Valve has announced that the popular Steam Deck OLED handheld console is once again available in the company's own online store.
However, with its return, the prices of the devices have experienced an exceptionally sharp increase, as the recommended prices for both models have had to be significantly updated upwards. Although Valve markets the device as being generally available again, according to the pages, the more affordable 512-gigabyte model has already sold out, and currently, only the larger one-terabyte version is available for order.
With the updated pricing, the 512-gigabyte model of the Steam Deck OLED now costs 779 euros in Europe. When the device was released about three years ago, its retail price was 569 euros, so the price increase amounts to a significant 210 euros.
The new price for the larger one-terabyte model, on the other hand, is 919 euros, which means an increase of 240 euros compared to the original release price of 679 euros.
The device itself or its technical specifications have not changed at all; rather, the fresh prices purely reflect the changed cost level.
Valve justifies the price changes with the rise in memory component and storage costs, as well as other global logistical challenges in the industry.
The rise in component prices does not only affect Valve; it is a broader phenomenon plaguing the gaming industry. Behind the increases is the rapid growth of AI companies and the massive construction pace of data centers built for their use, which has caused a global component shortage and particularly driven up the prices of RAM and storage on the market.
For the same reason, other major console manufacturers have also had to reconsider their prices and raise them during the current year.
Earlier this spring, Sony announced price increases for all its PlayStation 5 consoles, as a result of which, for example, the price of the PS5 Pro rose to 899.99 euros in Finland. Nintendo is also preparing to raise the price of its Nintendo Switch 2 console globally at the beginning of September, when the device's recommended price will rise to 499.99 euros in Europe.
With the updated pricing, the 512-gigabyte model of the Steam Deck OLED now costs 779 euros in Europe. When the device was released about three years ago, its retail price was 569 euros, so the price increase amounts to a significant 210 euros.
The new price for the larger one-terabyte model, on the other hand, is 919 euros, which means an increase of 240 euros compared to the original release price of 679 euros.
The device itself or its technical specifications have not changed at all; rather, the fresh prices purely reflect the changed cost level.
Valve justifies the price changes with the rise in memory component and storage costs, as well as other global logistical challenges in the industry.
The rise in component prices does not only affect Valve; it is a broader phenomenon plaguing the gaming industry. Behind the increases is the rapid growth of AI companies and the massive construction pace of data centers built for their use, which has caused a global component shortage and particularly driven up the prices of RAM and storage on the market.
For the same reason, other major console manufacturers have also had to reconsider their prices and raise them during the current year.
Earlier this spring, Sony announced price increases for all its PlayStation 5 consoles, as a result of which, for example, the price of the PS5 Pro rose to 899.99 euros in Finland. Nintendo is also preparing to raise the price of its Nintendo Switch 2 console globally at the beginning of September, when the device's recommended price will rise to 499.99 euros in Europe.
