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Valve describes just how brutal RAM negotiations are in 2026 (www.theverge.com)
submitted 2 months ago by to c/technology@lemmy.world
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Valve’s Steam Machine finally has a price: a whopping $1,049 for the 512GB configuration or $1,349 for the 2TB version. And those are without bundled controllers, which drive up the cost more.

The prices are so high in part because Valve isn’t subsidizing the hardware, and the company has already indicated that the component crisis forced it to reconsider its initial pricing plans. In an interview with the YouTube channel Gamers Nexus, Valve engineers discussed the reality of sourcing RAM in 2026, with take-it-or-leave-it prices as memory and other components remain in short supply, from only a few vendors like Samsung, Micron, and SK Hynix.

[...]

Valve, of course, isn’t the only company in a bind over memory shortages, as the crunch is forcing many hardware makers to make significant pricing changes. Even Apple CEO Tim Cook is warning of incoming price hikes for iPhones, Macs, and other devices. And the RAM crunch isn’t projected to get better anytime soon.

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[–] -3 points 2 months ago (1 child)

Is it? It's not like Valve has shut down the 'pre-order' page. If they already manufactured the devices, they should of had lower RAM prices, and if they haven't completed manufacturing and have to pay elevated pricing, seems like a device that you don't release currently. Especially since the device is mostly off the shelf parts, and SteamOS improvements have been the real selling point. I am not sure what Valve is thinking, releasing a device that underperforms a PS5 Pro, which is $200 less and comes with a 2TB drive and a controller.

Valve has zero obligation to throw gamers a bone, but the pricing on the Steam Machine seems incredibly bone headed., especially with as much competition for handhelds in that price bracket which will perform similar to the Steam Machine and have screens and controllers built in. And many of them you can install SteamOS on and have the same experience.

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  • [–] 4 points 2 months ago

    So here's the thing. Right off the bat it's hard to take you seriously when you don't even seem to understand how the pre-order works for the Steam Machine -- and that's even with me agreeing with at least some of your overall sentiment. What compelling reason would they have to shut down the pre-order page earlier than advertised?

    Honestly, none of us really know for sure 100% factually whether the Steam Machine will sell out or not, but it's hard to take your questioning of it seriously when your understanding is so limited, and that's the nice way of putting it.

    Personally, I won't be surprised either way. I suspect it will sell out, but like you, me, and millions (billions?) of other people, I also know that the price is laughable when appraised only by specs and anticipated performance metrics, so it also would not surprise me if they struggle with sales.

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