Valve’s February 2026 warning that memory and storage shortages had forced it to revisit the Steam Machine’s schedule and pricing was followed by a June shipping announcement: Ars Technica reported prices of $1,049 for the 512GB model and $1,349 for the 2TB model. Those are reported launch prices, not proof of a further increase. Valve engineers were still describing memory as a production constraint in July, while current October stock and pricing are not established here.
Why did Valve delay the Steam Machine?
On February 5, 2026, Valve said that memory and storage shortages had “rapidly increased” and that limited availability and rising component prices meant it had to revisit the exact shipping schedule and pricing, particularly for the Steam Machine and Steam Frame. Valve’s stated goal at that point remained shipping its three hardware products in the first half of 2026. TechRadar reported the statement and characterized the change as a shift from the earlier “early 2026” timing. Read TechRadar’s February report.
That explanation identifies the pressure Valve cited; it does not establish how much of the final price was caused by memory costs, or that RAM alone was responsible. Valve mentioned both memory and storage, and did not publish a component-by-component price breakdown.
What price did Valve announce, and when was shipping due to start?
Ars Technica reported on June 22, 2026, that Valve had announced shipping would begin June 29 through a reservation-based allocation process. The report listed these prices:
#1 Best Overall
- International (UK) Version
- 7.4” diagonal, HDR OLED, 1280 x 800 x RGB, up to 90Hz Refresh rate, High performance touch, <0.1 ms Response time, 1,000 nits peak brightness (HDR), 600 nits (SDR)
- SteamOS 3.0 (Arch-based)
- 512GB NVMe SSD, 16GB LPDDR5 on-board RAM (5500 MT/s quad 32-bit channels), microSD UHS-I supports SD, SDXC and SDHC
- 6 nm AMD APU, CPU: Zen 2 4c/8t, 2.4-3.5GHz (up to 448 GFlops FP32
| Configuration or add-on | Reported price |
|---|---|
| 512GB Steam Machine | $1,049 |
| 2TB Steam Machine | $1,349 |
| Optional Steam Controller bundle add-on | $79 |
These figures are the launch prices reported by Ars Technica in June 2026; they should not be read as a verified current retail offer or an October stock update. See Ars Technica’s launch and pricing report.
Does the higher price buy more gaming performance?
The reported difference between the two Steam Machine configurations is storage capacity: 512GB versus 2TB. The coverage cited here does not establish a performance difference between them, so paying $300 more should not be presented as buying better frame rates or graphics. Ars Technica reported a six-core AMD Zen 4 CPU, RDNA 3 graphics with 8GB of dedicated GDDR6 VRAM, 16GB of DDR5 system memory, and SteamOS for the machine. Those specifications provide context for the product, but they are not benchmark results. Ars Technica’s report includes the specifications.
Rank #2
- 【Upgraded】We sells product with professionally upgraded to 2TB SSD. Original Seal is opened for upgrade ONLY.
- 【Stunning 7.4" HDR OLED & 90Hz Motion】 Experience striking contrast and brilliant clarity with the all-new 7.4-inch HDR OLED display. Designed from the ground up for gaming, it features a 90Hz refresh rate for smooth motion and pure blacks. This handheld is capable of delivering an immersive visual experience, ensuring your Steam library looks better than ever with vibrant colors and amazing motion rendition.
- 【30-50% More Battery & Efficient Performance】 Play your favorites longer with up to 50% more battery life. By fitting a larger battery and a power-efficient OLED panel, this device provides extended gameplay sessions. It’s the perfect travel companion for long flights or commutes. The updated AMD APU ensures high-speed performance for AAA titles while maintaining incredible energy efficiency.
- 【3X Faster Downloads with Wi-Fi 6E】 Never wait for a game again. Equipped with Wi-Fi 6E, this Steam Deck OLED offers increased bandwidth and lower latency, delivering downloads up to 3 times faster than previous models. This ensures stable online play and rapid updates, making it the most reliable wireless gaming handheld for modern high-speed home networks.
- 【Responsive Touch & Enhanced Connectivity】 Enjoy a vastly improved touchscreen with higher fidelity and faster haptics. We’ve added a dedicated Bluetooth antenna to improve connections for multiple controllers. Whether using the built-in trackpads or the included external controller, this allows for precision play in everything from FPS to complex strategy games.
Did the memory shortage go away after the price announcement?
Not according to comments reported in July. PC Gamer quoted Valve engineer Yazan Aldehayyat saying retail memory availability lagged bulk supply by “at least three to six months.” That is his observation, not a market-wide measured statistic. Valve engineer Pierre-Loup Griffais also said the company was limited by memory capacity. The report did not disclose Steam Machine production or sales totals. Read PC Gamer’s July report.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Should buyers expect another price increase?
The shortage comments make concern about supply understandable, but the evidence here does not show that Valve has announced another price rise. February’s statement said Valve needed to revisit pricing; Ars Technica later reported the June launch prices. July’s comments show memory remained a production constraint, not what Valve would charge next or how many units were available. Valve’s Steam Machine page identifies 512GB and 2TB options, but it is dynamic, and the reports cited above do not verify present October stock or pricing.
Do these 3 things before closing this tab:
1Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errors2Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitches3Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsFor a buyer, the practical distinction is between a known reported launch price and an unknown future offer. Treat $1,049 and $1,349 as the June figures reported by Ars Technica, check Valve’s live product page or storefront for an actual current offer, and do not assume either that the shortage guarantees a new increase or that supply is now unconstrained.
Quick Recap
Best Value
- 1TB NVMe SSD
- 1280 x 800 HDR OLED display with premium anti-glare etched glass, 7.4" Diagonal display size up to 90Hz refresh rate
- Wi-Fi 6E
- 50Whr battery; 3-12 hours of gameplay (content-dependent)
- Carrying case with removable liner
Rank #4
- Valve is entering the gaming console marketplace with the new Steam Deck, a console geared towards PC gamers. The Steam Deck can be docked to a monitor, and used as a PC, or docked to a TV.
- Players can play a huge variety of games at any time with the comfort of a console and the freedom of a PC. Not anti-glare screen.
- Like the name suggests, the Steam Deck will include upgraded 1TB storage, and will include a carrying case. A micro SD slot will also enable expanded storage.
- Valve partnered with AMD to create a specialized APU optimized for handheld gaming, and Valve says the chip will deliver performance to run AAA gaming titles.
- The Steam Deck is outfitted with a 7-inch touchscreen, and two trackpads under the control sticks that allow gamers to operate games never designed outside of mouse and keyboard capabilities.
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
