Nintendo Switch 2 vs Steam Deck in 2026, It Might Have Already Been Decided

If you’re still undecided as to whether or not you should buy a Steam Deck or a Nintendo Switch 2 in 2026, then Valve may have just inadvertently made that decision a lot easier for you.

2025 has come to end, but one thing that will (unfortunately) always remain eternal is the console wars.

I’m old enough to remember when choosing between a PlayStation 2 and an Xbox was the console war obsession, but the tireless need to debate which console is the best arguably goes all the way back to the late 80s, following the release of both the Sega Mega Drive and the Super Nintendo Entertainment System.

Maybe I’m just getting old, because the whole thing has seemed kind of lame to me for a while now. Technical comparisons are fair and valid, but simping for a billion-dollar company in any respect is frankly pathetic.

Preferences are one thing, but actively going out of your way to put down your fave console’s competition is odd behaviour. You know these companies pay for adverts, right? They don’t need some bloke called xXxR3ALGAM3RxXx on Twitter to argue their case for them.

Oh, hey, speaking of, the debate as to whether the Nintendo Switch 2 or the Steam Deck is the better current-gen handheld system continues to rage on, and some folks over on the r/NintendoSwitch2 subreddit think they’ve finally found the nail for Valve’s coffin.

Steam Deck purchase options from the official Steam storefront, Valve

As the poster in the thread states, the 256GB LCD version of the Steam Deck, which is also the cheapest version of the handheld at £349.00, has officially sold out.

If you're wondering why this is a big deal, a note from Valve on the same page states that they "are no longer producing the Steam Deck LCD 256GB model" and that once it sells out, the LCD version "will no longer be available."

It should be noted that the LCD Steam Deck model is still available for purchase in the UK, so it seems to only be sold out in the USA (as far as I can tell).

For comparison's sake, the next cheapest version of the Steam Deck, the 512GB OLED model, costs £479.00. The Nintendo Switch 2 retails for £395.99 on the official My Nintendo UK store.

So, does this mean the Nintendo Switch 2 is finally superior to the Steam Deck? No. And, also, who cares? Touch grass, immediately. I mean, if you’re that bothered about comparing handheld prices anyway, maybe you should take your handheld outside and get some fresh air for once, instead of waffling about this nonsense on Reddit.

Which system has the games you like? Get that one. Which system can you afford? Get that one. Which system do you think could best be utilised as an improvised long-range throwing weapon in a pinch? Get that one.

It’s 2026, guys. Let’s stop doing this, please. Both Valve and Nintendo are supposedly worth more than ten billion dollars each, so neither of them needs you to devote any time to protecting their honour on Reddit.