Valve Revises Steam Hardware Launch Plans Amid Component Shortages

Valve has announced adjustments to the launch schedules and pricing of its upcoming hardware products—the Steam Machine, Steam Frame VR headset, and Steam Controller—citing global shortages in memory and storage components. The company now targets a release within the first half of 2026.

In a recent blog post, Valve stated that while the goal to ship all three products in the first half of the year remains unchanged, the limited availability and rising costs of critical components necessitate a reassessment of the exact shipping schedule and pricing, particularly for the Steam Machine and Steam Frame.

The global memory supply shortage, driven by increased demand from artificial intelligence infrastructure, has led to significant price hikes in DRAM and NAND flash memory. This situation has impacted various tech companies, including Valve, prompting them to revisit product pricing and launch timelines.

Despite these challenges, Valve continues to work on finalizing concrete pricing and launch dates, emphasizing the need to remain mindful of the rapidly changing circumstances surrounding component availability and costs. The company plans to provide updates as soon as possible as these plans are finalized.