Valve says iFixit will keep selling Steam Deck batteries after all
Valve has reversed its decision to discontinue replacement batteries for the Steam Deck LCD model following pressure and coordination with iFixit. The company confirmed that iFixit will continue to stock OEM parts, ensuring users can perform their own repairs.
Why it matters
This highlights the growing importance of the 'right to repair' movement in consumer electronics and the influence of third-party repair partners on corporate policy.
Valve has been incredibly friendly to customers who need repairs — which is why it was so surprising to hear that Valve was already discontinuing the battery for the Steam Deck LCD handheld. It would have meant you could no longer just buy a battery from iFixit and install it yourself. Why would Valve stop stocking the most important replacement part just as people are starting to need it?
Here is Valve’s answer to The Verge, as of 5PM ET: “We just confirmed with iFixit that they plan to have batteries back in stock by next week.”
“iFixit will be getting the same OEM parts sourced through Valve’s partners that they always have,” spokesperson Kaci Aitchison Boyle tells me.
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