The golden age of handheld gaming might have come to an end, as the Steam Deck's price has nearly doubled from its initial offering. What was once a $399 portable gadget for all gaming enthusiasts now starts at a hefty $789.

Meanwhile, Nintendo's Switch is no longer just a $299 console; it's now priced at $499, matching the cost of a disc-less PS5. This rise in prices across the board reflects broader economic issues: RAMageddon, tariffs, and rising oil prices are making everything more expensive.

While I can't fully blame Valve or Nintendo for raising their prices, it's clear that console gaming is becoming a niche luxury good. Console giants like Sony and Microsoft have hiked prices multiple times in recent years, with Nintendo being one of the last to do so.

The rise in prices has made these devices less accessible. No longer are they just affordable alternatives; they now represent a choice between a handheld device or something else entirely. The joy of portable gaming is becoming a zero-sum game, where Sony's decision not to bring its biggest single-player games to PC further limits the appeal.