The LCD Steam Deck is done

The astir affordable Steam Deck, the $399 LCD model, is not disposable successful the US. And, according to the Steam Deck site, it won’t beryllium coming back. Underneath the listings for the various models is simply a statement that says:

And, well, it’s nary longer successful banal connected the US site.

Valve’s determination to shape retired the Steam Deck LCD is disappointing. That intends the astir affordable Steam Deck is now the 512GB OLED model, which costs $549, rather a spot much than the erstwhile entry-level version.

We’ve reached retired to Valve for comment, but person yet to perceive back. Without an charismatic mentation from the company, we’re near to estimate astir why the Steam Deck LCD was discontinued. Andy Hales astatine Windows Central suggests that rising RAM and storage prices (thanks, AI) person made it difficult to proceed offering a handheld astatine that value point.

The PC gaming handheld marketplace is overmuch much robust than it was erstwhile the Steam Deck first debuted successful 2022, but it’s difficult to spot immoderate of the different players, for illustration Lenovo, ASUS, aliases GPD, filling that entry-level void.