Valve Prioritizes Steam Controller Launch Amid RAM Shortage
Valve to Launch Steam Controller on May 4 Amid RAM Crunch
A surge in DRAM prices has pushed back the Steam Machine and Steam Frame, but the controller's simpler build let Valve push it out first
Highlights
- Valve will launch the Steam Controller on May 4, 2026, priced at $99.
- Rising memory costs and supply shortages have delayed the Steam Machine and Steam Frame.
- Valve is prioritizing the controller because of its simpler build and lack of RAM dependency.
Valve will release its Steam Controller on May 4 at $99, moving ahead with the device while a global memory shortage holds up its two other pieces of hardware, the Steam Machine and Steam Frame.
The controller goes on sale at 10 a.m. Pacific time across the U.S., U.K., Canada, Europe, Australia, South Korea, Japan, Hong Kong and Taiwan. The Steam Machine and Steam Frame remain scheduled for the first half of 2026, though Valve hasn't set release dates for either.
Valve said in February that rising component costs forced it to revisit pricing and timing for the broader hardware lineup. DRAM contract prices have climbed more than 170% from a year earlier, with much of the demand tied to AI data-center buildouts.
"This doesn't have RAM in it, and it's not as complicated to start getting out the door for us," Steve Cardinali, a Valve hardware engineer, told Polygon. He said the company tried to build enough inventory for launch but acknowledged demand could outrun supply.
Memory shortages reshape Valve’s hardware timeline
Cardinali said Valve always treated the three devices as separate products, even though they are designed to work together. The only firm sequencing rule, he said, was that the controller had to ship before the Steam Machine.
The controller works with the Steam Deck, PCs and mobile devices through Steam Link, and is compatible with any game that supports the Steam Overlay. It includes magnetic thumbsticks, haptic feedback, trackpads, gyro controls and customizable inputs through Steam Input. Community-built configurations will be available at launch.
Leaked images and hands-on comparisons with Sony's DualSense and Microsoft's Xbox controllers point to a larger body and a different button layout. Reviews haven't yet tested how it performs in extended play.
What's still missing
Valve had planned to announce Steam Machine pricing and a release window earlier this year. The company now says only that all three products remain on track for the first half of 2026.
Author
Probaho Santra is a content writer at Outlook India with a master’s degree in journalism. Outside work, he enjoys photography, exploring new tech trends, and staying connected with the esports world.
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