Particle.news
Download on the App Store

Soaring RAM Prices Put Steam Machine Timing—and Half-Life 3 Rumors—in Doubt

Insiders describe component inflation pushing Valve to settle hardware pricing before any major announcement.

Overview

  • Tom’s Guide and PCGamesN report that elevated DRAM costs are now being cited by insiders as a reason Valve may delay or reprice its SteamOS-based PC.
  • Insider Gaming’s Mike/Mark Straw says multiple sources remain adamant Half-Life 3 was planned as a launch title, though no announcement has been confirmed.
  • Straw claims memory pricing is holding up a reveal and that a previously tipped Spring 2026 window for Valve hardware and software could slip.
  • Valve has not set a release date or MSRP, and analysts note the company is unlikely to subsidize the device like a console, increasing sensitivity to component spikes.
  • Industry reporting says AI data-center demand has driven RAM prices to more than triple, with knock-on effects that include pricier GPUs and potential CES-era delays for gaming laptops and other gear.