The prices for the Steam Machine can actually only go up.
Speaking to Bloomberg journalist Jason Schreier, Valve engineer Yazan Aldehayyat explains that the memory crisis is only getting worse. His assessment is straightforward: “To be honest, it’s getting worse.” If you want to buy a Steam Machine, you shouldn’t wait.
Valve’s problems with the Steam Machine
According to Aldehayyat, the consumer market would still lag three to six months behind the actual conditions. This also affects the availability of the Steam Machine. Valve engineer Pierre-Loup Griffais adds that they are basically building everything that is possible. However, production is clearly limited by available storage capacity.
Valve did not reveal in the interview how many Steam Machines were actually manufactured and sold. However, according to the Steam operator, sales figures are not the only factor for the success of the mini PC. The aim of the device is primarily to provide the option of a PC for the living room (source: Bloomberg).
What’s next for the Steam Machine?
The Steam Machine with 512 GB costs 1,039 euros. If you want 2 TB of storage space, you even pay 1,359 euros. Valve had certainly wanted a cheaper price for the mini PC. At the same time, the company doesn’t want to sell the Steam Machine at a loss.
When it comes to memory prices, Valve engineers say that prices will either fall or be the new normal if the crisis never ends. Our assessment: Even in the best case scenario, it is questionable whether prices for the Steam Machine will fall outside of sales. Instead, PC gamers should be more concerned about a price increase as Valve responds to rising memory prices.
In the run-up to the Steam Machine, there were many rumors circulating about a new Half-Life that could be released alongside the Valve computer. Now the Steam Machine is here, but Half-Life 3 remains a myth. In the interview, Griffais only says that Valve has decided against an exclusive game for the Steam Machine. However, that doesn’t rule out the possibility that the long-awaited game won’t be released for all PCs.