Steam Deck Costs Soar as RAMageddon Continues to Have an effect on Gaming {Hardware}

The results of the worldwide pc reminiscence scarcity often called “RAMageddon” proceed to chunk, as Valve elevated the value of its Steam Deck on its website on Wednesday. The handheld gaming system that launched in 2022 for $400 will now value nearly $800 to purchase new. 

Valve’s new pricing for its Steam Deck begins at $789 for its 512GB OLED model, a leap of greater than $200 from its $549 launch worth in 2023, as first noticed by X poster Wario64. The 1TB Steam Deck OLED had a good larger leap in worth, from $649 to $949. 

Valve did not instantly reply to a request for remark concerning the worth enhance. 

The worth of Steam is rising

This worth leap, whereas sudden, should not be a shock for these maintaining a tally of Steam {hardware} (or something with RAM and storage). Back in February, Valve mentioned it was delaying the discharge of its house PC console, the Steam Machine, and its VR {hardware}, the Steam Frame, to someday later this 12 months. Both had been revealed final November. The firm did say that pricing was a priority because of the market situations inflicting a spike in demand for vital {hardware} elements. 

Valve didn’t present any pricing for its Steam Frame and Steam Machine in its reveal or delay bulletins, however it was speculated that each must be round $600 to $700. Those estimates are now not possible given the Steam Deck’s elements, which have acquired minimal upgrades since its launch in 2022. 

The Steam Deck has additionally been an merchandise that Valve has had difficulty keeping in stock. For the primary half of 2026, these had a troublesome time discovering a brand new one, possible as a consequence of points with the reminiscence scarcity and tariffs. 

Gaming is now nearly a luxurious interest

Valve is not the one gaming {hardware} firm hurting from this reminiscence scarcity. Nintendo mentioned final month it was going to enhance the value of its Switch 2 in September by $50 to $500. The firm did assist soften the blow of the value enhance by providing a new bundle that features a free sport. Last 12 months, it additionally elevated the value of its unique Switch console, however that was primarily as a consequence of tariffs instituted by President Donald Trump. Nintendo has since sued the US authorities over tariffs, and its clients filed a class-action swimsuit towards the corporate to get refunds. 

Those tariffs had been additionally the guts of Microsoft’s two worth will increase to the Xbox Series console lineup final 12 months. 

Sony additionally elevated the value of its PS5 console again in March, with its PS5 Pro leaping to $900. This is the primary time within the historical past of gaming that consoles have considerably elevated in worth years after their launches — often elements get cheaper, and producers ultimately go these financial savings on to shoppers. There is not any signal of this new inflationary pattern slowing.