Valve's highly anticipated Steam Machine and Steam Frame VR headset are facing a delay, with the release date now set for the first half of 2026. This delay comes as a result of the unexpected surge in RAM and storage prices, which has significantly impacted the production costs of these devices. The Steam Machine, designed to bridge the gap between consoles and entry-level PCs, is particularly affected by the price hike in RAM and storage components. The base model, initially planned for release in the first quarter of 2024, now faces a longer wait due to the increased production costs. The prices of these components have skyrocketed, with 16GB DDR5 RAM kits more than doubling in price on Amazon UK, and 512GB NVMe SSDs seeing a similar surge. The situation is not limited to consumer prices; the entire PC industry is grappling with these worldwide price increases, which could even delay the release of the next generation of gaming consoles. The Steam Frame, a miniature gaming PC with its own 16GB of LPDDR5X memory and 256GB or 1TB of storage, will also need its pricing reconsidered in light of these changes. Initially, Valve aimed to offer the Frame at a lower price than the Valve Index, which retails for £919. While the Steam Controller is relatively unaffected by the current climate, its launch is tied to the release of the Steam Machine and Frame. Valve's blog post acknowledges the delay and expresses their intention to share revised pricing and availability data in the future. In the meantime, they have provided additional FAQs addressing concerns about RAM/storage upgradability, ongoing support for the Valve Index, and expected performance figures for the Steam Machine. The company promises more updates in the coming weeks, keeping fans informed about the progress of these highly anticipated products.
