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Epic CEO Attacks Valve Over $300 Steam Deck Price Hike

5/30/2026

44 5 Full Breakdown

Summary

Sweeney mocks Valve

Tim Sweeney, Epic CEO, attacked Gabe Newell, Valve CEO, on May 27, 2026, after Valve raised the 1 TB Steam Deck price by $300.
Sweeney mocked the hike on X by citing Newell’s $500 million superyacht, prompting user rebuke of Epic for layoffs and a Fortnite V-Bucks price increase.
Despite the $949 price, the Steam Deck sold out within 24 hours, while a RAM shortage has pushed other console makers to raise prices.

Summary

Valve Announces SteamMachine

Valve announced a Steam Machine, targeting a 2026 launch to rival the PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X.
Leaked specs suggest the 512 GB model could debut near $950, matching the inflated Steam Deck price.
Component shortages that raised Deck prices are expected to shape the Steam Machine’s pricing.
Analysts say parts are being diverted to the Steam Machine, leaving the LCD Steam Deck stocked in Australia but sold out in North America.

History

Historical Context

In November 2006 Nintendo released the Wii, bundling Wii Sports—a title that would sell nearly 82.9 million copies and spark a casual-gaming boom. The console’s low launch price forced Sony’s PlayStation 3 and later rivals such as Valve and Epic Games to rethink pricing, a pattern that resurfaces as they adjust hardware costs amid supply constraints.

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Sweeney mocks Valve

Tim Sweeney, Epic CEO, attacked Gabe Newell, Valve CEO, on May 27, 2026, after Valve raised the 1 TB Steam Deck price by $300.
Sweeney mocked the hike on X by citing Newell’s $500 million superyacht, prompting user rebuke of Epic for layoffs and a Fortnite V-Bucks price increase.
Despite the $949 price, the Steam Deck sold out within 24 hours, while a RAM shortage has pushed other console makers to raise prices.

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