The Steam Deck OLED is back in stock. The problem is that Valve has updated the prices, and the 1TB version now costs €919 in Spain. If anyone is considering a more affordable option, there is one, but it's not very promising: the 512GB version, which also lacks an anti-glare screen, has increased from €569 to €779. That's over €200 more than its original price. The LCD version is no longer offered. These are the effects of what is known as... RAMpocalypse.
Not being a dictionary word, defining RAMpocalypse is more of a personal exercise. It's a blend of RAM and Apocalypse, and it refers to a pricing problem caused by AI. Artificial Intelligence tools are used so much that they require components, and this depletes the supply and demand of those components. The law of supply and demand causes the prices of these components to rise, and ultimately, the prices of everything else containing them also increase. Now then, Valve's decision is, to say the least, controversial..
The RAMpocalypse makes Valve's hardware less interesting
From here on out, what follows is something of an analysis, at least in part. The Steam Deck was introduced in 2021, and went on sale in 2022. The hardware it uses is mid-range hardware to be able to play all the games released in 2021. on a small screen. For example, it can handle Cyberpunk 2077 and it looks good on your screen, but it doesn't look as good if you connect the Deck to a larger monitor; if you increase the resolution, you start having performance issues.
What I'm trying to say is that Valve has raised the price of a 2021-2022 product by about €200And that's why it can't reliably handle games like Black Myth: Wukong (2024) or older titles like Horizon: Forbidden West (2022). Meanwhile, the ASUS ROG Xbox Ally X is currently available for €999, which is still slightly more than the current price of the 1TB Steam Deck OLED, but it also has 24GB of RAM and users report that it can handle titles like those mentioned.
Questions about the Steam Machine
Valve can't do anything, but this puts them in a precarious position. In 2027, if the rumors are true, Microsoft will launch what is currently known as Project HelixThis is the evolution of their Xbox consoles with a different philosophy. Basically, their consoles as such would cease to exist, and what they will offer is a Windows PC that can run games from their store, from other stores including Steam, and will be compatible with desktop programs.
The most interesting thing about all this is that, although it's expected to be somewhat more expensive than current Xbox consoles, it will still be sold at a loss, relying on recouping the money through game sales. Ultimately, the Helix, or whatever it's finally called, will be a better living room PC than the Steam Machine (among other things because it will be more modern) for a similar or even lower price. And without the Linux incompatibilities.
I'm not going to lie and say I prefer a Windows ecosystem to a Linux one like SteamOS, especially knowing that Linux offers better performance. But we have to consider the whole package: what Microsoft offers will always work well, and we'll be able to use all the software we want, as well as play games with anti-cheat systems that can't be run on Linux.
The RAMpocalypse affects everyone, but not equally.
The RAMpocalypse hits hard, but that hit doesn't feel the same in every scenario.
- Nintendo implemented the price increase due to "changes in market conditions," but its Switch 2 went from costing €469.99 to €499.99. A €30 difference.
- Sony has raised the price of its PlayStation 5 by an average of €100.
- Microsoft raised the price by about €50 on average for its Xbox (which is now spelled XBOX).
These prices are manageable. Valve's situation is different. Since they can't sell at a loss, because anyone could buy their devices without playing games and they wouldn't recoup any of their costs, they have to make the user cover the difference. In the end, as we've said time and again, their prices rise significantly and they lose much of their appeal.
Is it worth paying the same for less?
This has taken me by surprise, and I have to confess it annoys me. I was looking forward to having a PC like the Steam Machine in my entertainment center, but I think Valve has lost its biggest draw. When I bought my Steam Deck OLED in 2024, even though there were already some more powerful Ally models available, I also saved €300. Losing a little while to save so much made sense.
Now we're entering a scenario where price is no longer a factor. The only remaining question is whether you prefer Windows or Linux. And if what comes with Windows lets you play everything without relying on Proton or anything like that…
It's not Valve's fault, as they can't sell at a loss, but the RAMpocalypse is putting their hardware division in a bind. In any case, the price of the Steam Machine hasn't been made public yet. Thankfully, it's not their primary business model.
Image: X.