Steam Deck shortage goes global — Valve's handheld console now out of stock in Europe, Canada, the US, and Japan
Source: Tom’s Hardware
Image credit: Tom’s Hardware
Global Steam Deck Shortage
The Steam Deck’s availability has been spotty in the U.S. and parts of Asia since early February. Valve confirmed that the shortage is due to memory and storage chip shortages in several regions. The issue has now spread worldwide, with reports that the handheld is out of stock in Europe, Canada, the United States, and Japan.
Current Stock Situation
- Out of stock: Most EU countries, Canada, Japan, and the United States.
- Still available (as of writing): Australia, the United Kingdom, Hong Kong, South Korea, and Taiwan.
The LCD version of the Steam Deck is no longer in production, which contributes to the lack of inventory. Valve’s East‑Asia partner, Komodo Station, estimates that stock may return by the end of the month.
Image credit: Komodo Station
Why the Shortage?
The shortage is driven by the AI boom. Massive demand for high‑bandwidth memory (HBM) and NAND storage from data‑center builders has forced chip fabs to allocate more capacity to AI customers, leaving less for consumer products.
- RAM and SSD prices have risen 2‑5× compared with last year.
- Laptop manufacturers (Dell, Lenovo, Framework) and even Apple have announced price hikes or supply concerns due to the same shortage.
Impact on Other Handhelds
While the Steam Deck is currently the most affected device, other handheld gaming PCs listed on Tom’s Hardware’s best handheld gaming PCs list remain in stock, though they tend to be more expensive.
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