Photo Credit: Valve
Steam Deck OLED was launched in 2023
Highlights
- Valve stopped production of the Steam Deck LCD model in December
- Steam Deck OLED model went out of stock in the US last week
- RAM and memory shortages could delay next-gen consoles
The global chip shortage, exacerbated by the booming AI industry, continues to severely impact the availability and pricing of PC and gaming hardware. Valve has now officially acknowledged that these persistent RAM and memory component shortages are directly affecting the stock of its popular Steam Deck OLED handheld in the US. With the LCD models already phased out in December, all versions of the Steam Deck are currently sold out in the country.
Just last week, all three Steam Deck models – including the 256GB LCD, 512GB OLED, and 1TB OLED – appeared as “out of stock” on the official US Steam store. Valve has since confirmed that the broader chip crisis is indeed the reason behind the limited availability of its beloved portable gaming device.
“Steam Deck OLED may be out-of-stock intermittently in some regions due to memory and storage shortages,” Valve stated in a notice on the US Steam Deck store page. The company did not provide a specific timeline for when the Steam Deck OLED models would be restocked.
Steam Machine Delay
Adding to the concerns, Valve had previously indicated earlier this month that the same memory and storage scarcity might also push back the launch of its Steam Machine. This innovative PC/console hybrid was initially slated for an “early 2026” release, but its launch window has now been adjusted to the “first half of the year.”
In their announcement, Valve mentioned that they had intended to reveal the Steam Machine’s pricing and official launch date by now. However, escalating hardware costs have compelled them to “revisit” these crucial details. The company admits it’s been challenging to finalize the Steam Machine’s price, having previously stated it would be comparable to a PC offering the “same level of performance.”
Back in December, Valve announced the cessation of production for its most affordable Steam Deck, the 256GB LCD model, priced at $399 in the US. This model will no longer be available once existing stock is depleted. Now, the same memory shortages are impacting the availability of the more premium 512GB OLED and 1TB OLED Steam Deck models, which are priced at $549 and $649, respectively.
The launch of the Steam Machine may be delayed
Photo Credit: Valve
RAM, Memory Shortages
The gaming hardware market is experiencing a significant crunch due to memory and storage shortages, causing RAM and SSD prices to skyrocket. This crisis could potentially force both Sony and Microsoft to delay their upcoming next-generation consoles. A recent Bloomberg report even suggested that Sony might push back the PlayStation 6 (PS6) launch to as late as 2028 or 2029. The same report also hinted at a possible price increase for Nintendo’s Switch 2 in 2026.
The explosive growth of AI data centers, which demand vast quantities of high-performance memory, is a primary driver behind the severe global shortages of RAM and SSD storage. As supplies dwindle, the costs for these essential memory and storage components have seen an unprecedented surge.
In recent months, Graphics Processing Unit (GPU) prices have also climbed considerably due to limited supply. Last year, both Sony and Microsoft already increased the prices of their current-gen consoles, the PlayStation 5 (PS5) and Xbox Series S/X. While the PS6 and the next-gen Xbox were initially expected to launch in 2027, these latest developments suggest potential delays extending beyond 2028.