Valve has officially confirmed the discontinuation of its most cost‑efficient variant of the Steam Deck—the $399 LCD model—marking a significant turning point in the evolution of its handheld gaming lineup. According to the information currently presented on the official Steam Deck website, this version will not be reintroduced or restocked for the United States market. Beneath the listings for the remaining configurations, Valve has included a clear and unambiguous statement indicating that the company has ceased production of the Steam Deck LCD 256GB edition and that, once the remaining inventory has been sold, no further units will be manufactured or made available for purchase. As of now, the device has already disappeared from the U.S. storefront, confirming that the supply has indeed been exhausted.
This development will undoubtedly disappoint a portion of the gaming community, particularly those who viewed the original LCD model as a comparatively accessible entry point into portable PC gaming. The elimination of this base configuration means that the most budget‑friendly Steam Deck currently on the market is now the 512GB OLED model, which carries a considerably higher price tag of $549. This newer model, while offering obvious improvements such as a more vibrant display and extended battery life, represents a notable financial leap compared to the earlier $399 version—one that could place it beyond the reach of more cost‑conscious gamers.
At present, Valve has not released an official statement clarifying the reasoning behind this strategic decision, despite inquiries from media outlets. Without an explicit comment from the company, observers have been left to form their own theories about the motivation for phasing out the LCD edition. Among those speculating is Andy Hales of *Windows Central*, who has suggested that the rising costs of critical components—particularly RAM and storage modules—may have rendered it impractical for Valve to continue offering the device at its previous price point. These escalating hardware expenses, he notes, are largely influenced by surging demand associated with artificial intelligence development, which has tightened supply chains and driven up material prices across the tech industry.
Although the handheld gaming sector has evolved significantly since the original Steam Deck’s launch in 2022—with an expanding array of options from major brands such as Lenovo, ASUS, and GPD—the market still lacks a true low‑cost equivalent capable of replacing Valve’s now‑retired model. Competitors have introduced powerful alternatives boasting impressive specifications and sleek designs, yet few have managed to match the Steam Deck’s unique combination of performance, software integration through SteamOS, and relative affordability. Consequently, with the discontinuation of the LCD Steam Deck, a notable gap emerges at the entry level of the portable gaming ecosystem—a void that, at least for the foreseeable future, may remain unfilled.
Sourse: https://www.theverge.com/news/848595/the-lcd-steam-deck-is-done
