"Honestly, it's still getting worse" - Valve Steam Machine engineer says component prices are still rising, potentially paving the way for a price increase
Valve engineers report that rising component costs are driving up the price of consumer electronics, including Steam Machines and potentially the Steam Deck. This trend mirrors broader industry challenges, with major companies like Microsoft, Sony, and Nintendo also implementing price hikes for their hardware.
Why it matters
Persistent supply chain inflation and component shortages are forcing a structural shift in consumer electronics pricing, making hardware more expensive for the average user.
The result was a Steam Machine that costs 879 ($1,049) at minimum - a price Valve admitted was well above what it originally wanted . But things aren't getting any better; unfortunately, current component prices are even more expensive than when Valve shipped in that initial wave of Steam Machines .
"Honestly, it's still getting worse," Valve engineer Yazan Aldehayyat recently told Bloomberg . "Just in case people are not aware. What people are seeing on retail shelves right now, from our observations, is lagging what we're seeing from a bulk supply by at least three to six months."
While Aldehayyat didn't outright say it, this does suggest a price increase is on the horizon. This could also affect Steam Deck, of course, and consoles like the PlayStation, Xbox or Nintendo Switch.
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