Valve describes just how brutal RAM negotiations are in 2026

Valve’s Steam Machine will start at $1,049 for 512GB and rise to $1,349 for 2TB, before adding controllers. The company says it is not subsidizing the hardware, and engineers described RAM shortages and take-it-or-leave-it supplier pricing as major factors behind the high cost.

The pricing shows how component scarcity can quickly undermine consumer hardware plans, especially for companies without the purchasing leverage of larger PC makers. If memory supply remains tight, gaming hardware may face higher prices, thinner margins, or delayed launches across the market.