The RAM shortages may or may not cause the next generation of PlayStation and Xbox to face delays, but one thing is for sure: They’ve severely hampered Valve’s plans to release the new Steam Hardware. Revealed last November, the Steam Machine, Steam Frame, and new Steam Controller were slated for early 2026 but were delayed to the first half of the year.
However, in a Steamworks Development post, Valve said it would be shipping “all three products this year. More updates will be shared as we finalize our plans.” Memory shortages were once again to blame, but it seems that storage is also in short supply – a knock-on effect caused by the former.
While this doesn’t necessarily mean a delay past the first half of 2026, Valve’s wording feels very deliberate here. Regardless, the shortages don’t appear to be going away anytime soon, so you have to wonder if the new Steam Hardware will even launch this year. Time will tell.
Perhaps the most disheartening part of all this is that the long-rumored Half-Life 3 was allegedly slated to launch with the new Steam Machine. It was reportedly planned for Spring 2026, likely to coincide with the initial release date. Regardless of whether this is true or not, journalists like Insider-Gaming’s Mike Straw claim that the sequel, arguably the most anticipated of all time, is indeed real.
There haven’t been too many rumors lately, though, so stay tuned for updates.
