Steam Deck runs out of stock and the ROG Ally goes up in price in Japan: tension in the portable market review

The shortage of components and the increase in the cost of RAM impact handheld consoles.

More stories in the category News

• Crimson Desert clarifies its progression: it will not be an RPG and will not have levels or experience
• Forza Horizon 6 on Game Pass boasts five biomes in Japan and aims for its most ambitious map
• GTA 6 promises the greatest evolution of the saga and reignites expectation

The market for portable PC consoles is going through a delicate moment. The lack of stock in several territories and the rising cost of components such as RAM and SSDs are starting to take their toll on very popular models, generating concern among gamers looking to make the switch to this format.

In recent hours, various media outlets have pointed out that the availability of Steam Deck is limited or even non-existent in some countries, while the ASUS ROG Ally has experienced a significant price hike in Japan. Everything suggests that the current state of the memory market is having a full impact on this segment.

Steam Deck out of stock and ROG Ally more expensive in Japan

In the case of Steam Deck, the problem seems to be related to supply. In certain markets, it is no longer possible to purchase any of its models due to stock issues. The increase in the cost of SSDs and memory could be complicating the production of new units, leading to an irregular distribution across regions.

On the other hand, the ASUS ROG Ally (including the Xbox-branded variant) has seen a price increase of around $200 in Japan. Although no similar price hikes have been announced in other territories for now, user concern is evident. This is added to the high number of reported repairs in some markets, with prolonged wait times for technical services. In a context of rising prices and lower availability, the balance of the portable market is being put to the test once again.