Valve has announced it will release the Steam Controller next month, ahead of the Steam Machine, in response to an ongoing RAM shortage crisis. The controller lacks RAM, simplifying its production. The company originally saw no need to ship the devices together.
Valve confirmed on April 28 that the Steam Controller will launch next month, prioritizing it over the Steam Machine due to the global RAM shortage disrupting hardware manufacturing. A company spokesperson explained, 'This doesn't have RAM in it, and it's not as complicated to start getting out the door for us.' This move allows Valve to bypass the RAM constraints affecting the more complex Steam Machine, as first reported by TechRadar. The decision marks a shift from Valve's initial plan, where officials stated there was 'no need' to release the controller alongside the Steam Machine. The RAM crisis has delayed various tech products, prompting companies to adjust timelines for components less reliant on scarce memory chips. Valve has not specified an exact release date for the Steam Controller beyond next month or detailed impacts on the Steam Machine's schedule.