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that the next thing is coming out in just a couple weeks could make informed consumers hold off for the sale of the now outdated model.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.
Finally, a post that is addressing why people are actually heated. I do not magically think my steam deck is now awful because a better one is out. It’s still a great device. What I am upset about, is that I purchased mine 28 days ago. I paid for a 512gb model at the price point that now buys an upgrade version with twice the memory, better battery, better refresh rate, better screen. 28 days ago it was a $600 product and now it’s worth like $400. Usually companies announce a refresh at a MINIMUM a month or so before release. What they did, was clearly trying to sell off as many of the OG units that are now worth very little to make more profit off uniformed consumers. If I had actually been informed, which is just good consumer practice, I would have waited. They really made people feel a bit taken advantage of. Even greedy companies like Microsoft and Sony give a heads up. Their intentions are obvious, and anyone who says “that’s just how businesses work” are valve bootlickers.