Valve confirms Steam Deck is out of stock due to memory and storage shortages — supply of popular gaming handheld in trouble because of massive AI demand

Source: Tom’s Hardware

Image credit: YouTube – Valve

Valve announced on the Steam Deck store page that all three models are currently marked as “Out of stock” in several regions. The company cited “memory and storage shortages” as the reason for intermittent availability of the Steam Deck OLED.

Memory and Storage Shortages

RAM prices are expected to keep rising throughout the year, which could worsen the situation for the handheld. Valve’s statement is the first official acknowledgment that a lack of memory and storage chips is affecting production.

Broader Industry Impact

• Apple has also reported challenges securing memory, noting that shortages could significantly affect its Q2 earnings. High‑end Mac Studio units with 512 GB of unified memory are on backorder for up to six weeks due to demand from AI‑intensive workloads.
• The Steam Machine, originally slated for a Q1 2026 launch, has been delayed. Valve confirmed it will not subsidize the device and expects pricing to be competitive with entry‑level gaming PCs. However, rising costs for RAM, GPUs, and SSDs could push the console’s price above the $1,000 mark.

Image credit: Valve

Potential Alternatives

If the shortage persists, gamers may consider other handheld options:

• Asus ROG Xbox Ally X – a premium gaming handheld with strong performance.
• Lenovo Legion Go 2 – another high‑end device positioned as a competitor to the Steam Deck.

These alternatives tend to be more expensive but are currently available despite the supply constraints affecting the Steam Deck.