• 2 min read
Valve may be ending LCD Steam Deck repair parts
iFixit staff say replacement OEM batteries for the LCD Steam Deck may no longer be coming, with Valve reportedly sunsetting the parts.
Image: Engadget
One of the Steam Deck’s biggest strengths has been repairability, but that may be changing for the original LCD model. A Reddit post highlighted by Video Cardz includes a screenshot of an email from an iFixit staffer saying the company has “no immediate plans” to stock a replacement OEM battery for the LCD Steam Deck.
According to the message, iFixit is still assessing what comes next. The employee wrote that it is “looking less likely that we will continue receiving OEM Steam Deck batteries” and that the company is “actively evaluating aftermarket options.” They also said there is no confirmed timeline for when either OEM or aftermarket stock might be available.
A follow-up post from a different Reddit user who also appears to work for iFixit said this is not an iFixit-led decision. Instead, they said Valve is the one sunsetting the parts.
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That would be a notable shift for a handheld that has often been praised for how easy it is to fix. iFixit gave the Steam Deck OLED a 9/10 repairability score in 2023, while the original LCD Steam Deck scored 7/10. Back in 2022, iFixit CEO told The Verge that battery replacements would be “essential to making the Steam Deck stand the test of time.”
Third-party batteries are still easy to find from retailers including Amazon, but the apparent end of official battery supply is striking for a device released only four years ago. The move also follows broader changes to Valve’s handheld lineup: the company discontinued the LCD Steam Deck entirely at the end of 2025, and after a period of stock shortages, Steam Deck OLED prices jumped in May, which Valve attributed to rising memory and storage costs. The Steam Machine then arrived the following month, starting at $1,049 for the 512GB version without a controller.
Culture Editor
Maya explores gaming, streaming, and the internet as a place where people actually live. From deep-dives into creator economies to the anthropology of digital communities, she tracks platform drama and cultural shifts so you don't have to. She believes the best tech stories are fundamentally about human behavior.
via Engadget
