Despite being one of the most popular handheld consoles currently on the market, the Steam Deck will not see an increase in price. Gabe Newell, the co-founder of Valve, did say that the company will likely look into developing “higher end” models to meet demand.
In a recent interview with IGN, Newell said that demand is higher than they originally expected for the device. One of the most surprising developments to Newell was the demand for the $649 model. This model includes 512 GB of internal storage, which is a major upgrade in comparison to the 64 GB of internal storage in the $399 model. In addition to more storage, the more expensive model also includes an anti-glare glass that allows players to effectively use the device whenever they would like.
Newell continued the interview by saying that the high demand has led the company to consider the development of “higher-end” models. This consideration comes from the high demand and also the ongoing chip shortage that almost every company is struggling to deal with. The chip shortage has resulted in many companies choosing to increase the prices of their consoles. Despite the actions of other companies, Newell said “I mean, part of what you do with pricing is you’re making a promise to customers.” This promise that the company made is something that Newell vowed he would not break.
Although Valve has described the console as being “future-proofed,” the company must consider the potential for more expensive models that allow them a greater profit. With the current chip shortage, the company has begun to look at many different options that allow them to continue the development of their console. Overall, the company will continue to develop models and hope to continue impressing fans while keeping demand for the consoles as high as possible.