Valve Delays Steam Machine, Steam Frame, and Steam Controller Shipments Amid Component Shortages
Valve has announced a delay in the release of its highly anticipated Steam Machine, Steam Frame VR headset, and Steam Controller. Originally targeting an early-year launch, these hardware products are now expected to ship sometime within the first half of the year. The company attributed the revised schedule to significant increases in memory and storage shortages impacting the entire industry, necessitating a reassessment of product pricing.
Product Delays and Revised Schedule
The three key hardware products — the Steam Machine, Steam Frame, and Steam Controller — were initially slated for an early 2026 launch, with some reports specifying Q1 2026. Valve's revised objective is to ship all three products within the first half of 2026. The company confirmed that specific pricing and exact launch dates are still being finalized.
Impact on Pricing
The escalating costs and limited availability of critical memory and storage components have made it necessary to reevaluate pricing for the Steam Machine and Steam Frame. Valve had previously outlined general pricing goals for its new hardware:
- Steam Machine: Intended to be positioned closer to the entry level of the PC market.
- Steam Frame: Aimed for a price lower than its previous VR headset, the Index, which cost $999.
- Steam Controller: Targeted competitive pricing with other advanced input controllers.
Market conditions since Valve's hardware announcements last November have seen competitive pricing become increasingly challenging due to rising RAM costs. By early 2026, PC gamers observed significant price increases for RAM, primarily attributed to memory manufacturers prioritizing supply for the AI server market.
Valve's Statement
"We planned on being able to share specific pricing and launch dates by now. But the memory and storage shortages you’ve likely heard about across the industry have rapidly increased since then. The limited availability and growing prices of these critical components mean we must revisit our exact shipping schedule and pricing (especially around Steam Machine and Steam Frame)."
Previous AMD Comments
The delay announcement follows a prior statement from AMD CEO Lisa Su, who had indicated that the Steam Machine, powered by an AMD-developed gaming processor, was on track to begin shipping early this year. This earlier comment may have specifically referred to the readiness of the AMD-developed processor integrated into the hardware.
Steam Machine Performance Specifications
Regarding performance, Valve has indicated that the Steam Machine, equipped with an 8GB GPU, is designed to play most Steam titles at 4K 60 frames per second (FPS) utilizing AMD's FidelityFX Super Resolution (FSR) upscaling technology. For certain more demanding titles, Valve suggested that playing at a lower framerate with Variable Refresh Rate (VRR) or using a 1080p internal resolution might be preferable.