"We Planned On Being Able to Share Pricing And Release Dates By Now" – The Steam Machine May Be Delayed

When the Steam Machine was archetypal announced backmost successful November 2025, Valve told maine that the console-like PC would beryllium launching successful the archetypal 4th of 2026. But things mightiness beryllium much analyzable now.

Valve conscionable released a blog post, wherever it says "we planned connected being capable to stock circumstantial pricing and motorboat dates by now." However, the AI shortages that are causing PC hardware to spike successful terms has caused the institution to instrumentality a spot much clip to nail down the terms and merchandise day for the Steam Machine and Steam Frame.

Valve does inactive assertion that it intends to motorboat the Steam Machine successful the archetypal fractional of the year, which follows an AMD net telephone that besides suggests an aboriginal 2026 motorboat date. No substance however you portion it, though, it looks similar the Steam Machine volition beryllium coming a spot aboriginal than we initially expected it to.

When is the Steam Machine Coming Out?

Shortly aft the Steam Machine was announced, I tried to foretell erstwhile Valve was going to motorboat its mini gaming PC – but that was earlier the RAM situation truly kicked disconnected successful earnest. Back successful November, I guessed that Valve would person announced a merchandise day and terms for the Steam Machine by the extremity of January 2026 – but obviously, that didn't happen.

Instead, it looks similar the Steam Machine has been delayed, if lone by a fewer months, until Valve tin find factual pricing. But with however volatile the RAM marketplace is close now, Valve is astir apt holding disconnected until pricing stabilizes a small bit. Either way, this astir apt means the Steam Machine volition besides beryllium much expensive.

From the beginning, Valve has been adamant that it would terms the upcoming mini PC according to a PC with comparable hardware. A fewer months ago, I figured that this would enactment the Steam Machine astatine astir $800. But with the mode PC pricing has been for the past fewer months, I could easy spot the upcoming console deed $1,000 oregon more.

This is each conscionable speculation, and we won't cognize the existent Steam Machine motorboat day oregon terms until Valve announces something. But if you were looking guardant to the Steam Machine, you mightiness privation to brace yourself for a longer hold and a higher terms tag.

Jackie Thomas is the Hardware and Buying Guides Editor astatine IGN and the PC components queen. You tin travel her @Jackiecobra