Steam Machine and Steam Frame Prices Expected to Rise Amid RAM Shortage

Valve confirmed that its new Steam Controller will retail for $99 USD, acknowledging that the final price is higher than initially planned. The company pointed to increased global shipping costs as the primary reason behind the controller’s pricing shift, rather than memory-related components.

Despite the higher cost, the controller is set to arrive on schedule, becoming the first piece of new Steam hardware to reach the market amid ongoing supply challenges.

RAM Shortages Slow Down Steam Hardware Rollout

While the controller avoids heavy reliance on memory components, other devices in Valve’s lineup face more serious pressure. Reports cited by Wccftech, based on insights from Brad Lynch, suggest that internal pricing for both the Steam Machine and Steam Frame has increased.

The main driver is a global DRAM shortage, which continues to push memory prices higher. Steam Machine appears to be the most affected, as it relies more heavily on RAM, while Steam Frame faces milder cost increases.

Shipping expenses also contribute to the rising costs, adding further pressure on final retail pricing across Valve’s hardware lineup.

Higher Prices Could Impact Adoption

The combination of memory shortages and logistics costs suggests that upcoming Steam hardware may launch at significantly higher prices than originally expected. Final pricing for Steam Machine and Steam Frame remains unconfirmed, but early indicators point to increases beyond Valve’s initial targets.

This raises concerns about adoption, especially if pricing moves beyond what mainstream gamers are willing to pay.

Valve is not alone in facing these challenges. Broader industry reports indicate that other upcoming hardware, including Project Helix, could also see pricing and availability impacted by ongoing memory supply constraints.