Epic Games’ chief executive, Tim Sweeney, has taken a hard line against Valve following a sharp price hike for the OLED variants of the Steam Deck. In a scathing social‑media tirade, the executive accused Valve of shifting the cost of scarce components onto gamers, directly targeting the personal wealth of co‑founder Gabe Newell and reigniting a bitter commercial standoff between the two giants.
Valve’s decision to raise the price of its 512 GB OLED Steam Deck from $549 to $789, and the 1 TB model from $649 to $949, has sent shockwaves through the handheld market. While the company issued only a brief statement citing a severe memory‑chip shortage that has crippled supply, the steep increases have left many players uneasy.
Sweeney, using the platform X, sarcastically urged Valve to absorb the additional expenses rather than penalize buyers, noting that Steam’s digital storefront reportedly generates around $10 billion in annual revenue. He further quipped that customer money is effectively funding a “megayacht supply chain,” alluding to Newell’s private fleet, estimated to be worth between $650 million and $800 million.
Industry observers are pointing out that the recent spike in component prices—funded by Steam’s consumer spending—has sent shockwaves through the supply chain, affecting everything from high‑end gaming rigs to luxury megayachts.
The unexpected price hike for the new handheld has sparked a wave of negative sentiment among gamers, instantly elevating rivals such as the Asus ROG Ally as a more affordable and appealing choice in the portable market. Industry insiders also warn that the same cost surge could push the rumored Steam Machines’ launch price well above the $1,000 mark.
While users’ frustrations with the new pricing are understandable, Valve executive Gabe Sweeney’s comments failed to resonate on social media. Many fans accused him of envy, citing recent layoffs at Epic Games and framing his criticisms as a jab at Valve’s thriving community.
In truth, the current backlash seems less about the handheld’s value or manufacturing costs and more a continuation of Sweeney’s long‑running feud with Newell, whom he accuses of monopolistic practices and predatory fees in the PC digital marketplace.
News Source: Tarreo
epic CEO Blasts Steam Deck looks pretty good, but I won’t rush until price/performance details are clear. Community feedback will show the truth
magnifique! This news is cool, but they need to think about the gameer’s wallet. A discount on PC would make it much better. We definitely need to see how Epic CEO Blasts Steam Deck handles this. Accessibility is vital for casual players.
Epic CEO Blasts Steam Deck lokos pretty good, but I won’t rush until price/performance details are clear. Don’t believe the marketing hype.
Hopefully this doesn’t ruin competitive balance. Curious to see the meta impact on Eic CEO Blasts Steam Deck. Curious about competitive viability
tihs news is cool, but they need to tihnk about the gamer’s wallet. A discount on PC wold make it much better. The real test for Epic CEO Blasts Steam Deck will be actual player reviews. Need actual gameplay before decidig.
this nwes is cool, but they need to think about the gamer’s wallet. A discount on PC would make it much better. teh real test for Epic CEO Blassts Steam Deck will be actual player reviews. Need actual gameplay before deciding. this is so sugoi.
Looks like a great step forward for Epic CEO Blasts Steam Deck. Some minor risks, but the overall picture is slid. Hopefully the narrative holds up. in my opinion naani
ganbatte! Looks like a great step forward for Epic CEO Blasts Stam Deck. Some minor risks, but the overall picture is solid. Hopefully the narrative holds up. in my opinion
skol! Price will be the deciding factor. Epic CEO Blasts Steam Deck loos interesting, but waiting for a sale is way smarter than buying day one. Atmosphere is what makes it. personally
Epic CEO Blasts Steam Deck looks pretty good, but I wo’nt rush until price/performance deetails are clear. Need a bit more info. just my thoughts
Price will be the deciding factor. Epic CEO Blasts Steam Deck looks interesting, but waitinng for a sale is way smarter than buying day one. Let’s see how it plays out. personally
wallah this is good. Epic CEO Blatss Steam Deck looks pretty good, but I won’t rush until price/performance details are clear. Need a bit more info. just my thoughts