It's the Steam Deck's first anniversary and Valve is celebrating the occasion by offering its very first discount on the popular PC handheld platform. It's odd to think that it has already been a year since the Steam Deck's availability began. Few likely expected it to be the success it's been, especially after the misfires Valve has had with PC hardware in the past. Yet Steam Deck continues to perform exceptionally and Valve wants to continue that momentum in 2023 and beyond.The Steam Deck launched with three different SKUs available to purchase. The biggest differences between the three platforms are storage amount and pricing. The 64GB Steam Deck retails for $399, the 256GB is $529, and the 512GB is $649. There are more specific differences, like the 64 GB handheld's eMMC drive versus the NVMe drives of the costlier options, as well as an anti-glare screen for the 512GB platform. But, for the most part, all three Steam Decks are powerful handheld PCs capable of running most Steam Deck-approved games exceptionally.Now those interested in picking up a Steam Deck can acquire one at a healthily discounted price. Valve has launched a limited discount for all three Steam Deck SKUs, cutting 10% off each handheld PC's price. That brings the 64 GB Steam Deck down to $359.10, the 256GB down to $476.10, and the 512GB down to $584.10. They're still pricey devices, but for those considering a Steam Deck recently this is a great opportunity.
The discount is not permanent, however. The 10% Steam Deck discount will only last for the duration of Steam's annual Spring Sale. The sale is live now and will last until March 23 at 10:00AM PDT. That's just one week of discounted Steam Decks, which while a short window does provide interested buyers time to consider whether it's the right time to make a purchase.
Some may be curious as to whether the discount for the Steam Deck could imply Valve's preparing to release a Steam Deck 2, and the concern is certainly valid. Valve has already confirmed it's working on its next Steam Deck, but that doesn't mean it will arrive anytime soon. Just this past week, Valve says it doesn't expect a "true next-gen Steam Deck" for a few years yet. An optimized version of the current Steam Deck is possible, but there are no rumors for it at this time.
What ultimately matters is whether the Steam Deck as it exists is worth its price to potential PC gamers. The discount should make it that much more attractive. Even at full price, however, the Steam Deck offers a unique and enticing experience. It's PC gaming without the cost of a PC, and the Steam Deck will continue to be a great option for PC gaming for years yet.
