Steam Deck LCD Discontinued, New OLED Pricing, and GeForce Now Additions

The handheld gaming business is still moving swiftly as companies deal with changing supply chains, changed manufacturing goals, and a market that is becoming more competitive. One of the most important recent changes is that the Steam Deck LCD model is no longer available.

Now, only the OLED versions are accessible. Prices for handhelds are already going up because of the AI boom, which is putting a lot of pressure on components. This move comes at a time when prices are already going up. Along with these changes to technology, cloud gaming platforms have continued to grow.

For example, GeForce Now added a new set of games to start the year. These updates show how the gaming world is changing as we move into 2026.

One of the most important changes that has happened recently is that Steam Deck LCD sales have stopped.

The first LCD model was a very enticing way to get into handheld PC gaming, especially the $399 version.

That version, on the other hand, is no longer accessible in most places, and it won't be coming back once the last of the stock is gone. The OLED portfolio now includes all of the Steam Deck's future products.

The OLED variants that are now available cost $549 for the 512GB device and $649 for the 1TB model. If you've been thinking about getting a Deck, these are the prices. These variants are better than the LCD version in a number of ways, such as having a longer battery life, better thermals, and deeper contrast.

The OLED variants are still a great deal compared to a lot of other handhelds on the market right now, even though the entry-level price is no longer a possibility. The Steam Deck OLED is still one of the most competitively priced handhelds, even if the prices of components are going up and the handheld landscape is getting more expensive.

We think that the timing of the end of the LCD makes sense based on what we see in the market. It is getting harder to make low-cost versions since the prices of RAM, SSDs, and other storage parts are going up. The OLED line makes it easier to standardize parts and makes manufacturing less complicated at a time when many electronics companies are tightening their production plans.

You still get the same SteamOS experience and wide compatibility, and the hardware is still good enough for most recent games, especially when it's optimized for the Deck.

Now is the time to get the $399 Steam Deck LCD if you can locate it in stock in your area. When the last of the remaining units are sold, they won't be coming back, and the OLED versions will be the only ones available.

This is the last chance for people who want the cheapest way to get into handheld PC gaming to get the LCD variant before it is no longer available. With prices for handhelds going up across the board, getting one now can be more enticing.

We also think that prices for LCD models in good condition will go up once official sales finish. This is because demand usually goes up for models that are no longer being made but still offer a lot of value. If you want to stay in the lowest price range, getting an LCD quickly will save you money in the long run.

Even though hardware availability has changed, cloud gaming is still growing gradually. This week, GeForce Now launched five new games and made two of them ready for RTX 5080. They also gave a detailed preview of what players may expect in January.

These new features keep making the platform more valuable in the long run, especially for users who use cloud gaming instead of buying new gear when device prices are going up.

This week, the service added the following titles:

My Winter Car (Steam, new release on December 29) and Banishers: Ghosts of New Eden (Xbox Game Pass)

Frank Stone's Casting (Xbox Game Pass)

Eternights (Epic Games Store)

Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2 (Epic Games Store)

These games include new releases, story-driven games, and big action games, so there is something for everyone.

• Warhammer 40,000 Space Marine 2 (Epic/Steam)
• Factorio on Steam

These improvements make the game run more smoothly for players who have access to the higher-end cloud gear.

The rest of the expected additions for the month are:

• Star Rupture
• Pathologic 3
• Quarantine Zone
• The Last Check
• MIO Memories in Orbit
• Nova Roma
• Guild Wars Reforged
• Mon Bazou
• Supermarket Simulator
• Tavern Keeper

This list has a good mix of indie games, management sims, story-based games, and remakes of classic games.

As hardware becomes harder to get and costs go up and down, services like GeForce Now become even more vital for giving players cheap methods to play new games.

Steam Deck is still doing well in the handheld market, even if the LCD has been discontinued.

If you want a handheld that doesn't change prices too much, the OLED Deck is still a good choice. If the LCD version is still available where you live, this might be your last chance to get a cheap entry-level device.