Valve Sticks to Its Guns: Steam Machine and Steam Frame Still on Track for Summer Release

Valve is holding firm on its promise to launch the much-anticipated Steam Machine and Steam Frame by the end of this summer, despite facing significant challenges from rising component prices and shortages. The company recently reaffirmed this commitment while announcing an expansion of its Verified program, which kicks off today even though neither of the new hardware releases has a confirmed launch date.

The Verified program is designed to categorize Steam games based on their performance on Valve’s hardware and their compatibility with Proton, a tool that allows Windows games to run on Linux systems. This initiative first launched with the Steam Deck and is now being adapted to accommodate the upcoming hardware. The key takeaway is simple: a game that runs smoothly on the Steam Deck should also work seamlessly on the Steam Machine.

Interestingly, developers have been encouraged to use the Steam Deck to ensure their games are compatible, as there are currently no Steam Machine development kits available. According to the Steamworks documentation, “Steam Machine dev kit units are not currently available. The best way to ensure compatibility on Steam Machine is to work on your title’s compatibility with Steam Deck. If your game runs well on Deck, it will also run well on Machine with no extra work required from you.”

While Steam Deck dev kits were provided to developers ahead of its February 2022 launch, it seems the Steam Machine kits are still being rationed, raising questions about Valve’s access to necessary components. Many gamers hoping to buy these new machines might be relieved to hear that Valve is still planning to release them, even if the prices are expected to be high.

The ongoing demand for DRAM and NAND memory in the AI sector has resulted in widespread shortages and price hikes throughout the industry, affecting even popular consoles like the Nintendo Switch 2 and PlayStation 5, which have seen significant price increases. It wouldn’t be surprising if Valve decided to delay the launch, but it seems they’re committed to moving forward.

As for the price, Valve hasn’t officially announced it yet, but indications suggest it won’t be wallet-friendly. PC Gamer’s hardware editor previously estimated the cost of a 512GB model to be around $529 (approx. Rs 148,120), but this figure has been adjusted to approximately $899 (approx. Rs 251,720) as of just a few months ago. The situation doesn’t seem to be improving, either.

Valve’s Lawrence Yang acknowledged the difficulties the company faces, stating, “You know, it’s unavoidable that it will impact basically anything we make that has any of those parts in them. So we’re doing our best to make sure that we can make the product and have it still available at as good and competitive a price as we can. But yeah, it’s challenging for sure.”

Note: PKR figures are approximate, based on a rate of Rs 280.00 per USD. Exchange rates fluctuate — please check the latest dollar rate for exact pricing.