Pierre-Loup Griffais
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"Alyx was a far, far more useful target for us" - Valve's struggle to get existing titles working on Steam Frame's ARM processor is why it's bundled with a six-year-old game, and I bet this isn't the last we'll hear of these chips causing difficulties
Valve's new Steam Frame headset bundles Half-Life: Alyx due to difficulties in getting existing titles to run natively on its ARM processor. Developers focused on overall Steam catalogue compatibility, highlighting the challenges of adapting games for ARM architecture, which prioritizes efficiency but requires significant conversion effort. This suggests future VR hardware may face similar hurdles with ARM processors.
"We're trying to make it easier": Valve confirm the Steam Frame is just the start of plans to get Steam games working on compatibility-challenged ARM PCs
Valve is developing new compatibility technology, FEX, an x86-to-ARM emulator, to enable Steam games to run on ARM-based PCs and laptops. This initiative, inspired by the Steam Frame VR headset, aims to make a wider range of devices capable of running the full Steam library, addressing the current limitations of ARM architecture for gaming.
Steam Frame price blamed on memory crisis but Steam Deck 2 plans unaffected
Valve's new VR headset, the Steam Frame, is launching at a high price point of £889 for the 256GB model and £1,089 for the 1TB model, significantly higher than originally intended due to global memory shortages. Hardware engineer Joy Lyons stated the RAM crisis impacted their pricing targets. Despite these issues, Valve's plans for a Steam Deck successor remain unaffected, according to software developer Pierre-Loup Griffais.
Steam Deck 2 plans aren't affected by ongoing component crisis, Valve maintains, as Steam Frame arrives later and more expensive than expected
Valve developer Pierre-Loup Griffais stated that the ongoing component crisis is not affecting plans for a future Steam Deck 2, which will require a significant performance leap. However, the company's new Steam Frame VR headset is launching later and at a higher price than expected, facing criticism for not offering a dramatically different experience compared to cheaper alternatives like the Meta Quest 3.
Valve considered making a new VR game for the Steam Frame, before tackling the "ludicrous" task of getting Half-Life: Alyx running standalone
Valve considered developing a new VR game for the Steam Frame headset but ultimately decided to focus on making Half-Life: Alyx run in standalone VR. This decision was driven by the desire to showcase existing VR titles and the invaluable development knowledge gained from optimizing Alyx for the new hardware. The process revealed significant performance improvements applicable to other Steam Frame games.
Valve says RAM crisis hasn't really changed its Steam Deck 2 plans, but hints that it could affect launch timing — and I'm all for a long delay if it's necessary
Valve engineer Pierre-Loup Griffais stated that the ongoing RAM crisis has not significantly altered plans for the Steam Deck 2, but it could affect the launch timing. Valve remains committed to delivering a substantial generational performance leap for the sequel, prioritizing value and performance over an earlier release date, even if it means a longer wait.
The Steam Deck 2 has 'not really' been impacted by the memory supply crisis, with Valve still focused on a 'very delineated performance improvement' for its next handheld
Valve engineer Pierre-Loup Griffais stated that the memory supply crisis has had minimal impact on the development of the Steam Deck 2. Valve remains focused on delivering a significant performance improvement for its next handheld gaming PC, though the exact release timeline is uncertain due to ongoing supply chain conditions.
Valve says making the Steam Deck 2 is "just a matter of looking at the current conditions", so I doubt it will…
Valve engineer Pierre-Loup Griffais stated that the development of a potential Steam Deck 2 is ongoing but dependent on current market conditions, particularly regarding component prices and availability. While not delayed, a release is not imminent, with Valve prioritizing a significant performance improvement at an accessible price point.
Valve decided that cutting the Steam Frame’s specs to avoid price rises wasn't "the right product choice" for the VR headset
Valve has decided against reducing the specifications of its upcoming Steam Deck VR headset to avoid price increases, despite ongoing component shortages. Engineers Josh Hudman and Pierre-Loup Griffais stated that maintaining the headset's intended performance and user experience was prioritized over cost-cutting measures, even with more affordable alternatives like the Meta Quest 3 available. Valve believes the quality of the experience justifies the higher price point.
Valve suggests memory crisis is "still getting worse," admitting, "we're limited by memory capacity, for sure"
Valve engineers have stated that memory and storage supply issues for the Steam Machine are worsening, with retail availability lagging bulk supply by three to six months due to high demand from the AI industry. Despite these challenges, Valve insists the Steam Machine's roadmap will not be impacted. Separately, Midgar Studio has been ordered to liquidate after failing to secure a buyer, with founder Jérémy Zeler-Maury expressing deep regret over the closure.
