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Delayed PS6 release could complicate everything for Valve’s Steam Machine



The announcement of the Steam Machine version 2026 by Valve had something to surprise: a hybrid console, between PC gaming mid-range and dedicated salon machine. But enthusiasm quickly died down: potentially high price, unstable market, and above all, unfavorable economic context. The timing posed a problem: the device was launched while the semiconductor industry was going through a crisis. In question? The explosion in demand for random access memory (RAM), particularly because of artificial intelligence.

The snowball effect of the PS6 delay on the Steam Machine

There RAM crisis is already hitting the giants of the sector. Sony and Microsoft are considering postponing their next consoles. A source of InsiderGaming confirms: “From what we understand, the situation has caused console manufacturers to wonder whether the release of the next generation of consoles, originally planned between 2027 and 2028, should be delayed in the hope that RAM manufacturers will be able to expand their infrastructure to produce more RAM, which would help bring down prices. »

In other words, even the behemoths are retreating when faced with the component wall. What if Sony slows downthis theoretically leaves room for Valve to impose its Steam Machine… But at what cost?

A risky launch, between shortage and inflation

Valve has already experienced the hardships of the shortage with the Steam Deck. The Steam Machine could suffer the same fate, but on an even more problematic scale: delays, stock shortages, price increases, reduced margins… everything is against it.

Choosing high-performance — but potentially expensive — components risks skyrocketing the final price. And in a market where players still have the disruptions of PS5 and Xbox Series X in mind, patience is no longer there.

PS6 absent, Steam Machine in danger or opportunity?

The paradox is there: the postponement of the PS6 could free up media and commercial space for the Steam Machine. But the rising costslogistical uncertainty and players’ distrust of “fake PC consoles” could wipe out this potential advantage.

Valve must succeed in a double bet : deliver a reliable product on time, and do so at an acceptable price — despite a market completely unbalanced by AI.

Difficult, but not impossible. Valve’s silence since the official announcement suggests that the company is adjusting its strategy behind the scenes. Could the Steam Machine become the surprise of 2026? Or will it join the cemetery of aborted consoles?