Valve announces significant Steam Deck price rise of almost £200 in the UK, over 40% around the world

Valve has announced substantial price increases for the Steam Deck OLED, effective immediately, citing rising memory and storage costs alongside global logistical challenges. In the United States, the 512GB model increased from $549 to $789, while the 1TB variant rose from $649 to $949—increases of 44% and 46% respectively. UK prices saw similarly dramatic hikes: the 512GB model jumped from £479 to £649, and the 1TB version climbed from £569 to £779, representing 35% and 36% increases.

The price adjustments extend across multiple regions, including Canada, Europe, and Australia. In Europe, the 512GB model now costs €779, while the 1TB reaches €919. Valve emphasized that the Steam Deck hardware itself remains unchanged, with the company stating that the new prices reflect current component costs and global logistical challenges. The company indicated it would provide updates should circumstances change.

The price hikes have significantly impacted the Steam Deck’s competitive positioning. Once celebrated as an exceptional value proposition for handheld PC gaming, the device now faces renewed scrutiny. Industry observers note that competing devices, particularly the ASUS ROG Ally, have become comparatively more attractive alternatives. The ROG Ally’s ability to natively run Steam and Xbox PC games without requiring workarounds, combined with more stable pricing and better availability, strengthens its appeal to consumers. The increases reflect broader industry pressures stemming from memory chip shortages partly driven by data centre demand for artificial intelligence applications.

Valve announces significant Steam Deck price rise of almost £200 in the UK, over 40% around the world

Sources