Valve’s highly anticipated Steam Machine, Steam Frame, and Steam Controller hardware, initially set to start shipping in early 2026, now face a delay due to the ongoing memory and storage shortages impacting the tech industry. The company plans to revisit the pricing for these products as a result of the limited availability and rising costs of crucial components.
In a recent announcement, Valve stated, ‘We planned on being able to share specific pricing and launch dates by now, but the memory and storage shortages have rapidly increased. We must revisit our shipping schedule and pricing, especially around Steam Machine and Steam Frame.’ Despite the setback, Valve remains committed to shipping all three products in the first half of the year, although concrete pricing and launch dates are yet to be finalized.
The surge in RAM costs post-announcement has posed a challenge to Valve’s initial pricing strategy for the new hardware. When introduced last November, the Steam Machine was positioned to be more accessible within the PC space, while the Frame aimed for a price below the $999 Index headset. The Steam Controller was also set to be competitively priced against other advanced input controllers.
This delay underscores the broader impact of supply chain disruptions on the tech industry, affecting product launches and pricing strategies. Tech enthusiasts eagerly await Valve’s revised launch details amidst the evolving market conditions.
Source: The Verge