Valve discontinues the most affordable Steam Deck — $399 LCD version on the way out as new starting point is $549

Valve is discontinuing the $399 256GB LCD Steam Deck, making the $549 512GB OLED model the new starting point. The decision to end production of the LCD model is not fully explained, but speculation includes the impact of the ongoing RAM crisis on profitability. Some suggest Valve may be clearing inventory for new products, though this seems unlikely to affect Steam Deck production. This move is disappointing for budget gamers, as the Steam Deck was one of the most affordable handheld consoles available. Competing consoles like the Asus ROG Ally and Lenovo Legion Go S are priced higher, leaving consumers with no choice but to pay more for the OLED model if they want a Steam Deck.