Valve Warns 3-6 Month Memory Supply Lag Is Worsening as AI Demand Constrains Steam Machine
Updated
Updated · GamesIndustry.biz · Jul 18
Valve Warns 3-6 Month Memory Supply Lag Is Worsening as AI Demand Constrains Steam Machine
3 articles · Updated · GamesIndustry.biz · Jul 18
Summary
Valve said bulk memory and storage shortages are still worsening, with engineers warning retail shelf conditions trail what manufacturers see by three to six months.
AI-driven demand from data centers has strained DRAM and storage far beyond Valve’s expectations, leaving the company limited by available memory capacity for Steam Machine and other hardware.
Valve said the crunch will not alter the Steam Machine roadmap, though it acknowledged hardware costs are higher than it wanted and argued pricing should eventually stabilize.
The desktop gaming device launched last month in 512GB and 2TB versions at $1,049 and $1,349, with availability restricted by lottery and a waiting list.
Analysts cited by GamesIndustry.biz expect Steam Machine to remain a niche product because of its price and living-room form factor, even before supply constraints ease.