Valve has quietly announced they’ve stopped producing the base LCD model Steam Deck, a move that could hurt budget-focused gamers.

While Valve’s Steam Deck has been incredibly popular – its cheapest model, the base LCD model – was a very affordable gaming handheld at only $399.99.

Reasoning behind why the LCD model is being discontinued wasn’t shared, only a small note on the Steam Deck’s ordering page that now reads:

“We are no longer producing the Steam Deck LCD 256GB model,” Valve said. “Once sold out, it will no longer be available.”

It’s worth nothing this was technically announced over two years ago, when Valve revealed the Steam Deck OLED models. At that time, the company said they’d sell the LCD models “while supplies last,” so I guess supplies have run out.

Previously, as Valve moved through inventory for the Steam Deck LCD models, they temporarily and even permanently discounted them to sell through stock, noting they were being “phased out.”

The rising costs of hardware components and international shipping likely pushed Valve to end their cheapest handheld, though they are releasing all-new Steam Machine and SteamVR hardware, so perhaps an all-new Steam Deck is coming, too.

Now, if you don’t have a Steam Deck somehow and are looking to get Valve’s handheld, your only options are to pony up for the 512GB or 1TB OLED models, priced at $549 or $649, respectively.

Originally launched back in February 2022 in the United States and globally by the end of the same year, Valve’s Steam Deck has been incredibly popular and one of the first devices to bring handheld PC gaming to the forefront.

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