Steam Deck runs out of stock in the US while memory shortage fuels price debate

Steam Deck is sold out in the US, raising questions about memory scarcity and impacts on price and launches.

Stock blocked in the US

The Steam Deck, Valve's handheld, appears as sold out on the official US website, with all three variations marked as unavailable since at least last Tuesday. The 256GB LCD model had already been discontinued in December, and now the two OLED versions are also unavailable.

What could be behind this

Valve has not yet commented publicly. Last week, the company warned that memory shortages, linked to the construction of AI data centers, could influence the prices and launch dates of other devices, including the Steam Machine and the Steam Frame VR. Speculation points to a possible prioritization of memory for these items, to the detriment of the Steam Deck, which began to be marketed in 2022.

Global impact and resale prices

Outside the US, the Steam Deck remains available in some markets. In parts of Asia, such as South Korea and Taiwan, the product remains on sale through partners, but Japan is listed as out of stock. In Europe, availability appears stable, with some 512GB and 1TB OLED models still listed in local markets.

Retail price reference

The debate about cost is not just about availability: a third-party seller on Newegg is listing the 1TB Steam Deck OLED for around US$ 1,099, well above the official price of US$ 649.

This supply and demand dynamic suggests that consumers purchasing the handheld through resellers may see inflated prices in the short term, especially for high-capacity OLED models.

Conclusion

While the US faces a shortage of units, the Steam Deck remains available in a good part of the European region and in certain Asian markets, signaling a distribution of stock over time.

What is your take on this scenario? Do you believe the memory shortage could affect future Valve prices or launches? Leave your opinion in the comments.

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