Valve might not be rolling out a full-fledged successor to the Steam Deck in the near future, but fans of this popular gaming handheld have something to look forward to. The company is gearing up to launch a special edition Steam Deck OLED in a sleek white color.
This new model, officially known as the “Steam Deck OLED: Limited Edition White,” retains the specifications of the current 1TB unit. However, it comes with a slightly higher price tag of $679, a $30 increase over its standard counterpart. You’ll be able to get your hands on this exclusive gadget starting Monday, November 18.
Apart from its striking white and gray design, the Limited Edition White Deck includes some thoughtful extras like a white carrying case and a microfiber cleaning cloth. This isn’t Valve’s first foray into color variations for the Steam Deck. Previously, they tested the waters with a limited edition smoky translucent shell. Although it was quite popular and sold out fast, it did eventually show some minor cosmetic cracks. This time, Valve plans to distribute the White Deck in all regions where the Steam Deck is currently available. This includes major markets such as the US, Canada, the UK, Europe, Australia, and a few Asian regions like Japan, Hong Kong, Taiwan, and South Korea, in partnership with Komodo. They promise to fairly allocate stock across all these locations.
In a bid to prevent scalping, Valve is restricting purchases to one unit per account. Additionally, to qualify, your Steam account must have recorded at least one purchase before November 2024.
Valve’s press release suggests that their reason for releasing this second limited edition model is to gauge customer reaction. They mentioned, “We’re curious to see what the response is, and will use what we learn to inform future decisions about any potential new color variants down the line.”
For those who prefer a different look but don’t want to buy a brand new Steam Deck, there are alternative options. Companies like Jsaux and dbrand offer backplates and skins that allow for customization. But if you’re looking to get the white color straight from Valve, you better act fast before it sells out.
Valve also gave a hint about future plans for the Deck series, teasing not only new colors and software updates but also future hardware innovations.
One glance at the images of the White Steam Deck and you might notice a nostalgic blend, reminiscent of the Wii U with a modern twist akin to an iPod. It’ll be interesting to see if this fresh color scheme will tempt current owners to invest in another unit.
