Yes, the Steam Machine will arrive later than expected and with a higher price, but I'd call it a heads up rather than a delay

News
By published

Valve delays a Steam Machine release date that wasn't actually announced

Steam Machine with beige backdrop and sad face on front made from closed bracket and colon.
(Image credit: Future / Valve)

Call me a killjoy, but I automatically assumed a Steam Machine release date delay was on the cards, especially given how cagey Valve has been about the price. What I didn't see coming was a delay and MSRP annoucement that applies to a launch date and MSRP that only collectively lives in the company's hive mind heads. The real announcement here is that the storefront giant still isn't ready to provide any details, even if its "shipping goals" remain the same.

Okay, here's what I can solidly tell you about Valve's fresh Steam Machine confessional FAQ. The first, and most important, is that all the ruckus is thanks to "memory and storage shortages you've likely heard about across the industry." That's a polite way of saying the monstrous AI industry demand for PC components, like the RAM for gaming we've typically been shoving in rigs for decades, is now in short supply.

Steam Machine next to Steam Frame, Steam Deck, and Steam Controller with beige backdrop.

(Image credit: Valve)

Valve's current situation will sound pretty familiar if you painstakingly waited for Nintendo Switch 2 drops back in 2025. While Ninty ultimately didn't delay what is now one of the best gaming handheld contenders on the market, it did push back pre-orders while trying to navigate the effects of US tariffs on pricing. We're looking at a situation now where components are still being hit with those import taxes and their natural price is spiralling towards the stars, and if this same scenario happened last year, the Switch might not have arrived until months later.

The TLDR is that Valve is revising its launch date plans that no one actually knew about in the first place. The only window we've been given up to this point is "early 2026", and the blog post claims that to mean "the first half of the year." Therefore, if you'd already made peace with the mini PC releasing any time between now and June, it's technically still business as usual.

Instead of worrying about the when, I'd pivot to thinking about the Steam Machine's mysterious MSRP situation. Valve says it "work to do to land on concrete pricing," which sounds to me like it's fighting hard to keep costs reasonable. I'll admit, it's frustrating being filled in about the corporate anxieties without ever having been told the goal figure that's causing concern in the first place, but it should still help you set some sort of expense expectations.

Close up of blue Steam Machine light bar with beige backdrop.

(Image credit: Valve)

So, where do we go from here? Well, I'd honestly sit tight and wait for more Steam Machine details you can work with. You can probably write off playing your backlog on the compact box in 4K 60fps while gorging on Easter Eggs, and it could be a good time to explore your options. I did spot that the new FAQ blog post says "some titles currently require more upscaling than others," which suggests AMD's magic FSR 4 abilities will only do so much to provide a UHD experience.

Basically, if Valve works through its current pricing demons, we might still end up with the Steam Machine soon. Just yesterday, AMD claimed that the company was "on track" with its new console-style PC, so there is a scenario where it releases with a normal MSRP. Before we even get that, though, I'll be keeping a close eye on the Steam Deck OLED to make sure nothing shady happens with its price, as the component hikes could cause issues with our existing SteamOS options.

Already got Valve handheld? Swing by the best Steam Deck accessories and best Steam Deck docks to enhance your hybrid setup. You'll want to peek at the best retro consoles and best retro handhelds too for ways to replay the classics.

TOPICS
Phil Hayton
Phil Hayton
Hardware Editor

Phil is the Hardware Editor at GamesRadar+ who specializes in retro console setups, choosing the latest gaming handhelds, and navigating the choppy seas of using modern-day PC hardware. In the past, they have covered everything from retro gaming history to the latest gaming news, in-depth features, and tech advice for publications like TechRadar, The Daily Star, the BBC, PCGamesN, and Den of Geek. In their spare time, they pour hours into fixing old consoles, modding Game Boys, exploring ways to get the most out of the Steam Deck, and blasting old CRT TV visuals into their eye sockets.

You must confirm your public display name before commenting

Please logout and then login again, you will then be prompted to enter your display name.