Valve Delays Steam Machine Pricing Amid Memory Shortage

Valve has delayed pricing and shipping announcements for its upcoming Steam hardware devices, citing worsening shortages in memory and storage. The update affects the console-like Steam Machine PC and the Steam Frame VR headset, with possible implications for the new Steam Controller. Despite the shift, the company stated all three products remain on track to ship in the first half of 2026.

Valve first unveiled the Steam Machine, Steam Frame, and a redesigned Steam Controller in November 2025, targeting an early 2026 rollout. 

However, supply conditions have tightened since then, particularly across RAM and flash storage. The company mentioned it is now revisiting pricing and launch timing while monitoring component availability and cost volatility.

In a Steam Hardware blog post published on Feb. 5, 2026, Valve said it is working to finalize details it “can confidently announce,” noting that market conditions have changed rapidly since the initial reveal.

Valve Faces Memory Shortage Ahead of Hardware Launch

“When we announced these products in November, we planned on being able to share specific pricing and launch dates by now,” Valve stated. “But the memory and storage shortages you’ve likely heard about across the industry have rapidly increased since then.”

It added that limited supply and rising component prices require the company to reassess shipping schedules and pricing structures, “especially around Steam Machine and Steam Frame.” Valve reiterated that its goal of shipping all three devices within the first half of the year “has not changed.”

BBC News reported that RAM prices have more than doubled since October 2025, driven largely by artificial intelligence (AI)-driven data center expansion. Analysts say demand for high-bandwidth memory and server infrastructure has pushed suppliers to raise prices across multiple memory categories, with shortages expected to extend into 2026 and beyond.

Steam Machine Performance Targets, Customization, and Hardware Roadmap

Valve shared early performance expectations for Steam Machine, stating that most Steam titles run at 4K 60FPS using FidelityFX Super Resolution (FSR). Some games require heavier upscaling, and lower frame rates paired with variable refresh rate (VRR) may provide better image stability at a 1080p internal resolution.

“In the meantime, we are working on HDMI VRR, investigating improved upscaling, and optimizing ray tracing performance in the driver,” the company noted.

Steam Machine was announced with a 2026 launch window but no confirmed price, with Valve indicating it would align with the cost of building a comparable PC. Estimates based on its specifications placed it near the $700 USD range, though no official figure has been issued.

Since the reveal, DRAM contract pricing has risen sharply, increasing more than 170% year-over-year (YoY). The surge has been driven in part by large supply agreements, including Samsung and SK hynix allocating memory output to OpenAI’s Stargate data center infrastructure.

Valve also confirmed plans to release faceplate computer-aided design (CAD) specifications, allowing users and third-party manufacturers to produce custom designs. The company added that SSD and memory components inside the Steam Machine will be upgradeable, giving users flexibility to expand storage and performance over time.

The delay reflects broader semiconductor supply strain, where AI infrastructure demand is reshaping pricing, availability, and launch timelines across consumer hardware categories.