Valve Adjusts Steam Machine Plans Amid Rising Memory and Storage Shortages

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It seems the Steam Machine is set to be pricier than anticipated due to what Valve describes as a “rapidly” escalating shortage of storage and memory.

In a recent update regarding the Steam Hardware lineup, Valve mentioned that they had intended to share pricing and release details by now, but the ongoing and unprecedented shortage of memory chips—exacerbated by increased demand from AI data centers, according to the International Data Corporation—has complicated those plans.

“The memory and storage shortages you’ve likely heard about across the industry have rapidly increased since [the announcement],” Valve stated. “The limited availability and rising costs of these essential components mean we need to reassess our shipping schedule and pricing.” This is particularly relevant for the Steam Machine and Steam Frame, Valve’s upcoming VR headset.

“Our goal of launching all three products in the first half of the year remains unchanged,” Valve clarified. “However, we need to finalize concrete pricing and launch dates that we can confidently share, keeping in mind how quickly the situation can evolve.”

While we await this vital information, Valve has released a Q&A addressing some of the community’s pressing questions, such as “Can Steam Frame be used while wearing glasses?” (The answer is likely yes, but it depends on the thickness of your glasses.)

The Q&A also disclosed that the Steam Machine will allow users to upgrade both its RAM and SSD, a feature that traditional consoles typically don’t offer. So, while it may be on the pricier side and possibly delayed, at least you’ll have the option to boost its performance.

In other news, Steam is issuing refunds to some players for Ashes of Creation, which had the largest MMO Kickstarter campaign ever, following leadership changes and significant layoffs.