> ## Content Index
> Fetch the complete content index at: https://birchtree.me/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover other available public pages before exploring further.

# Video gaming prices continue to explode
- URL: https://birchtree.me/blog/video-gaming-prices-continue-to-explode/
- Published: 2026-04-03T20:40:40.000Z
- Updated: 2026-04-03T20:41:01.000Z
- Author: Matt Birchler

Just 6 months ago, [Lenovo launched their Legion Go 2](https://www.theverge.com/news/769776/legion-go-2-official-lenovo-new-flagship-handheld-cost?ref=birchtree.me) handheld PC game console. It came in 2 versions, each with a different chip (AMD Ryzen Z2 or Z2 Extreme) powering the device. They came in at the profoundly premium price points of $1,099 and $1,349.

Now, those are profoundly high price points compared to the competition. The [Steam Deck OLED](https://store.steampowered.com/steamdeck?ref=birchtree.me) was (and technically still is, but it's been out of stock for over a month) $549-$649 which outside of the OLED screen being nicer, does lag behind in a bunch of specs, so the price difference is somewhat understandable. Still, a bit north of $1,000 for a portable gaming console is pretty wild.

But now the Legion Go 2 has [gotten a price increase](https://www.theverge.com/games/906752/lenovo-legion-go-2-suddenly-costs-650-more-as-ramageddon-lays-waste-to-gaming-hardware?ref=birchtree.me). And not a small one…

Instead of $1,099 and $1,349, now they cost $1,499 and $1,999\. Yes, those are $400 and $650 increases, or put another way, one top-of-the-line Steam Deck more than before.

As I said back at the start of the year, [2026 is going to be a very painful year in tech](https://birchtree.me/blog/2026-is-going-to-be-a-very-painful-year-in-tech/).

---

On the plus side, if you did want a portable gaming PC with the power of the $1,999 Legion Go 2, you could look at the seemingly-reasonably-priced-in-comparison $999 ROG Xbox Ally X, which has the same Z2 Extreme chip as the $1,999 model, 24GB RAM (down from the Go's 32GB), and a slightly lower res screen, but honestly I think it's a way better buy, [even if the software sucks hard](https://birchtree.me/blog/rog-xbox-ally-x-review-amazing-performance-but-the-worst-software-ive-ever-used/). Install Bazzite on that sucker and enjoy life.