Steam Deck price hike has completely destroyed sales, new data suggests

Key Points:

• Valve has faced significant challenges in pricing its Steam Deck handheld gaming device, especially after a substantial price increase due to chip shortages linked to the AI boom.
• A report by Boiling Steam indicates that the Steam Deck's sales have dramatically declined in 2026, with an estimated 82% reduction in units sold compared to 2025, dropping from 11,000–18,000 units per week to 1,400–3,000 units per week.
• Despite the price hike aimed at offsetting increased component costs, Valve's revenue from the Steam Deck has reportedly fallen by 72%, suggesting the higher prices have deterred potential buyers.
• The discontinuation of the older, cheaper LCD models in favor of more expensive OLED versions has contributed to the decline in sales, making the Steam Deck less appealing to handheld gaming enthusiasts.
• Boiling Steam suggests that while the Steam Deck was attractive at around $650, the current pricing near $1,000 for the 1TB model makes it less competitive, especially against more powerful handheld gaming devices like the MSI Claw 8 EX AI+ and Asus ROG Ally X.