Valve has undertaken a shake-up of sorts in the handheld gaming world, nixing production of the most affordable Steam Deck, the LCD ‘OG’ model. It was recently discovered by eagle-eyed gamers that Valve had silently posted a note on the Steam Deck store page, referencing the end of production, with what was left representing the final stock of the LCD model.
At the time of writing, we were able to add the 256GB LCD model to our basket, but who knows how many are left to purchase in Valve’s supply lines?
OLED or Bust
If you want a Steam Deck going forward, you’ll soon need to rely exclusively on the OLED model, which has an entry pricing point of $549 for the 512GB variant. That’s a fair reach over the 256GB LCD model, which boasts a price tag of $399 at the time of writing.
Of course, the OLED model is an improvement in many ways. It has a bigger, better screen, better networking capabilities, a larger battery, and a *checks notes* longer charging cable, amongst other things.
It comes as no surprise to learn that Valve is discontinuing the LCD Steam Deck, but many expected a cut-price deal to get rid of them, particularly amidst the ongoing Steam Winter Sale and the approach to the festive window. If stock is there to be cleared, then host a clearance sale!
Last year, when discontinuation plans started surfacing, Valve knocked 15% off the price before phasing out the 64GB LCD Steam Deck.
If you head over to Steam’s storefront and try to shop for a Steam Deck, you’ll see the small print:
We are no longer producing the Steam Deck LCD 256GB model. Once sold out, it will no longer be available.
Valve is moving on to bigger and brighter things, like the recently revealed Steam Machine, a hybrid device that’s supposed to be the perfect combination of a gaming PC and a traditional home console.
It’s slated for a 2026 release, but nobody has the pricing structure for the thing on lock just yet.
Are you hoping that the Steam Deck LCD model gets a price slash so you can scoop one without breaking the bank? Let us know what you’re thinking on the Insider Gaming Discord server.
For more Insider Gaming coverage, check out the news that Sam Fisher has resurfaced in an extraction shooter
Grant has been gaming for 30+ years and in the industry for 10+. You'll probably find him playing a post-apocalyptic game or an extraction shooter somewhere.
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