Fans of Valve and its handheld console may be upset to learn that the price of the Steam Deck is increasing in some regions. While the western world won’t be impacted by the new Steam Deck pricing, it’s the latest in troubling developments in Valve’s hardware.
The Steam Deck has been a popular gaming handheld since its initial launch back in 2022, but recent developments surrounding the device have been concerning. The Steam Deck is currently entirely sold out in the US, as well as other areas like the EU and Canada. Valve has stated that the lack of supply is due to high demand for RAM, and now the system is taking another hit in select regions.
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Steam Deck Price Goes Up
Now, the authorized retailer for Steam Deck systems in Japan, South Korea, and Taiwan has announced that the price of the system is going up. Komodo Station states that starting on March 6, prices will rise up to $100 USD per system, with the biggest price increase being in Japan. Both capacities, namely 512GB and 1TB versions, are being impacted. Komodo notes that the pricing is increasing because of exchange rate volatility and increasing logistics costs, so this may be a separate issue from the current computing parts shortage.
|
Region |
512GB Old Price |
512GB New Price |
1TB Old Price |
1TB New Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Japan |
84,800 JPY |
99,800 JPY |
99,800 JPY |
114,800 JPY |
|
South Korea |
839,000 KRW |
898,000 KRW |
989,000 KRW |
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 piece of Valve hardware that’s been impacted by recent component demand. Back in November, Valve unveiled 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 got the gaming community excited, and many were eagerly looking forward to getting their hands on them when they released in early 2026. However, Valve announced in February 2026 that while the systems are still in the works and that while it still intends to release them in the first half of 2026, the company can’t announce the release dates or the pricing yet because of the volatile conditions of the market and component pricing.
While Valve is getting hit particularly hard with the increased demand for RAM and other parts, it’s also not the only company that may be impacted 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 constrained and prices of parts stay high or increase further. Some industry analysts have also voiced concerns that the next generation of gaming consoles, including those of Sony and Microsoft, could potentially see delays if the situation doesn’t improve.
While these console concerns are currently only possibilities, PC gamers are already feeling the pinch, as parts like SSDs and RAM have seen steep price increases in recent months. Matters may get worse before they get better, as some manufacturers are exiting the consumer market and are instead choosing to sell exclusively to AI corporations. AI development and hosting are one of the biggest causes behind the price increases and shortages, so seeing companies choose to sell solely to AI companies may add further insult to injury for impacted gamers. It’s a particularly unfortunate situation, since gamers were already hit hard by shortages and price increases during the COVID pandemic, particularly impacting GPUs. With some games also increasing their prices to $80, it could be tough on gamers’ wallets going forward, with no obvious end to the parts shortages in sight.
