Valve has explained the reasons behind the disappearance of the Steam Deck OLED — yes, the memory crisis is to blame.

Valve Explains Reasons for Steam Deck OLED Disappearance — Yes, the Memory Crisis is to Blame

After several weeks of uncertainty and growing queues to purchase the Steam Deck, Valve has officially commented on the device shortage. In an interview with PC Gamer, company representatives confirmed gamers' worst fears — the production of the handheld has encountered serious obstacles due to the global memory chip market crisis.

The problem turned out to be deeper than just delivery delays. According to Valve, the shortage is caused not only by the hype around AI servers, which are "devouring" the main production capacity of memory chip factories, but also by a sharp jump in component prices. Component manufacturers have redistributed quotas in favor of more profitable corporate orders, leaving the consumer electronics segment in the second tier.

For Valve, which strives to keep the price of the Steam Deck at the most accessible level, this has become a serious challenge — the company does not want to increase the retail cost of the device, but purchasing memory is becoming more expensive for them.

Despite the grim news, Valve assured fans that it does not plan to stop production or cut the device's specifications. The company has already reviewed its supply chains and signed new long-term contracts to stabilize the situation by the summer of 2026.