Valve has officially confirmed that the Steam Machine launch and price details announcement will be delayed due to the industry-wide memory shortage and price surge. This situation is also responsible for similar delays related to the Steam Frame and the Steam Controller announcements. It added that they still have eyes set on releasing all three products in the first half of 2026, but need time to settle on a concrete launch date and price point.
Steam Machine Could Cost More Than What Many Anticipated
Valve unveiled its new Steam hardware lineup in November 2025 and was expected to reveal launch and pricing details by now. However, consistent supply shortages and increasing prices for memory and storage have forced Valve to delay these announcements. It goes without saying that these are crucial components for any hardware to function. This is the reason the company has no choice but to revisit its supply schedule and pricing, especially for the Steam Machine and Steam Frame.
Here is what Valve said in the official announcement,
Our goal of shipping all three products in the first half of the year has not changed. But we have work to do to land on concrete pricing and launch dates that we can confidently announce, being mindful of how quickly the circumstances around both of those things can change. We will keep you updated as much as we can as we finalize those plans as soon as possible.
One important thing to note is that Valve had previously confirmed that the Steam Machine would not be an affordable gaming hardware like consoles. It said the portable PC gaming machine would be priced similarly to a gaming PC with comparable specifications. This revelation led to speculations that the Steam Machine could cost around $800. But if the latest announcement is any indication, it should not surprise anyone if the device ends up costing more.
This means if the Steam Machine price touches or crosses $1,000, it could have a significant effect on its demand among interested buyers. Nevertheless, these are only speculations, and we would suggest let’s all wait for the official announcement.
