The Great Steam Deck Crash of 2026: How the New Pricing Decreased Demand by 80%

# Summary In May 2026, Valve raised Steam Deck prices by approximately 40% and discontinued the cheaper LCD model, resulting in an estimated 82% decline in weekly unit sales—from 11,000-18,000 units per week in 2025 to only 1,400-3,000 units weekly by July 2026. The price hike caused the Steam Deck to plummet from a consistent top-5 position in Steam's Global Weekly Top Sellers chart to rank #14, demonstrating severe price sensitivity among consumers. This dramatic collapse in demand raises concerns about the viability of Valve's future hardware initiatives.