It is your final likelihood to seize the most cost effective Steam Deck mannequin as Valve stops manufacturing

In the event you’ve been eyeing up a Steam Deck for the vacations, you may need to transfer quick, as a result of the most cost effective entry level for Valve’s handheld console will quickly change into unavailable. With manufacturing of the Steam Deck LCD 256GB mannequin discontinued, you are taking a look at a $150 value leap if you wish to get your fingers on the very best gaming handheld round.

Whereas the bottom mannequin of the Steam Deck is definitely outdated by its newer, shinier OLED brother, the massive value leap between them has made the LCD model a way more inexpensive funds choice. Certainly, we have lengthy ranked it as probably the most wallet-friendly approach to begin having fun with the very best Steam Deck video games, whether or not in your sofa or on the go. However as Valve prepares to roll out a recent roster of {hardware} together with the beefier Steam Machine in 2026, gaming is simply persevering with to get costlier.

Coming in at simply $399 / £349 in comparison with the $549 / £479 for the lower-tier OLED mannequin, the LCD choice has been a incredible cheaper entry level, and superb for those who’re somebody who’s simply there for the on-the-go comfort. It is also nice for youths, and whereas it struggles to maintain up with a few of the greater, extra demanding video games, there are millions of selections throughout the gargantuan Steam catalog that work fantastically.

Sadly, time to get an LCD mannequin is operating brief. A message from Valve on the Steam Deck retailer web page confirms: “We’re now not producing the Steam Deck LCD 256GB mannequin. As soon as bought out, it can now not be obtainable.” Certainly, whereas it is nonetheless listed for buy in some areas, others are already displaying it as “Out of inventory,” so it looks like persons are leaping onto these final handful of techniques fairly shortly.

In the event you’ve been considering selecting up a Steam Deck as a vacation deal with, head right here to see whether or not you are still in luck or if the curtain has already fallen. With it dropping out of the market, consideration whether or not you need to stretch for the OLED choice or maybe take into account different alternate options just like the Asus ROG Ally or the Lenovo Legion Go change into extra of a dialogue – however you will have to open your pockets fairly a bit wider regardless.

Valve does not say why the change has been made, however with RAM and storage costs persevering with to climb there’s each likelihood it merely is not possible to maintain it going on the present value level. I will be unhappy to see it go, nevertheless, as some of the inexpensive entries into the broad and fantastic world of PC gaming. I definitely do not count on the Steam Machine to supply such a low-cost choice; if something, it is more likely to be going within the different route.