[Digital Today reporter Jinju Hong] Concerns were raised that official replacement batteries for the Steam Deck LCD model would be discontinued, but users will be able to continue buying official batteries through iFixit after Valve decided to keep supplying them.

On July 15 local time, IT outlet The Verge reported that Valve decided to resume supplying Steam Deck LCD batteries after completing consultations with iFixit. Stock of the part is expected to be secured from next week.

The controversy began after iFixit CEO Kyle Wiens said earlier that morning to The Verge, "I was notified that Valve may stop producing replacement batteries and displays for the Steam Deck LCD."

A few hours later, the situation changed. Valve spokesperson Kaci Aitchison Boyle said iFixit would continue to receive the same original equipment manufacturer (OEM) parts as before through Valve partners. Wiens also said a new supply chain had been secured, adding, "Valve connected us with suppliers and preparations are now under way."

As a result, the official repair ecosystem for the Steam Deck LCD is less likely to be interrupted in the near term. iFixit said it plans to secure a separate supply chain and continue supplying batteries even if Valve fully ends production of the parts. Wiens said, "I want to let people know we will find a way for users to keep getting batteries for this product."

The controversy also intersects with Valve's long-running repair-friendly policy. Valve has sold official parts in cooperation with iFixit so users can repair products themselves. Wiens said, "Valve has been a very good partner," and explained that the supply disruption was likely a problem that arose during parts-demand forecasting. He added that misjudging demand could lead to shortages, or could create an excessive inventory burden.

Some linked the issue to European Union rules on replaceable batteries, but the direct connection is not significant. The EU plans to mandate from February 2027 that newly sold devices be designed so users can replace batteries themselves. Nintendo ended sales of the existing Switch in Europe and launched a Europe-only 'Switch 2' that applies replaceable batteries.

By contrast, the Steam Deck LCD is a product that Valve already stopped selling in December last year, making it less relevant to the regulation.

U.S. Right to Repair bills also do not appear to have directly influenced the supply decision. Some states require parts supply obligations for a certain period, but most bills exclude game consoles from coverage. The legal interpretation of whether the Steam Deck is a game console or a PC is also not clear.

Even if official batteries remain available, the replacement work itself is still not easy. The Steam Deck battery is strongly glued to the device frame, and forcing it off can create a fire risk. Users need to remove enough adhesive and separate it carefully. Valve has also previously said it was not satisfied with that design approach, even as it explained why it used adhesive when designing the product in 2022.

The supply decision means the Steam Deck LCD repair ecosystem can be maintained for now, but long-term attention will focus on how stably official parts supply continues and whether an alternative supply chain actually works smoothly.