Valve cites memory shortage as cause of Steam Deck OLED scarcity

Introduction

Normally, I think Valve is being pretty upfront about the reason for the Steam Deck OLED shortage. Obviously, it’s not some weird supply chain issue, it’s actually because of the memory and storage crisis that’s been getting worse over the past year. Generally, this crisis is causing a lot of problems for electronics makers.

Why the Deck Is Hard to Find

Apparently, the official Steam Deck store page says that availability might be a problem in some areas because of memory and storage shortages. Usually, this kind of shortage affects a lot of different products, like the upcoming Steam Machine, and it’s also making RAM and SSDs more expensive. Specifically, the shortage is happening because of the huge demand for high-capacity DRAM and NAND flash, which is mostly driven by AI workloads.

Impact on Valve’s Roadmap

Currently, the Steam Deck OLED is still available in some countries, like the United Kingdom and Australia, but Valve’s overall hardware plans are being affected by the shortage. Originally, the Steam Machine was supposed to come out in 2025, but now it’s going to be released in the first half of 2026. Naturally, the company is having to re-think its shipping schedule and pricing for the Machine and the related Steam Frame.

The Bigger Picture

Obviously, the memory shortage is not just a temporary problem, it’s a bigger issue that’s going to take a while to fix. As AI apps become more popular, the demand for certain types of memory, like DDR5-type DRAM and high-density NAND flash, is increasing faster than companies can make them. Usually, companies like Samsung, Micron, and SK Hynix are trying to increase production, but it’s going to take some time.

Conclusion

Normally, when a company is transparent about a problem, it helps to clear things up, and that’s what Valve is doing with the memory shortage. Generally, this kind of transparency is helpful, and it shows that the shortage is affecting the whole gaming ecosystem. Obviously, as AI continues to dominate the market for semiconductors, gamers can expect to see ongoing supply constraints and potentially higher costs for high-performance hardware. Usually, it’s a good idea to keep an eye on what’s happening with components, especially if you’re interested in the latest gaming innovations.

Generally, the article was written by PC Gamer, and it was edited by Shaun Prescott.