Valve has introduced its first console with Steam Deck. However, shortly after the pre-orders began, you can pay hefty prices for the console on eBay and other platforms. The Steam Deck isn’t even officially available yet. Greedy scalpers, who thrived on the successful PS5 sales, are now eyeing the Steam Deck for a new business opportunity.
With the introduction of the Steam Deck, Valve has pulled off a surprise coup.
- The ability to play your extensive Steam library on the go appeals to many gamers.
- People who were waiting for a possible Nintendo Switch Pro and were disappointed by the OLED version have shown interest in the presented Steam Deck.
- Furthermore, the fact that Valve is offering an open system with an option for Windows on the Steam Deck is a plus for the console.
However, as soon as the official pre-orders started on Friday, familiar figures emerged from the internet, and those are scalpers. Scalpers are individuals who buy hardware to resell at high prices. They are only after profit.
By now, you can buy the pre-order of the Steam Deck on eBay and other platforms for a lot of money. However, we at MeinMMO advise you against paying such prices.
You shouldn’t pay scalper prices for the Steam Deck
Officially, the prices for the Steam Deck start at 419.00 Euros. Valve CEO Gabe Newell describes the price for the company as “painful”, but there are good reasons why Valve is going for such battle prices. Valve needs to establish a foothold in the market with its new console.
However, this doesn’t stop scalpers and other users from seeing a golden opportunity with the console. You can already pay up to 4,000 US dollars for the new console on eBay and other platforms. But we strongly advise against such offers.
Here’s why you shouldn’t fall for such offers: Firstly, on eBay, you only currently get the reservation for which users have “only” paid about 4 Euros.
You won’t receive a console and will also have to pay the right price. Depending on the console, that’s between 400 and 800 Euros that you’ll still need to pay.
Additionally, we still don’t know for sure which games will work on the Steam Deck. SteamOS is installed on the Steam Deck. This is a Linux system that uses Proton to run Steam games. Not all games officially work on Proton yet. We need to wait for official tests.
Another point to consider is that Valve has only said on the official site that “Ordering expected to be possible: Q1 2022” (via steampowered.com). Therefore, you can’t be sure to get a console. You are better off ordering the console directly from the Steam Store than paying greedy scalpers several thousand Euros.
Especially after the pre-order started, the demand was so high that even the official Steam servers had trouble coping with the load:
The Steam servers are overloaded because too many people want a new console
