly more expensive, as the pricier OLED models are now available for users to purchase.
Initially launched in February 2022, Steam Deck allows users to play games directly from their Steam library. The Steam Deck started at $399 with models available with 1280×800 displays. The cheaper LCD models offer Steam customers an affordable entry point into PC gaming, while the higher-end OLED versions of the Steam deck come with enhanced refresh rates, improved Wi-Fi capabilities, and higher-capacity batteries. Although the Steam Deck faces stiff competition from ASUS ROG Xbox Ally X and Nintendo Switch 2 in the handheld market in 2025, Valve's portable gaming tablet remains a popular gadget for PC enthusiasts and casual gamers alike.
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The death of the Steam Deck LCD comes at a bad time
With the 2025 Steam Winter Sale running until January 5, some buyers looking to buy a new handheld for Christmas will have one less option to choose from. As of this writing, the Steam Deck 256GB LCD model has been discontinued by Valve, and has since been sold in the US. Valve said that, once the 256GB LCD model is sold out, it will not be offered as a new product. As a result, the cheapest Steam Deck model now available through Valve is the 512GB OLED version, starting at $549. That marks a $150 price difference between the 512GB OLED and the now-retired 256GB LCD Steam decks, with the latter costing $399 before the price drop.
A few weeks before Valve's announcement, the Steam Deck 256GB LCD model was discounted to $319.20, a difference of about $80 from its MSRP. Because of this discount, the LCD version of the Steam Deck was over $100 cheaper than the Switch 2, proving to be a popular holiday shopping option for users looking to score a cheap gaming handheld. However, Valve's decision to discontinue the 256GB LCD Steam deck comes at a tumultuous time for the gaming and tech industries.
Through the fall of 2025, the price of DRAM kits will skyrocket as the growth of AI-based data centers from companies like OpenAI require DRAM and other components to function. Therefore, companies such as Micron have chosen to exit the consumer market and focus on producing DRAM exclusively for enterprise-level customers and businesses. With Samsung and SK Hynix also facing shortages, the price of DDR5 RAM has quadrupled since September, with 2x16GB DDR5 RAM kits rising from $90 in September to around $360 before Christmas.
Steam plans to go into 2026
The ongoing RAM shortage has impacted Valve's plans going into 2026. Although Valve revealed the Steam Machine, a cube-shaped PC that can play Steam titles and run any operating system users install on it, the company hasn't said when it will arrive or how much it will cost. Valve later confirmed that the Steam Machine would not be subsidized, doing little to ease the concerns of potential buyers. Thankfully, Steam Machine alternatives, including Steam Decks and budget-friendly PC builds, are available for consumers looking for a new gaming machine heading into 2026.
Along with the uncertainty of Steam Machine's price and release date, rumors about a possible successor to Steam Deck continued to make the rounds on social media. Although details about the next Steam Deck iteration remain elusive, time will tell what Valve's plans are for 2026 and beyond.
Source: Valve
