- Valve has confirmed that Steam Deck OLED stock issues are due to the RAM crisis
- Steam Deck OLED is intermittently out of stock in some regions
- The Steam Machine may be in danger of another delay, unaffordable price, or low availability at launch.
Valve is currently working on its next Steam Machine device, which is a hybrid gaming PC and console and is scheduled for early 2026, but many of us are worried that the memory crisis could derail those release plans. Unfortunately, a recent development about the Steam Deck confirms our suspicions.
On the Steam Deck store page, Valve has admitted that the Steam Deck OLED is intermittently out of stock in some regions, “due to memory and storage shortages,” as we previously predicted. Both the 512GB and 1TB OLED models are currently out of stock in some regions, specifically the US, and the LCD model was discontinued a while ago.
While the fact that the RAM crisis is the driving force behind the stock issues isn’t a huge surprise, it’s potentially bad news for Valve’s future hardware plans, especially since it could force the company to discontinue the Steam Deck OLED as well, without having a Steam Deck 2 in the works.
Most worryingly, however, it puts the next Steam Machine at risk of another delay, unaffordable price, or low availability. The console-style mini PC has already faced some scrutiny due to its 8GB GPU VRAM, which is arguably insufficient for modern gaming.
With the current shortage of memory and storage, Valve likely won’t be able to replicate loss-making sales like it did with the Steam Deck.
The valve is condemned either way
If Valve decides to release the Steam Machine at a high price (I now expect it to be at least $1,000), it won’t sit well with most consumers. However, if Valve still manages to keep prices within a reasonable range (or, in other words, sell the Steam Machine at a loss), the financial strain may be more detrimental to the company than ever, given the unstable PC hardware market.
It leaves Valve in a position where an indefinite delay of the Steam Machine may be the best option; to prevent the RAM crisis from affecting its retail price, but all signs suggest that the memory shortage is not slowing down, or rather, it is just beginning.
However, the intermittent supply of Steam Deck OLED stock actually suggests that Valve will temporarily halt production of the handheld and prioritize its inventory for the Steam Machine, particularly in the storage capacity department.
This is the worst time for Valve to release the Steam Machine, especially since the Steam Frame is also scheduled for release in early 2026. Valve has earned a reputation as a consumer-friendly company, and I doubt the Steam Machine’s unaffordable price will change that entirely.
However, I’m sure this will upset some consumers, and the RAM crisis could once again cause pain for PC gamers waiting for new technologies.
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