(Credit: PCMag)
Valve has made a big change to the Steam Deck lineup, which could be bad news for budget-conscious consumers looking to get their hands on the handheld gaming PC this holiday season.
According to a change on Valve's official Steam Deck page, first spotted by Engadget, the company is discontinuing the Steam Deck LCD 256GB. This model, which currently retails for $399, is the cheapest Steam Deck currently available.
“We are no longer producing the Steam Deck LCD 256GB model. Once sold out, it will no longer be available,” reads the website update.
All remaining units appear to be sold out on Valve’s website, at least in the US, though some still seem to be available in other major markets like the UK and Australia. In addition, there may be some available via third-party retailers or the secondhand market.
This means gamers will need to fork over an extra $150 for the $549 512GB OLED Steam Deck, or $649 for the 1TB OLED version. Those models, however, offer a slightly larger screen, between one and four hours more battery life, and a higher-resolution display and faster Wi-Fi.
Last month, Valve announced that it would revive the Steam Machine, a gaming-focused mini PC that boasts “over six times the horsepower” of the handheld Steam Deck—meaning better frame rates and graphics. Like the Steam Deck, it runs Linux-based SteamOS, optimized to run video games rather than for general use. In addition, Valve also announced the Steam Frame headset, which promises a fully wireless VR PC gaming experience.