Not shocking, but still annoying. Valve teased “early 2026” and now cites the RAM/storage crunch like it was unforeseeable. Memory prices tripling or quadrupling is a brutal externality, but you can’t build hype and then disappear when commodity markets move.

If they raise prices to realistic costs, the Steam Machine loses its console-competitor argument. If they keep price promises, they neuter the hardware. Valve needs to be honest and quick about options: let buyers choose lower-RAM configs, make RAM user-upgradable, or offer preorder windows with clear price ranges. Anything vague just breeds more frustration and skepticism.