Steam Deck Is Currently Completely Sold Out, and Valve Hasn’t yet Explained Why.
If you’re a PC gamer looking to buy a Steam Deck for gaming on the go, I have bad news: Valve’s official Steam Deck page —the only place to buy new Steam Deck in the US—is currently sold out of all models. This includes the discontinued LCD model , both OLED Steam Deck versions, and even refurbished versions .
The shortage was first noticed last night by bargain hunter Wario64 , who noted that the Steam Deck was sold out in the US but still available elsewhere. Unfortunately, Tom’s Hardware and Windows Central have since reported that the portable console is also unavailable in some Asian countries. However, there’s still hope for gamers in Europe, as Adam Hales of Windows Central said he’s still seeing available stock in his native UK, including the discontinued Steam Deck LCD model.
Valve hasn’t yet commented on the sudden disappearance of Steam Deck from their website, though I’ve contacted them and will update this post if I hear back.
Why is there no steam deck available?
While Valve hasn’t officially stated the cause of the Steam Deck shortage, the apparent culprit is the ongoing RAM crisis , which has seen the cost of consumer memory components double or even triple as data centers dedicated to AI consume available supplies. It’s possible this shortage has finally affected the Steam Deck, though this remains speculative until Valve officially confirms.
However, this explanation is consistent with Valve’s blog post last week, in which the company stated that the release of upcoming Steam Machine and Steam Frame devices was impacted by “memory and storage shortages.” While the company didn’t directly announce a delay in the devices’ release, stating that it still plans to begin shipping “in the first half of the year,” it also noted that “we need to reassess our exact shipping schedule and pricing.”
It’s possible that the situation with “limited availability and rising prices for these critical components,” as Valve put it in its announcement, is now affecting the Steam Deck as well, though there are other possible explanations. The simplest and most reassuring is that this is just a minor availability issue and will be fixed by the end of the week. Alternatively, it’s possible the shortage is related to tariffs , as while entire smartphones and computers are exempt from tariff increases , it’s unclear whether this applies to gaming devices or any individual components that Valve may purchase to build new Steam Deck units.
In any case, we can’t know for sure until we hear back from the Half-Life team. It’s possible that Steam Deck will see a reduced selection or price increases in the future, but that’s impossible to predict right now.
What to buy instead during the steam deck shortage?
While we don’t yet know how long the Steam Deck will remain in short supply, if the situation drags on, it might be worth considering another portable gaming PC. While you can buy a Steam Deck from unauthorized retailers, I wouldn’t recommend it, as they’ll all be used. Most are sold at greatly inflated prices , and it’s impossible to predict the condition of your unit upon receipt. A more reliable alternative might be GameStop, as this retailer sells its own certified refurbished Steam Deck , which undergoes a separate cleaning process unrelated to Valve products. Unfortunately, these are also currently out of stock.
Instead, I’d recommend considering alternatives like the Lenovo Legion Go S , which starts at $600, is slightly more powerful than the Steam Deck, has a higher-resolution screen, and, thanks to an official partnership with Valve, comes with the same operating system as the Steam Deck. (Personally, I prefer the Legion Go S over the Steam Deck .)
If you have some extra cash, you might want to consider a more expensive device. Obvious options include the Lenovo Legion Go 2 , which offers more power and a gorgeous OLED screen; and the Asus ROG Xbox Ally X , which may be more suited to console gamers. (Although, it should be noted, the Xbox portable’s software wasn’t yet finalized, at least at the time of my review.)
Whatever your choice, there’s no shortage of portable PC gaming consoles to help you while away the time while you wait for the Steam Deck to return. Gamers will always find a way to play.