Valve has officially addressed the ongoing delays surrounding its highly anticipated Steam Machine, citing widespread RAM shortages and price hikes as the primary culprits. While the Steam Controller has launched, the Steam Machine’s release has been pushed back, though Valve remains committed to a 2026 launch.
Key Takeaways
- Valve acknowledges the “bumming” state of affairs due to component shortages.
- RAM and memory price increases are directly impacting the Steam Machine’s production and pricing.
- The Steam Controller has launched as planned, separate from the Steam Machine.
- Valve is working to secure competitive pricing despite market challenges.
- A 2026 release for the Steam Machine is still the company’s goal.
The RAM Crisis Impact
Valve representatives Steve Cardinali and Lawrence Yang recently spoke with PC Gamer about the challenges facing the Steam Machine’s release. Yang stated, “Obviously, we’re bummed that this is the state of things. At the very least, we’re not the only ones in this boat. Like, everyone’s kind of figuring out how to overcome these obstacles and challenges—RAM shortages, memory shortages, price hikes, everything.”
Cardinali echoed this sentiment, describing the situation as frustrating for engineers who face last-minute hurdles. “You’re, like, right there, and then you have this whole challenge thrown at you last minute,” he explained.
Competitive Pricing Amidst Shortages
Despite the market volatility, Valve is striving to maintain competitive pricing for the Steam Machine. Yang emphasized, “You know, it’s unavoidable that it will impact basically anything we make that has any of those parts in them. So we’re doing our best to make sure that we can make the product and have it still available at as good and competitive a price as we can.”
Steam Controller’s Independent Launch
Valve confirmed that the Steam Controller’s launch on May 4th was always intended to proceed independently of the Steam Machine. Yang clarified that there was no plan to artificially hold back the controller to coincide with the Steam Machine’s release, stating, “we knew that there was some chance that schedules would move, and we would just ship them when they were ready.” The company wanted to ensure the controller was available when ready, rather than delaying it further.
Looking Ahead to 2026
While an exact release date and price for the Steam Machine remain unannounced, Valve has reaffirmed its commitment to launching the device within 2026. The company is actively working to resolve the supply chain issues and navigate the challenging component market to bring the Steam Machine to consumers.
Via PC Gamer
