Valve has officially stopped making its most affordable handheld gaming console, the Steam Deck LCD with 256GB storage. This model was priced at $399 in the US and was the cheapest way for gamers to enter Valve’s handheld PC gaming ecosystem. The company has confirmed that the device will only be sold while current stock lasts. Once it is sold out, it will not return.
From now on, Valve’s Steam Deck lineup will only include OLED models. Buyers will have two options: the 512GB Steam Deck OLED and the higher-end 1TB Steam Deck OLED.
LCD Steam Deck Officially Discontinued
Valve quietly confirmed the move by updating the product listing on its official store. A message on the page now states that the 256GB LCD version is no longer being manufactured and will disappear permanently once remaining units are sold.
This decision is not entirely unexpected. Valve had already discontinued the 64GB and 512GB LCD versions back in 2023. With the final LCD model now on its way out, the company has fully transitioned the Steam Deck to OLED displays.
As a result, the entry price for a Steam Deck has increased. The 512GB OLED model now starts at $549, while the 1TB OLED version costs $649. Reports suggest that the LCD model is already out of stock on the US store, indicating that its lifecycle is nearly over.
Valve’s Bigger Hardware Plans
While Valve has not clearly explained why it stopped producing the LCD model, the move fits into its broader hardware strategy. Recently, Valve announced a new Steam Machine, a PC and console hybrid powered by SteamOS. This device is expected to launch in early 2026, alongside a new generation controller and a new VR headset called Steam Frame.
What About Steam Deck 2
Talk around a possible Steam Deck 2 has also picked up recently. After the Steam Machine announcement, Valve engineer Pierre-Loup Griffais explained the company’s thinking around a next-generation handheld.
According to him, Valve is not interested in launching a new Steam Deck that only offers a small performance boost. The company does not see value in a device that is just 20 to 50 percent faster while offering the same battery life. Instead, Valve is waiting for major improvements in chip technology that would allow a true generational leap in performance.
Until that happens, the current Steam Deck OLED models will remain Valve’s main handheld gaming focus.
