is an editor covering deals and gaming hardware. He joined in 2018, and after a two-year stint at Polygon, he rejoined The Verge in May 2025.
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All eyes have been on Valve’s new hardware coming out in 2026, including the Steam Frame headset, the Steam Machine console, and the Steam Controller. But for those who are shopping for someone who wants a fantastic gaming handheld for the holidays, the Steam Deck LCD with 256GB of storage is $319.20 — 20 percent off — through December 1st at Steam.
This isn’t the first time we’ve seen this discount, but we’ll always celebrate a Steam Deck discount. For those who don’t know, the handheld can be connected to a TV using a USB-C hub, turning it into a console that’s fun to play from the couch with a Bluetooth controller. A surprising number of games on the Steam platform work fine on the Steam Deck, though some of the most popular online multiplayer games aren’t supported due to Valve’s SteamOS not supporting certain anti-cheat software.
One last quick note: Valve’s commitment to improve the SteamOS software is impressive. A lot of the complaints you’ll see in Sean Hollister’s review below have since been patched by updates.