Epic Games’ Tim Sweeney slams Valve over Steam Deck price hikes — mocks founder Gabe Newell over rising megayacht costs

Tim Sweeney blasted Valve on X after Steam Deck prices rose, with the 1TB model climbing to $949.

He called the increase excessive amid chip and memory shortages and ended with a sarcastic yacht reference aimed at Gabe Newell.

Valve says the higher prices reflect component shortages, while its upcoming Steam Machine is expected to be priced more like a gaming PC than a subsidized console.

The spat underscores how rising hardware costs are reshaping handheld gaming pricing and could influence Valve’s next devices.