Unveiled with great fanfare last November, the Steam Machine was to embody the new generation of plug & play PC gaming. Promising a launch “early 2026”, the console signed by Valve was eagerly awaited by fans of the Steam Deck. But for several weeks, the company remained silent, fueling rumors of delays.
Valve has finally broken this silence. In a message posted on Steam on February 6, the company acknowledges that the situation has evolved, in particular due to component shortages. Result: the launch schedule and pricing scale must be reviewed. A statement which half-heartedly confirms what many feared: a probable postponement, even if Valve does not officially speak of a “delay”.
Component shortages that disrupt plans
Valve explains that the current hardware context has had a direct impact on its projects. The company planned to simultaneously reveal the price and release date of the Steam Machine and its new virtual reality headset, the Steam Frame. In its communication, Valve indicates: “When announcing these products in November, we expected to be able to communicate precise pricing and launch dates as of today.”
But everything didn’t go as planned. The company adds: “But the memory and storage shortages you’ve probably heard about in the industry have rapidly worsened since then. The limited availability and increasing price of these essential components are forcing us to review our delivery schedule and pricing (especially for the Steam Machine and Steam Frame).” In other words: the ambitions are maintained, but the technical means to achieve them are undermined by the global situation.
Price, pre-order and calendar: what we can expect
For now, Valve remains evasive on specific dates. The company limits itself to saying: “Our objective of delivering all three products during the first half of the year remains unchanged”, before immediately qualifying: “However, we still need to finalize the prices and launch dates in order to be able to announce them with certainty, knowing that the situation can evolve quickly. We will keep you informed as soon as possible of the progress of these preparations.” This means that a launch at the end of March 2026, as initially expected, is now unlikely. A release in the spring, or even in June, seems more realistic.
An expected console but already deemed too expensive?
The Steam Machine is seen as the logical successor to the Steam Deck, but in a “living room” version. Expectations are high among players, but the question of price could change everything. According to several estimates mentioned since the announcement, we should expect a price above $1,000 for the most muscular configurations.
And with current price increases linked to shortages, some fear a crippling price positioning. For Valve, the challenge is clear: make the machine competitive without compromising its performance. If it fails, the Steam Machine could well remain an unattainable dream for the general public.