The Steam Machine isn't doing exclusives because Valve thinks "restricting where people can play"…
Valve engineer Pierre-Loup Griffais explained that the Steam Machine will not feature exclusive games, as the company believes restricting access is not a good model. Instead, Valve aims to make the entire PC catalog available on the platform. This approach mirrors that of the Xbox Series X|S, focusing on the breadth of existing PC games rather than new, platform-specific titles.
Valve Says Memory Crisis is “Still Getting Worse,” But Believes the Steam Machine is a Success
Valve engineer Yazan Aldehayyat stated that the global memory crisis is worsening, with current retail supply lagging behind bulk orders by three to six months. Despite these supply chain issues, which are limiting production of the Steam Machine, Aldehayyat believes the platform is a success in addressing a real user problem. Valve is continuing production and support for the Steam Machine, even as the memory crisis is projected to continue into 2027.
Valve Doesn’t Want to Use Exclusive Games to Sell Steam Machines, Says Engineer
Valve engineer Pierre-Loup Griffais stated that the company does not intend to make games exclusive to the Steam Machine, preferring to keep the entire PC catalog available. Engineers Yazan Aldehayyat and Griffais also emphasized Valve's interest in fostering innovation among hardware manufacturers rather than dominating the market. Despite early success and high pricing, Valve acknowledges ongoing memory supply challenges for the Steam Machine.
The Steam Machine's $1,000+ price tag is unlikely to come down anytime soon as Valve says the memory crisis is…
Valve engineer Yazan Aldehayyat stated that the memory chip crisis is worsening, impacting the production and pricing of the Steam Machine. He noted a significant lag between bulk supply observations and retail availability, with prices expected to remain high. The shortage is also limiting Valve's production capacity for the device.
Valve says there's no end in sight to the memory crisis, and prices are only going to increase: 'Honestly,…
Valve acknowledges that the ongoing memory crisis, exacerbated by AI demand, is causing hardware prices to increase with no immediate end in sight. Valve engineer Yazan Aldehayyat stated that current retail prices lag behind bulk supply by three to six months, and the company sees prices rising in the short to medium term. The memory shortage also impacted the initial production of the Steam Machine, though Valve continues to support the device.
Valve doesn't currently have 'any specific plans' for more Steam Machine faceplates, so you'll have…
Valve engineers Yazan Aldehayyat and Pierre-Loup Griffais stated that there are no current plans for official custom faceplates for the Steam Machine beyond the two included with the 2TB model. However, Valve intends to release CAD files and dimensions to allow third parties and individuals to create their own custom faceplates, provided they are not sold commercially.
'99% of the work was already done in a sense': Valve says it has less to fix with the Steam Machine because…
Valve engineers Yazan Aldehayyat and Pierre-Loup Griffais suggest that the development of the Steam Deck has significantly streamlined the process for future Steam Machine hardware. They explain that much of the foundational work, such as input handling and general PC gaming optimization, was already completed with the Steam Deck, reducing the need for extensive rework on the Steam Machine. Despite facing challenges like supply chain issues and the desire for lower costs, Valve views hardware development as an iterative process with new models dependent on market viability.
Valve says the memory and storage crisis is so bad, it's not just a problem of pricing, they had to 'negotiate really hard' just to secure supply for the Steam Machine
Valve has revealed that securing memory and storage for the Steam Machine was not just a pricing issue, but a significant supply challenge. The company had to negotiate extensively to obtain the necessary components, facing a crisis that has been impacting them for up to a year, ahead of broader retail awareness. This difficulty contributed to the Steam Machine's high launch price of $1,049.
Valve Engineers Keen on Steam Machine Price Drop But Warn Not to Expect It “Anytime Soon”
Valve engineers Pierre-Loup Griffais and Yazan Aldehayyat have expressed a desire to lower the price of the Steam Machine, but caution that it is unlikely to happen soon due to current hardware and storage costs. They acknowledge that the high price point is counterproductive to the device's goal of reaching a wider audience. Reservations for the first batch have ended, with shipments beginning on June 29th.
On Steam Machine, Valve engineers say "the cheaper the better," but a price drop is unlikely "any time…
Valve engineers acknowledge that while they prefer lower prices for the Steam Machine, a price drop is unlikely in the near future due to ongoing high hardware component costs, particularly memory. Despite the entry-level model costing $1049, Valve believes it offers value as an enabler for gaming experiences.
