Valve has postponed the launch of its upcoming Steam Machine, Steam Frame VR headset, and Steam Controller from the first quarter to the first half of 2026. The delays stem from sharp increases in RAM and storage prices caused by global shortages. The company detailed the changes in a recent blog post, addressing impacts on production costs and pricing.
Three months after unveiling three new hardware products, Valve announced delays to their releases in a blog post published on February 5, 2026. The Steam Machine, positioned as a living room device bridging consoles and entry-level PCs, was originally slated for Q1 2026 alongside the Steam Frame—a Snapdragon-powered VR headset—and an updated Steam Controller. Now, all three are targeted for the first half of the year due to "memory and storage shortages you've likely heard about."
The Steam Machine's base configuration includes 16GB of DDR5 RAM and 512GB of storage, making it particularly vulnerable to the price hikes. Retail prices for components have surged dramatically: a 16GB DDR5 SODIMM kit rose from £67 to £148 on Amazon UK since Valve's November announcement, while a 512GB 2230 NVMe SSD climbed from £54 to £88. Larger 2TB drives have seen even steeper increases, from £129 to £244. These global surges, affecting the entire PC industry, could also delay next-generation consoles.
The Steam Frame, essentially a compact gaming PC with 16GB of LPDDR5X memory and options for 256GB or 1TB storage, faces similar cost pressures. Valve had aimed to price it below the £919 Valve Index, but revisions are now necessary. The Steam Controller remains relatively unaffected but is tied to the other launches.
Valve's post also answered FAQs on topics like RAM and storage upgradability, continued support for the Valve Index, and expected Steam Machine performance. More updates are promised in coming weeks, as the company navigates these supply chain challenges linked to broader AI-driven demand.
