Valve is changing the price and release date of its upcoming Steam Frame VR headset because RAM and storage parts are hard to get and have become more expensive. However, the company still plans to ship the headset in the first half of 2026.
In a recent hardware update on the Steam news page, Valve confirmed that the component crunch—driven by explosive AI and data center demand—has hit Steam Frame, Steam Machine, and Steam Controller hardest. “When we announced these products in November, we planned on being able to share specific pricing and launch dates by now,” the company stated. “But the memory and storage shortages you’ve likely heard about across the industry have rapidly increased since then.“
https://x.com/palantirheart/status/2019468692292087815
PCPartPicker data shows DDR5 RAM prices spiking 300% over the past year alone, forcing Valve to “revisit exact shipping schedule and pricing.”
Valve aims to ship all three devices before July 1, 2026, but exact dates remain fluid. Previously, the company told Road to VR it expects Steam Frame to cost less than the Valve Index full kit, which launched at $1,000 in 2019 (headset alone at $500). No updated pricing has been revealed, leaving speculation rife.
The shortages stem from global supply constraints, with AI servers gobbling up chips and memory. Steam Machine, a non-subsidized gaming PC, faces similar hurdles; Valve clarified to YouTuber Skill Up it won’t be priced like a console. Leaks from Czech retailer Alza in January pegged a 512GB model at around $950 USD and a 2TB version at $1,070 USD. Linus Tech Tips estimated a base config near $700 based on comparable parts. This delay underscores wider industry woes.
PC builders and gamers have seen the prices of memory and storage rise a lot, which has delayed many projects, from handheld devices to powerful gaming PCs. For VR fans, Steam Frame is seen as Valve’s long-awaited standalone headset, expected to offer advanced tracking and SteamVR features without needing to be connected to a PC.
Public reactions on (X) Twitter suggest cautious optimism toward the news.
One user shared that while they appreciated the idea of motion aiming in the original Steam Controller, their overall experience was disappointing due to several flaws.
https://x.com/palantirheart/status/2019469381198045307
Valve’s change in plans shows how the excitement around AI is affecting hardware launch schedules. Although the company hopes to release the device in the first half of 2026, delays until summer are still possible. Fans are waiting for clear pricing details, but based on the cost of the Valve Index, the Steam Frame may be priced under $1,000 so it can compete with Meta Quest and Apple Vision Pro.
