Valve has recently announced delays in the release of its upcoming Steam Machine desktop and Steam Frame VR headset, primarily due to a shortage of memory and storage components that have affected the PC industry since late 2025. This shortage is also impacting the availability of the already launched Steam Deck.
According to a notice on the Steam Deck product page, the device will be “out-of-stock intermittently in some regions due to memory and storage shortages.” Currently, none of the three configurations of the Steam Deck are available for purchase, nor are any certified refurbished units.
As of now, Valve has not indicated any price increases for the Steam Deck. The 512GB OLED model remains priced at $549, while the 1TB version is listed at $649. However, the basic 256GB LCD model has been officially discontinued after selling out, effectively raising the starting price of the Deck from $399 to $549.
The Steam Deck’s hardware, which turns four years old this month, has seen newer, faster alternatives emerge in the handheld market. While devices featuring Ryzen Z1 and Z2 chips may offer improved performance, they often come at a higher price point than the OLED Deck’s current starting price. When available, the Steam Deck continues to deliver strong performance and specifications for its cost.
The ongoing shortages of RAM and flash memory chips are largely attributed to the high demand from the AI sector, with expectations that these issues will persist through 2026 and beyond. This situation poses a significant challenge for Valve, especially as the Steam Deck has contributed to a slight reduction in Windows’ dominance in the gaming PC market, thanks to its Proton translation technology that enables unmodified Windows games to run on the Linux-based SteamOS.
Valve’s plans to expand its product line with the Steam Machine and Steam Frame have been hindered by these shortages. Consequently, potential buyers of the Steam Deck may consider alternative Windows-based handhelds. Currently, the Lenovo Legion Go S is the only third-party handheld that ships with SteamOS. However, users can experiment with installing SteamOS on various AMD-based handhelds, with Valve providing beta support for devices like the Asus ROG Ally series.
For those unwilling to wait for the Steam Machine, building a custom device is an option, with successful results reported for setups using AMD Ryzen CPUs and Radeon GPUs. However, recent testing suggests that GPUs with only 8GB of video memory may face challenges in running games as effectively as they do in Windows.
This article was produced by NeonPulse.today using human and AI-assisted editorial processes, based on publicly available information. Content may be edited for clarity and style.
