Valve has decided to end production and distribution of the first version of its handheld console, the Steam Deck with an LCD screen, which is no longer available for purchase in the United States.
The LCD version was the first model of the device to launch on the market, followed later by the more expensive OLED version. The decision may be linked to pricing and production sustainability, as the higher cost of components could have made it difficult to maintain profit margins on the LCD model.
Rising Costs and Changing Strategy
In recent months, memory prices have increased significantly, which may have pushed Valve to reconsider its strategy and discontinue the version with lower profit margins.
This move also explains the recent Black Friday promotion, which strongly boosted sales of the LCD Steam Deck — likely an effort to clear out remaining stock and prepare for a refreshed product lineup.
A More Expensive Entry Point
As of now, the Steam Deck with an LCD screen is sold out on Steam, making the entry-level price for the handheld now $549 — the cost of the OLED model. That’s a steep jump from the $399 price of the discontinued version.
This catalog reshuffle, with a higher entry cost, could hint at Valve’s upcoming hardware plans. Future devices will likely need to adapt to higher component prices while maintaining the brand’s reputation for quality and innovation.
