Steam Frame Faces Potential Delays and Higher-Than-Expected Pricing
Valve Corporation has announced potential delays and higher-than-expected pricing for its upcoming products, Steam Frame and Steam Machine. This announcement comes amid ongoing global shortages of memory and storage components.
Overview of Steam Frame and Steam Machine
Initially unveiled in November, Valve aimed to release these products in early 2026. The company set an ambitious price target of under $1,000 for Steam Frame, which is designed primarily as a standalone VR headset with a wireless adapter.
Current Status of Release and Pricing
In a recent blog post on Steam, Valve stated that it would need to revise its shipping schedule and pricing due to the heightened prices and limited availability of critical components.
- Originally planned to announce pricing and launch dates by now.
- Memory and storage shortages have intensified, impacting project timelines.
- Valve maintains its goal to ship in the first half of the year but acknowledges the need for adjustments.
Company Statement
Valve expressed its commitment to keeping the public informed. “We will keep you updated as much as we can as we finalize those plans as soon as possible,” the company stated. They emphasized the need to ensure accurate pricing and solid launch dates, reflecting the rapidly changing market conditions.
Hands-On Impressions of Steam Frame
David Heaney and Ian Hamilton from UploadVR had the opportunity to test Steam Frame at Valve’s headquarters. They evaluated both its standalone functionality and its performance in PC VR setups, detailing their experiences in a previous article.
As Steam Frame and Steam Machine progress, consumers can expect further updates regarding pricing and release dates. Valve is working diligently to finalize these details amid challenging industry conditions.
