Valve's Steam Machine review: engineers say 'it's still getting worse' as RAM prices 'lagging'; 'not optimistic' about where crisis will be in three to six months

Valve's Steam Machine is facing significant supply chain challenges, with engineers stating that the situation is "still getting worse". Retail stock is lagging by three to six months, primarily due to RAM shortages.

"Honestly, it’s still getting worse," said one engineer.

The starting price for the Steam Machine is $1,049, and the most expensive model, a 2TB version with a Steam Controller, costs a staggering $1,428.

Engineers Yazan Aldehayyat and Pierre-Loup Griffais expressed concerns about the future, stating, "We knew there was going to be an issue with sourcing, but the extent was beyond anything we actually expected." They are currently "building everything we can get our hands on", but are limited by memory capacity.⁶

The situation is compounded by the inability to secure contracts with manufacturers, as Griffais noted, "Look, there’s no contracts. There’s nothing." This uncertainty raises fears that prices could increase further by 2027.

Despite these challenges, there is hope that major manufacturers like Samsung, SK Hynix, and Micron Technology will stabilize RAM prices, which have been accused of collusion to artificially inflate costs.²³

As Valve navigates these hurdles, the future of the Steam Machine remains uncertain, with gamers and engineers alike watching closely.