Valve's Steam Machine price targets reportedly jumped after release date delay

Valve confirmed that rising component costs delayed the release date of its anticipated mini PC. With no signs of the memory shortage easing, an inflated Steam Machine price may be inevitable. A new report from insider Brad Lynch suggests that the system will be unaffordable for many gamers.

The Steam Machine could stretch budgets

Shortly after the April 27th Steam Controller announcement, Lynch updated readers on Valve’s other hardware. A Polygon article revealed that the accessory is shipping first because it’s less affected by the volatile memory market. The reliable leaker teased followers, “I’ve been told some Valve Internal pricing targets they had before AND after RAM skyrocketed.”

Steam Machine price estimates were most impacted, since its specs include 16GB of DDR5 RAM. Lynch later said he wasn’t comfortable sharing exact figures. Still, some fans believe it may launch hundreds of dollars above forecasts.

Valve originally clarified that its MSRP would align with the cost of a comparable gaming PC. Prior to the latest PS5 price hike, the company hinted that the system would be more expensive than the console. With earlier predictions in the $600-800 range, there are fears that the Linux cube will now be $1000+.

Despite the risk of losing sales, Valve could soon announce the Steam Machine release date. Before the Steam Controller news, Insider Gaming’s Mike Straw said the manufacturer was “getting closer to confirming everything.” More recently, Valve developer Pierre-Loup Griffais explained that only logistics prevented the mini PC from shipping.

Should Valve cancel its gaming system?

Not all observers think that the living room solution will surface in the coming weeks or months. One theory is that Valve wouldn’t have finalized the controller’s details if it were close to ready. Many gamers had assumed that the SteamOS box, Frame VR headset, and the accessory would arrive together. On the other hand, the company told Polygon that it never planned for a simultaneous launch.

Other supporters recommend delaying the Steam Machine release date again. If the memory shortage lasts until 2028 or beyond, it may struggle to stockpile enough components to fulfill orders. The Steam Deck OLED handheld is already frequently out of stock. Of course, an unreasonable price could also spell doom for the console alternative.