As PC component prices skyrocket due to a memory supply crunch, Valve’s handheld gaming PC, the Steam Deck, is also seeing a price increase. KOMODO, the local distributor, cited rising logistics costs and increased exchange rate volatility as the reasons for the adjustment.

KOMODO announced on the official Steam Deck blog on the 27th that the price of the Steam Deck OLED will increase in Korea, Japan, and Taiwan. In Korea, the 512GB model will rise from 839,000 KRW to 898,000 KRW, and the 1TB model from 989,000 KRW to 1,048,000 KRW. This represents an increase of approximately 7% for the 512GB model and about 6% for the 1TB model.

The price hike is not limited to Korea. Taiwan saw a modest 1-2% increase, while Japan experienced a 17% hike for the 512GB model and 15% for the 1TB model. While the increase in Korea is not as steep as in Japan, the fact that the 1TB model has crossed the 1 million KRW threshold may be psychologically burdensome for consumers.

Regarding the price adjustment, KOMODO stated, "Due to the sustained rise in logistics costs and increased exchange rate volatility since the launch of the Steam Deck, we have made the difficult decision to increase the price of the Steam Deck OLED in Japan, Korea, and Taiwan. The new pricing will take effect starting March 6." They added that Hong Kong remains unaffected as it is relatively less impacted by these factors.

The cost of gaming-related products has been rising consistently since last year. Prices for consoles and subscription services like Xbox Game Pass and PS Plus have increased, and since the second half of last year, the surge in demand for memory and storage for AI data centers has caused consumer PC hardware prices to soar. Consequently, Valve has delayed the release schedule and pricing announcement for the Steam Machine, which was originally planned for early February, and there are rumors that Sony may be delaying the launch of its next-generation console, the PS6.