Valve Corporation has announced new pricing for its Steam Machine, setting the cost at $1,049 for the 512GB version and $1,349 for the 2TB version. This decision comes amidst ongoing RAM supply shortages that have forced hardware manufacturers to adjust their pricing strategies.
Engineers Pierre-Loup Griffais and Yazan Aldehayyat explained that the increased costs stem from a component crisis and the absence of subsidies from Valve. They noted that RAM shortages are impacting various tech companies, including Apple, which have also raised their prices. Valve will ship Steam Machines with either one stick of 16GB RAM or two sticks of 8GB RAM, depending on availability.
Originally, Valve estimated the price for the 512GB model to be around $809, indicating a significant hike influenced by current supply chain challenges. “If we say no, then they never talk to us again,” Griffais remarked, highlighting the tough negotiations surrounding RAM sourcing. Aldehayyat added, “Dual channel will objectively perform better than single channel,” emphasizing the importance of RAM configurations in performance.
The pricing of the Steam Machine reflects broader trends within the hardware industry, where supply chain issues have consistently led to increased costs. As companies navigate these challenges, the high prices of Steam Machines could limit their appeal in a competitive market, potentially leading to further price increases across the industry.
Source: The Verge
