Valve Discontinues Steam Deck LCD 256GB Model

Valve has discontinued production of its Steam Deck LCD 256GB model, the last remaining entry-level version of the popular handheld gaming console, leaving only higher-priced OLED variants available for new purchases. The company made the announcement in a note on its official Steam Deck webpage, stating that once current stock is depleted, the model will no longer be offered. As of late December 2025, the $399 LCD version, which featured a 1280x800 display and 256GB of storage, is out of stock, including refurbished units.

The decision follows Valve's earlier phase-out of the original 64GB and 512GB LCD models since the device's launch in February 2022. The Steam Deck, designed to let users play PC games from their Steam library on the go, quickly gained popularity among gamers seeking portable access to titles typically confined to desktops. With the LCD model's discontinuation, prospective buyers now face a starting price of $549 for the 512GB OLED edition or $649 for the 1TB version, marking a $150 increase over the previous entry point.

Valve emphasized that the shift prioritizes its upgraded OLED lineup, which includes a larger HDR display with a 90Hz refresh rate,...