Valve discontinues budget Steam Deck LCD model

Valve has officially ended production of the original LCD Steam Deck, marking the end of the company's most affordable handheld gaming option. A notice on the Steam Deck store page confirms the 256GB LCD model will no longer be manufactured, with remaining units representing the final opportunity for purchase at the $399 price point.The decision effectively raises the entry price for new Steam Deck buyers to $549, as the OLED models become the only option available. The 512GB OLED and 1TB OLED variants, priced at $549 and $649 respectively, now comprise Valve's entire handheld lineup in the United States.

Entry price jumps $150 as budget option disappears

Industry analysts suggest increasing RAM and storage prices, partially driven by AI-related demand, may have made the budget model financially unsustainable.

While Valve has not provided an official explanation, the company offered aggressive Black Friday and Cyber Monday discounts on LCD units, potentially signaling efforts to clear remaining inventory before the discontinuation announcement.The original Steam Deck launched in February 2022 and helped establish the PC handheld gaming category before competitors like ASUS ROG Ally and Lenovo Legion Go entered the market.

The LCD model's accessible pricing made portable PC gaming viable for budget-conscious consumers who previously couldn't justify premium handheld devices.

What this means for future Valve hardware

The discontinuation raises questions about Valve's future hardware pricing strategy. With component costs remaining elevated and competitors like Microsoft emphasizing premium gaming devices, the prospects for another console-priced Valve handheld appear uncertain.Valve has confirmed it will continue supporting existing LCD Steam Deck units despite ending production. However, prospective buyers interested in the budget model should act quickly, as current stock represents the final availability at original pricing. Once supplies are exhausted, the device will likely only be available through resellers at inflated prices.The Steam Deck LCD's legacy as the device that popularized PC handheld gaming remains secure, even as Valve pivots toward its higher-end OLED lineup.