Valve reveals brutal RAM negotiations in 2026
Valve has announced Steam Machine pricing starting at $1,049 and explained that the component shortage and tough supplier terms are the main reasons for the high costs.
Valve has finally set prices for its Steam Machine: $1,049 for the 512GB model and $1,349 for the 2TB version, excluding bundled controllers, which further increase the cost. In an interview with Gamers Nexus, company engineers discussed the harsh reality of sourcing RAM in 2026.
Pierre-Loup Griffais revealed that Valve cannot secure long-term contracts with suppliers like Samsung, Micron, and SK Hynix. Instead, they receive monthly take-it-or-leave-it offers. Refusing means losing the chance to work with them again. This memory crunch is not unique to Valve; Apple CEO Tim Cook has also warned of upcoming price hikes for iPhones, Macs, and other devices.
The supply situation is so tight that Valve will ship Steam Machines with either one 16GB stick or two 8GB sticks, depending on what they can secure. While Gamers Nexus notes that dual-channel memory performs better, Valve engineer Yazan Aldehayyat says in their gaming tests there is no measurable difference.
Valve has not disclosed its original target price, but recent price increases for the Steam Deck OLED — $240 more for the 512GB version and $300 more for the 1TB version — offer a ballpark estimate. Subtracting those hikes from current Steam Machine prices yields hypothetical original prices of $809 for the 512GB model and $1,049 for the 2TB model.
