Handheld Hardware / May 18, 2026
Steam Deck stock shortages keep Australia’s official buying guide relevant
PC Gamer’s updated Australia guide notes local official Steam Deck availability, but the 1TB OLED is out of stock in mid-May and the new Steam Controller needs a waiting list.
Steam Deck buying advice is still surprisingly newsworthy in mid-May because availability is not smooth everywhere. PC Gamer’s updated Australia guide notes that Steam Deck now ships officially from a local warehouse, with official prices from AU$649 for the 256GB LCD model to AU$1,049 for the 1TB OLED. But the stock picture is mixed. As of mid-May, the 1TB OLED is out of stock in Australia, while the 256GB LCD and 512GB OLED remain available.
The new Steam Controller also depleted quickly after May 5 sales opened and now requires joining a waiting list. For handheld buyers, the lesson is simple: official channels are safer than grey market listings, but stock and component pressure are still making portable PC buying messier than it should be.
