Valve just rolled out a new Steam Beta patch. This Valve update officially brings a highly requested visual upgrade to the Steam Deck OLED. However, these software improvements arrive right on the heels of staggering hardware price hikes.
Valve has released a new Steam Beta update for the Steam Deck OLED, bringing HDR support to Remote Play.
The update also adds experimental AV1 streaming support.
AV1 is a newer video format that can deliver better image quality while using less bandwidth.Valve also fixed… pic.twitter.com/aBuW8s6j1n
— Pirat_Nation 🔴 (@Pirat_Nation) August 2, 2026
HDR AV1 Streaming Arrives to Valve Steam Deck OLED Amid Massive Price Hikes
Gamers can finally utilize HDR graphics on the Steam Deck OLED. Currently, this feature exclusively applies to Remote Play. Users can apply HDR settings when streaming games from a connected PC directly to their handheld console.
Additionally, Valve introduced experimental AV1 streaming support. This modern video format significantly upgrades image quality. Meanwhile, it consumes far less network bandwidth. The August 2 patch also squashes several persistent system bugs. Valve fixed known issues involving Remote Play connections, Local Network Game Transfers, and overall video color range.
These software upgrades certainly enhance the handheld experience. Unfortunately, joining the Valve ecosystem requires a much larger budget today. In late May 2026, Valve aggressively increased Steam Deck prices across the board.
The 512GB OLED model experienced a massive spike. Valve raised its base price from $549 to a steep $789. Furthermore, the premium 1TB OLED model saw an identical, staggering $300 price hike. Fans now have to pay $949 to secure the top-tier handheld.
The Costly New Valve Steam Machine
Valve is pushing beyond the handheld market. On June 29, the company finally launched the long-awaited Steam Machine. This new home console instantly supports every single Steam Deck-verified game. Consequently, Valve simplified the entire game verification process for the new platform.
Unsurprisingly, this new hardware carries a heavy premium. The base 512GB model of the Steam Machine starts at a massive $1,049. Valve’s latest hardware expansion looks successful, but it demands a massive financial commitment from PC gamers.
