If you look at the 3 console manufacturers, you’ll notice a pattern. Switch OLED was announced 3 months before release. Ps4 pro was announced 2 months before its release. Xbox one x was announced 5 months before release.
The steam deck OLED? 7 days
The reason that manufacturers give consumers at least a couple months before a release of a new device is so they can feel they made an informed decision on their purchase, and not feel burned when the next iteration is released. No, the device they currently have doesn’t lose inherent value to them. However, knowing that the next thing is coming out in just a couple weeks could make informed consumers hold off for the sale of the now outdated model.
Also inb4 people say “but it’s not a console…”, PC manufacturers have pretty consistent hardware release schedules as well, so the comparison stands.
The fact is this is an established norm for other manufacturers and that valve went against just comes across as anti consumer. And I think that just surprised a lot of people since Gabe’s whole “piracy is almost always a service problem…” Take and the return policy on games make the company appear as super consumer centric, however this release feels out of character.
Thank you so much for posting this. I was literally just a few days shy of being able to get a refund (16 since delivery now) and was rejected. The extremely short notice, combined with the recent news that they specifically weren’t updating it is ridiculous. You can play semantic games all you want, but the rep that theverge spoke to absolutely knew a refresh was coming, this is a crazy lie of omission, and I REALLY thought better of valve.
From where I am sitting, this situation is actual garbage and I am feeling really burned. I really hope they address this. This anti-consumer BS was not expected from valve.