Valve Releases Limited Edition White Steam Deck with OLED Screen

Although Valve isn’t rolling out a full-on successor to the Steam Deck just yet, they’re shaking things up with something fresh and exciting. Gamers, get ready for the upcoming Steam Deck OLED, dressed in a sleek white finish, launching soon.

This new “Steam Deck OLED: Limited Edition White” sticks with the same high-end specs as the 1TB model currently out there. The difference? Aside from its unique look, it will come at a slight uptick in price — $30 more, making it $679. Mark your calendars because it hits the shelves on Monday, November 18.

Visually, the Limited Edition White Steam Deck stands out not just with its crisp white hue accentuated by gray details, but it also comes with a matching white case and a microfiber cloth for that extra touch of care.

Valve isn’t a rookie when it comes to experimenting with colors. Previously, they released a Steam Deck OLED in a limited edition smoky translucent shell. While it quickly became a collector’s delight, it did have its downside — minor aesthetic cracks. Lessons learned, this time the white edition will be more widely available. The rollout spans across the U.S., Canada, the U.K., and Europe, as well as recent additions like Australia, Japan, Hong Kong, Taiwan, and South Korea via their partner Komodo. Allocation will be fair and spread evenly across these regions.

To keep scalpers at bay, Valve has set some nifty precautions. They’re allowing only one Steam Deck per account and your account must have a purchase made before November 2024.

Valve shared with the press that this white edition is more than just about a new color palette; it’s a way to gauge customer preferences to steer future releases in terms of color options. “We’re eager to see how people react, and this will help shape our decisions on potential new color variations down the road,” Valve expressed.

If you’re eyeing the white design but not necessarily in this limited edition format, you’re not out of luck. Brands like Jsaux and dbrand offer alternative backplates and skins. But for those wanting the authentic version straight from Valve, this is your chance until supplies run dry.

Valve hinted that their vision for the Deck doesn’t stop at new colors and consistent software updates. There’s ongoing work directed towards shaping the future of Steam Deck and other exciting hardware endeavors.

Personally, when I gaze at the snapshots, I can’t help but catch a whiff of nostalgia. It brings to mind the beloved Wii U mixed with a bit of iPod influence. It’ll be fascinating to see if this new style will entice current Deck owners into upgrading.