Valve's Steam Machine is gearing up to be a hugely anticipated launch in early 2026, but thanks to the ongoing RAM crisis, we may have to wait longer to get our hands on it. And now, it could also mean one of the biggest releases in PC gaming could be pushed back: Half-Life 3.
As noted by Insider Gaming's Mike Straw in its podcast, Valve is still working out the price of its Steam Machine in response to the price hikes set by RAMageddon. Unfortunately, this may delay the launch of the small gaming PC past its expected spring 2026 release, and this is backed up by the long-awaited Half-Life 3 missing key reveal dates.
Not only is the memory shortage rumored to be pushing back the launch of the Steam Machine and a PC title gamers have been wanting for two decades, but it also means a possible higher price point for Valve's compact PC when it does arrive.
Valve has yet to officially announce the price of the Steam Machine, including its Steam Frame VR headset and new Steam Controller. However, we know not to expect console pricing, as it aims to match the rest of the PC market. Many have speculated it could cost around $700 to $800, but with RAM prices rising dramatically, there are big concerns that number will be much higher.
RAM crisis isn't just affecting pricing
It's been 20 years since the release of Half-Life 2 (and just under since Episode 2), and we've heard rumors of the now near-mythical Half-Life 3 ever since. Recently, some had hoped for a massive reveal during the Game Awards 2025, but (perhaps unsurprisingly) this didn't happen.
As Straw mentions, the DRAM shortage holding up the hardware likely means Valve pressing pause on software reveals. With Half-Life 3 tipped to be the Steam Machine's major launch title (which makes sense considering this is a major hardware release), this means the sought-after sequel will be pushed back.
There's still time before the Steam Machine's early 2026 launch, so Valve may land on a price by then. That said, it's clear that the company is in a tough spot in terms of the small gaming PC's cost, as it's already tipped to be more expensive than consoles like the PS5, Xbox Series X and Nintendo Switch 2.
It goes without saying that Valve would want to entice console buyers, and keeping the price as low as possible is how to do it. But the RAM crisis just puts another hurdle in Valve's way, so it isn't surprising we're yet to hear a decision on the final cost of the system. After all, we're excited for the Steam Machine, but the price could be a deal-breaker.
Perhaps Valve is waiting for RAM pricing to even out after the initial impact, or thinking of another strategy to keep the starting price low. In any case, we may have to wait longer for the Steam Machine, and now, even the release of Half-Life 3. Then again, after 20 years of waiting, what's a few more months? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.
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