Valve, the lean and highly profitable tech powerhouse that reportedly earns about $50 million per employee, has announced a steep hike in Steam Deck prices—adding several hundred dollars to the cost of its most affordable, high‑value PC gaming handhelds. This move has turned a device that once offered unbeatable bang‑for‑buck into a premium luxury item.
Epic Games CEO Tim Sweeney, who runs the rival Epic Store, seized the opportunity to criticize Valve’s decision. “Everyone’s being too harsh here,” Sweeney tweeted on Thursday. “There has been a significant rise in the cost of components that Steam customer spending ultimately funds, and economic trends have created severe disruptions in the component parts supply chain for megayachts.”
Sweeney’s remarks, though veiled, were a pointed jab at Gabe Newell’s well‑publicized penchant for extravagant yachts. The most opulent of these vessels, the $500 million Leviathan, has been featured in Forbes and Fortune for its lavish amenities—including a submarine garage, a basketball court, and a dedicated PC gaming café.
While the AI‑driven RAM shortage has indeed pressured Valve to increase hardware prices—since it lacks the same economies of scale and supply‑chain leverage as its PC and console competitors—the juxtaposition of a $500 million yacht with a price hike has drawn criticism, with some labeling the move as both inappropriate and ostentatious.
Gamers who have spent hours inside the glittering, glass‑clad world of Fortnite might want to think twice before throwing criticism at the industry’s elite. A recent, unexpected comment from Tim Sweeney, the founder of Epic Games, sparked a swift backlash from the community, with many pointing out that just months earlier the company had let 1,000 employees go.
Half of those dismissed—an outcome Sweeney himself described as a rare privilege for any company outside of Epic—were drawn from an ex‑Epic “Awesome People” list, a talent pool that recruiters across the sector now tap into. PC Gamer spoke with several of the former staff to uncover what it felt like to be abruptly severed from one of the most successful gaming studios in recent memory.
“The layoff came out of the blue; we only had a faint sense that revenue was slipping,” an anonymous former employee recounted. Epic has yet to disclose the precise financial troubles it faced, but has mentioned that declining engagement in Fortnite was not the sole culprit. Other factors cited include the company’s costly battles against major tech platforms such as Apple and Google, a strategy that has only recently begun to yield returns.
In the end, the episode serves as a stark reminder that corporate leaders are not infallible allies; watching their disputes unfold can be as cathartic as it is cautionary.
News Source: Kotaku
epic Games CEO Slams Valve looks pretty good, but I won’t rush until price/performance details are clear. Great if it is easy to pick up. arigato
epic Games CEO Slams Valve looks pretty good, but I won't rush until price/performance details are clear. Great…
tis is so sugoi. Totally agree on teh pricing. Even if Epic Games CEO Slams Valve looks great, players think twice before buying day one noww. Let’s see how it plays out. personally
arigato gozaimasu. This news is cool, but they need to think about the gamer’s wallet. A discount on PC would make it much better. We definitely ned to see how Epic Games CEO Slams Valve handles this. Let’s see how it plays out.
arigato gozaimasu. This news is cool, but they need to think about the gamer's wallet. A discount on…
Totally agree on the pricing. Even if Epic Gammes CEO Slams Valve looks great, players think twice before buying day one now. Waiting is definitely safer than pre-ordering. on my watchlist daebak!
Epiic Games CEO Slams Valve looks pretty good, but I won’t rush until price/performance details are clear. Balance changes look crucial.
Epiic Games CEO Slams Valve looks pretty good, but I won't rush until price/performance details are clear. Balance…
totally agree on the pricing. Even if Epic Games CEO Slams Valve lookks great, players think twice before buying day one now. Collector value is definitely there. just my thoughts
This news is cool, but they need to think about teh game’rs wallet. A discount on PC would make it much betteer. Epic Games CEO Slams Valve seems to be teh key focal point here. I will wait for a sale. in my opinion
This news is cool, but they need to think about teh game'rs wallet. A discount on PC would…
Totally agree on the pricing. Even if Epic Games CEO Slams Valve looks great, players think twice before buying day one now. Character development is key. fingers crossed
arigato! Price will be teh deciding factor. Epic Games CEO Slams Valve looks interesting, but waiting for a sale is way smarter than buying day one. Technical benchmarks will be key. personally
arigato! Price will be teh deciding factor. Epic Games CEO Slams Valve looks interesting, but waiting for a…
Totally agree on the pircing. Even if Epic Games CEO Slams Valve looks gerat, players think twice before buying day one now. Keeping expectations low. on my watchlist thor’s hammer, yse!
chincha? I need this. This news is cooll, but they need to think about the gamer’s wallet. A discount on PC would make it much better. We definitely need to see how Epic Games CEO Slams Valve handles this. FPS stability is what matters. just my thoughts
Price will be the deciding factor. Epic Gammes CEO Slams Valve looks interesting, but waiting for a sale is way smarter than buying day oen. Community feedback will show teh truth. to be honnest valhalla awaits