Fans of Valve and its handheld consoles may be upset to find out that the price Steam Deck is increasing in some regions. While the Western world won't be affected by the new Steam Deck prices, it's the latest worrying development for Valve's hardware.
The Steam Deck has been a popular gaming handheld since it first launched in 2022, but recent developments surrounding the device have been worrying. The Steam Deck is currently completely sold out in the US, as well as other territories such as the EU and Canada. Valve said the shortage in supply is due to high demand for RAM, and now the system is being hit again in select regions.
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Steam Deck price goes up
Now the authorized reseller of Steam Deck systems in Japan, South Korea and Taiwan has announced that the price of the system is going up. Komodo Station says that starting March 6, prices will go up to $100 per system, with the biggest price increase in Japan. Both capacities are affected, specifically the 512GB and 1TB versions. Komodo notes that prices are increasing due to exchange rate volatility and rising logistics costs, so that may be a different issue than the current shortage of computer parts.
|
Region |
Original price 512GB |
New price 512GB |
1TB old price |
New 1TB price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Japan |
¥84,800 |
¥99,800 |
¥99,800 |
114,800 JPY |
|
South Korea |
839,000 KRW |
KRW 898,000 |
KRW 989,000 |
1,048,000 KRW |
|
Taiwan |
18,880 TWD |
18,980 TWD |
21,980 TWD |
22,480 TWD |
Unfortunately, the Steam Deck isn't the only Valve hardware affected by the recent demand for components. In November, Valve revealed three new pieces of hardware, including a brand new VR headset called the Steam Frame, a new Steam Machine, and a new Steam Controller. These devices quickly excited the gaming community and many were anxious to get their hands on them when they were released in early 2026. However, Valve announced in February 2026 that while the systems are still in the works and that while they still intend to release them in the first half of 2026, the company cannot yet announce release dates or prices due to market conditions and volatile component prices.
While Valve is being hit particularly hard by the increased demand for RAM and other components, it's not the only company that could be affected by these changes. While the price of the Nintendo Switch 2 has remained stable for now, the company has acknowledged that it may have to raise the price in the future if supply continues to be limited and parts prices remain high or increase further. Some industry analysts have also expressed concern that the next generation of gaming consoles, including those from Sony and Microsoft, could experience delays if the situation does not improve.
While these console concerns are only a possibility at the moment, PC gamers are already feeling the pinch as parts like SSDs and RAM have seen their prices skyrocket in recent months. The situation may get worse before it gets better as some manufacturers abandon the consumer market and instead choose to sell exclusively to AI corporations. AI development and hosting is one of the biggest causes of price hikes and shortages, so when companies decide to only sell to AI companies, it can add insult to injury for the players involved. This is a particularly unfortunate situation as gamers have already been hit hard by shortages and price increases during the COVID pandemic, particularly with the impact on GPUs. With some games also raising their prices to $80, it could be hard on gamers' wallets going forward, with no apparent end to the parts shortage in sight.
