The RAM crisis prevents Valve from setting a price and date for its new hardware
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Valve confirmed that it still can't define the price or the exact release date for its new hardware line. The reason is the global RAM and NAND crisis, which continues to affect costs.
Even so, the company is maintaining its goal of launching the devices in the first half of 2026. The news will continue to be shared over the next few weeks through the official Steam hardware blog.
La compañía presentó la nueva Steam Machine
Which products are affected by the component crisis
The problem affects three key devices: the Steam Machine (living room PC), the Steam Frame virtual reality headset, and the new Steam Controller.
According to Valve's explanation in an official statement, the price increases and memory shortages forced the company to review its entire commercial strategy.
The date remains, but without confirmations
Valve acknowledged that it had planned to announce specific prices and dates. However, the 2026 hardware market scenario forced a change of plans.
"The goal of launching in the first half of the year has not changed, but we still can't confidently announce prices or dates", they indicated.
The RAM crisis, the main problem
The rising cost of RAM memory and storage worsened faster than expected. This caused two immediate effects:
Price review for Steam Machine and Steam Frame.
Open dates, to be defined later according to how the market evolves.
Los modelos de lenguaje de IA dependen de enormes volúmenes de DRAM
More information and live updates from Steam
To keep the community informed, Valve announced that the Steam hardware blog will publish news on a constant basis.
There will be technical analyses, explanatory videos, manufacturing updates, and a frequently asked questions section that is already available.
Confirmed technical details of the new hardware
Beyond the supply problem, Valve confirmed that the devices will prioritize repairability. Users will be able to change DDR5 SODIMM RAM and NVMe SSD without restrictions.
El nuevo ecosistema de Valve para 2026
Official CAD files will also be released to customize cases. In the case of Steam Frame, the highlight is foveated streaming, which optimizes performance through eye tracking.
Steam Index says goodbye, but support continues
Valve confirmed the end of Valve Index manufacturing. The company clarified that technical support will remain active.
The new Steam Controller, meanwhile, will be compatible with games outside Steam if they support the platform's overlay.
