Fans of Valve and its handheld console may be upset to learn that the price of Steam tires is increasing in some regions. While the West will not be affected by the new Steam Deck pricing, it is the latest in troubling developments within 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 worrying. The Steam Deck is currently completely sold out in the US, as well as other territories such as 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 is going up
Now the authorized reseller of 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 March 6, prices will rise to $100 per system, with the largest price increase in Japan. Both capacities, namely the 512GB and 1TB versions, are affected. Komodo notes that pricing is increasing due to exchange rate volatility and rising logistics costs, so this may be a separate issue from the current computer parts shortage.
|
Area |
512GB old price |
512GB New price |
1TB old price |
1TB New price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Japanese |
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 has been affected by the recent demand for components. 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 were 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 cannot announce the release dates yet due to the stated conditions of the market or the volatile components. pricing.
While Valve is particularly hard hit by the increased demand for RAM and other parts, it's not the only company that could be affected by these changes either. While the price of the Nintendo Switch 2 has remained stable for now, the company has admitted that it may have to raise the price in the future if supply continues to be limited and parts prices remain high or increase further. Some industry analysts have also expressed concern that next-generation game consoles, including those from Sony and Microsoft, could potentially see delays if the situation does not improve.
While these console issues are only possibilities at the moment, PC gamers are already feeling the pinch, as parts like SSDs and RAM have seen steep price increases in recent months. Things could get worse before they get better, as some manufacturers exit the consumer market and instead choose to sell exclusively to AI companies. AI development and hosting is one of the biggest reasons behind the price increases and shortages, so seeing companies choosing to sell only to AI companies could add further insult to injury for affected players. It's a particularly unfortunate situation, as gamers were already hit hard by shortages and price increases during the covid pandemic, which particularly affected GPUs. With some games also increasing their prices to $80, it could be tough on players' wallets going forward, with no apparent end to the parts shortage in sight.
