Steam Machine Delays as RAM Shortages and Price Hikes Prompt Revisions

Valve's Steam Machine and the broader Steam devices are facing a potential delay due to RAM and storage shortages and price hikes affecting components. The company moved the launch window for the Steam Machine, Steam Frame VR headset, and the next-gen Steam controller from early 2026 to the first half of the year, while saying it has not yet finalized pricing or launch dates.

Delayed Launch Window Tied to Hardware Shortages

In a blog post published on Thursday, Valve said it has not yet finalized pricing and launch dates for the Steam devices. The post cited ongoing memory and storage shortages seen in the industry as the reason for the delay, noting that these shortages have intensified since the initial announcements in November. This forced Valve to revisit its exact shipping schedule and pricing, particularly for the Steam Machine and the Steam Frame.

Valve indicated that the shortages and rising prices of critical components have affected the ability to set concrete timelines. Its update suggests the device family will still launch in the first half of the year, but pricing and dates will be revisited as circumstances evolve. The company pledged to keep the public updated as plans are finalised.

Valve Details and Next Steps

The company said that the goal of shipping all three products in the first half of the year has not changed. However, it acknowledged work remains to land on concrete pricing and launch dates that can be confidently announced, given how quickly the factors around pricing and release schedules can shift. Updates will be provided as soon as plans are ready.

The shift in wording for the release window, from early 2026 to the first half of the year, is interpreted as a potential delay beyond the initial launch plans. The update again links timing to memory and storage shortages and the rising costs of these components.

The Steam Machine, the Steam Frame VR headset, and the next-gen Steam controller comprise the announced hardware family. The message from Valve reiterates its intention to launch all three products in the first half of the year, but concrete pricing and launch dates remain to be announced.

• Steam Machine
• Steam Frame VR headset
• Next-gen Steam controller

Valve said it will keep customers updated as plans are finalised, noting that the situation may continue to evolve with broader market conditions affecting memory and storage components.