The Steam Machine is the start of an even more expensive future for game consoles

The article argues that Valve’s upcoming Steam Machine arrives amid rising costs across gaming hardware, from consoles and PC parts to handheld devices. A global RAM shortage has already delayed the device and is contributing to broader price increases across the industry.

The Steam Machine highlights how console-like devices are becoming more exposed to PC component market volatility. If memory and hardware supply pressures persist, the next wave of living-room gaming systems may normalize higher prices and fewer truly affordable options.