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5h ago

Valve Delays Steam Machine Pricing and Launch Details as Memory Costs Spike

The company says AI-driven shortages of DRAM and SSDs have upended cost assumptions, so it will set firm MSRPs and dates only after reassessing component markets.

Image credit: Valve
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Valve Steam Controller, Steam Machine, and Steam Frame depicted as cartoons walking through a firey cave.

Overview

  • Valve’s new blog and FAQ say it must revisit the Steam Machine and Steam Frame shipping schedule and pricing, but it still targets a first‑half‑2026 window for all three products including the Steam Controller.
  • The company cites rapidly tightening supply and higher costs for memory and storage since November, with industry reports pointing to sharp year‑over‑year RAM increases tied to large AI and data‑center orders.
  • Valve reiterates it will not subsidize hardware and intends to price the Steam Machine near an equivalent entry‑level PC, leaving final MSRPs dependent on volatile component pricing.
  • Confirmed details include user‑accessible NVMe 2230/2280 storage and DDR5 SODIMMs, and testing that shows many games running at 4K/60fps using AMD FSR, with ongoing work on HDMI VRR, upscaling, and ray tracing performance.
  • External signals are mixed—AMD’s Lisa Su said the product was on track—while retailer listings suggesting higher prices remain unconfirmed by Valve.