Price increases are sadly the norm, not just in gaming, but in all aspects of life lately. The gaming industry specifically has been hit by the RAM shortages that have plagued the space over recent years. With those two issues compounding, nearly every console maker has announced some form of price increase to combat the economic climate. And now Valve joins the long list of manufacturers who have announced a price hike for their Steam Deck device.
How Much is Too Much?
Valve recently announced via a new blog post that the Steam Deck is increasing in price by a pretty steep margin. The 1TB OLED Steam Deck has been increased from $649 to $949 (up $300). The 512GB OLED has seen a price increase from $549 to $789 (up $240). The reason for these price increases was due to “rising memory and storage costs,” according to Valve. They also went on to state that these new prices “reflect the current state of component costs and other global logistical challenges across the industry as a whole.”
Dark Times Are Ahead
As we look towards the future for Valve, we’ve yet to get a firm price tag on their upcoming Steam Machine, which is inching closer to launch by the day. Back in February, Valve claimed they were reassessing the Steam Machine’s price for the same reasons mentioned today. Many have speculated back then that the price tag for this device could come in at $700, but that seems like a very distant dream now.
This same rule of thumb also applies to any console makers who look to release next-generation gaming consoles within the next few years as well. The sad reality is that gaming is suddenly becoming a hobby that is far too expensive to partake in on a constant basis. This can only spell even more trouble for the industry, as consumers will rightfully respond to increasing prices by becoming far more selective in what they invest their hard-earned money into.
