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Follows reports PS6 and Switch 2 also impacted.
As the tech giants' escalating AI arms race continues to impact RAM supplies, Valve has confirmed Steam Deck is the latest machine to face availability issues as a result of memory and storage shortages.
Memory shortages and soaring prices are direct results of the tech industry's continuing push into AI. Substantial quantities of RAM are required to power AI platforms, so as tech giant including Amazon, Microsoft, Google, and Meta continue to invest in new AI data centres to remain competitive, the demand for RAM has increased dramatically.
It's an issue that's already threatening to have a significant impact on consumer electronics. Earlier this year, for instance, Valve announced a delay for its new Steam Machines, specifically blaming memory and storage shortages - but it's not just the company's future hardware that's impacted. Valve has also now confirmed its current Steam Deck line-up is similarly affected.
As per a message on its Steam Deck store page, Steam Deck OLED "may be out-of-stock intermittently in some regions due to memory and storage shortages". At the time of writing, all three Steam Deck models - the 256GB LCD model, as well as the 512GB and 1TB OLED - are unavailable in the US, but supplies in other countries, including the UK, remain available for now. Notably, Valve confirmed it was discontinuing the Steam Deck LCD 256GB back in December, meaning no more stock is being produced.
Valve's dwindling Steam Deck supplies come amid reports that other gaming companies are considering dramatic responses to AI-driven memory shortages. This week, Bloomberg claimed Sony is looking to delay the launch of its PS6 into 2028 or 2029, while Nintendo is said to be mulling over a Switch 2 price increase later this year.
Eurogamer's Robert Purchese recently took a closer look at the issues surrounding RAM and what they might mean for gaming.
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