Epic's Tim Sweeney slams Steam Deck price increase, labelling Gabe Newell greedy

Epic Games CEO Tim Sweeney has a contentious history with Valve. It’s not surprising then that he would chime in on the recent Steam Deck price increase. On social media, he sarcastically criticized the move, arguing that Gabe Newell should absorb the rising component costs.

Sweeney shared a Pirat_Nation post that speculated about a $1500 Steam Machine price. The mini PC may also ship for a higher-than-expected MSRP on its unannounced release date. For now, buyers only know that the Steam Deck OLED 1TB is $949, while the 512GB version is $789. Those are significant hikes of $300 and $240 on the gaming handhelds.

Were Valve's price hikes too severe?

The Epic Games chief acknowledges the component shortage that Valve used to justify the changes. However, he counters that “Steam customer spending ultimately funds” the parts. With its popular marketplace, some analysts believe that the company earns at least $10 billion in revenue each year.

Taking a jab at majority owner Gabe Newell, the post snarkily says the “supply chain for megayachts” has also been disrupted. Newell enjoys lounging on the enormous boats, viewed as symbols of his immense wealth. While cruising, he rarely makes controversial public statements.

The reaction to the Steam Deck price increase has been overwhelmingly negative. Although gaming handhelds from Lenovo and MSI are now more expensive, the Asus ROG Xbox Ally looks like a bargain. It’s also raised concerns about the Steam Machine, which many insiders expect to sell for well over $1000.

Sweeney's criticism backfires

Despite the outcry, Sweeney didn’t find much support on social media. Gamers accuse him of his own bad business practices, including several rounds of layoffs at Epic Games. Other fans think the CEO is jealous of the superior Steam launcher and its connected thriving communities.

In reality, the criticism may have little to do with the cost of the Steam Deck and Steam Machine. Sweeney has attacked Newell’s company for having a monopoly on digital gaming marketplaces.