Valve’s announcement regarding the Steam Machine desktop PC and Steam Frame VR headset, made in mid-November of the previous year, has left many eager gamers waiting for pricing and availability details. However, the company has now confirmed that it is still not in a position to provide this critical information. The delay is largely attributed to the rising costs of RAM and storage, influenced by increasing demand from the AI industry, which has led to a scarcity of these vital components.
The situation has continued to worsen, affecting not only memory prices but also the availability of GPUs and other devices reliant on memory chips. In their recent update, Valve emphasized their commitment to launching both products, along with the new Steam Controller, within the first half of the year. Nevertheless, they caution that the ongoing uncertainty regarding component costs necessitates further consideration of their pricing and launch timeline.
“In our November announcement, we were optimistic about being able to share specific pricing and launch dates by now,” Valve stated in their blog post. “Unfortunately, the rapid escalation in memory and storage shortages has forced us to reassess our plans. The current circumstances around these essential components compel us to delay finalizing both our shipping schedule and pricing structure for the Steam Machine and Steam Frame.”
As the situation unfolds, many in the gaming community remain hopeful that Valve will navigate these challenges and provide groundbreaking products that meet the high expectations set by their ambitious vision. Patience may be required, but the anticipation surrounding these devices continues to grow.