Hardware Manufacturing
Ongoing coverage on Hardware Manufacturing.
Latest coverage
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.
PS6 Release Date Remains Undecided, Says Sony CEO
Sony CEO Hiroki Totoki confirmed that the release date for the PlayStation 6 has not yet been decided, citing factors such as memory shortages and trade wars. While rumors suggest a 2027 launch, Totoki indicated that the company needs to take action to survive in the current landscape. Sony has secured memory reserves for the PlayStation 5 for the remainder of the year, but future plans for the next generation remain uncertain.
Sony has enough RAM to see the PS5 through the year including GTA 6's launch
Sony has assured that it has sufficient RAM to meet its PlayStation 5 manufacturing targets for the remainder of the year, including accommodating the anticipated surge in demand upon the launch of Grand Theft Auto 6. Despite ongoing component shortages, the company expects hardware profitability to remain stable through FY26, even as console sales have decreased year-over-year.
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.
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.
Original Nintendo Switch Will Be Discontinued In Europe
Nintendo will discontinue the original Nintendo Switch, Switch Lite, and Switch OLED models in Europe by mid-February 2027, citing a new EU regulation requiring user-replaceable batteries. The company will comply with the 'Right to Repair' directive for the upcoming Switch 2, which is expected to launch with replaceable batteries this summer. Nintendo has not yet announced a discontinuation date for North America.
Say farewell to the original Switch – in Europe at least, as Nintendo slips out it will no longer be shipped to retailers from Feb 2027
Nintendo will cease shipping the original Nintendo Switch, Nintendo Switch Lite, and Nintendo Switch – OLED Model hardware to European retailers starting mid-February 2027. This decision is influenced by new European Union regulations regarding replaceable batteries, making it impractical to continue manufacturing these models. Existing services and accessories for the Nintendo Switch family will remain available.
Rumours suggest Intel may be planning to join the club of hardware manufacturers reviving old product lines, all the way…
Rumors suggest Intel is considering reviving older CPU production lines, including 10th, 12th, 13th, and 14th generation processors. This follows similar moves by Nvidia and AMD to reintroduce older GPUs and CPUs to meet market demand. Intel's potential move would involve re-engineering chips for current fabrication processes, similar to AMD's approach with the Ryzen 7 5800X3D.
Existing Unauthorized Steam Machine Companion Cubes Are Being Destroyed After Release Fiasco
Dbrand's unauthorized Steam Machine companion cube will not be sold, and pre-ordered units are being refunded. The manufacturer is requesting that existing samples, including one sent to The Verge, be returned for destruction. Dbrand admitted to making a mistake by selling the accessory without Valve's permission, which is a violation of intellectual property.
Disc drives and release dates: Sony just told us two major things about the PlayStation 6
Sony's decision to cease manufacturing PlayStation game discs by January 2028 strongly suggests the PlayStation 6 will launch in late 2028 and will not include a disc drive. This shift is attributed to rising costs of RAM and SSDs, influenced by AI data center demand, and aims to reduce manufacturing expenses for the new console.
Valve wasn't sure it was gonna have any Steam Machines to sell at the start of 2026: 'Things looked really…
Valve engineers Yazan Aldehayyat and Pierre-Loup Griffais discussed the challenges in producing Steam Machines, particularly due to the RAM crisis impacting component costs and availability. At the beginning of the year, Valve was uncertain if they would have any units to sell, but they have since managed to secure a sizable amount for launch, though day-one demand is expected to exceed supply.
"It didn't look like things were going to change anytime soon": Valve insist price worries were never behind Steam Machine delays
Valve designers Lawrence Yang and Yazan Aldehayyat clarified that supply chain issues, not pricing concerns, were the primary reason for the Steam Machine's delays. They explained that establishing efficient production lines and securing components took significant time and effort, impacting the launch quantity rather than the decision to release.
PS6 is Unlikely to Face Delays Since R&D, Manufacturing Deals Are “Basically Done” – Rumor
Industry insider KeplerL2 suggests that Sony's PlayStation 6 is unlikely to face delays beyond its rumored 2027 launch, despite ongoing memory shortages. Deals with TSMC for APU fabrication and potential GDDR7 contracts are reportedly in place, making a delay financially disadvantageous for Sony. Discussions also touched upon next-generation console performance, with analysis suggesting a focus on frame rates rather than just image quality.
Valve could not secure long-term contracts for Steam Machine memory components
Valve is facing challenges securing long-term contracts for memory components for the Steam Machine, leading to volatile pricing. This issue, similar to concerns raised about the Steam Deck's price increase, could impact the Steam Machine's final cost and availability. The high demand for components, driven partly by AI development, is a significant factor.
Steam Controller Reservations Now Backed Into 2027
Valve's Steam Controller is experiencing significant demand, leading to reservation fulfillment dates extending into 2027. New orders placed today are estimated to arrive in 2027, with existing reservations being placed into delivery timeframes spanning up to September 2026, December 2026, or 2027. Valve is also delaying information on other Steam Hardware like the Steam Machine and Steam Frame due to economic pressures on computer components.
Steam Controller demand is so high that new reservations won't be fulfilled until 2027
Valve is struggling to meet the high demand for its Steam Controller, with new reservations not expected to be fulfilled until 2027. The company has updated its reservation system to reflect estimated shipping windows of September 2026, December 2026, or sometime in 2027. Valve assures customers that production will continue, but current demand far outstrips their manufacturing capacity for the year.
PS6 Launching Timing and Prices “Not Yet Decided,” Says Sony CEO
Sony CEO Hiroki Totoki stated that the launch timing and pricing for the PlayStation 6 are not yet decided, citing potential increases in manufacturing costs due to memory shortages. While the company has secured materials for the rest of the year and has a general idea of the cost, an official consensus has not been reached. Rumors suggest a Holiday 2027 release, potentially coinciding with Microsoft's next-gen console.
Amiga 1200 remake is delayed until December, and chip shortages are partly to blame
Retro Games Ltd has delayed the release of its Amiga 1200 remake until December 4, 2026, citing issues with its operating system and global chip shortages. This marks another setback for the emulation-based microcomputer, which was previously postponed due to legal disputes over the Amiga branding. The company is working to ensure the full Workbench environment mimics the original 32-bit home computer's functionality.
"It's a totally crazy market" – The seismic impact of the AI boom on video game hardware
The surge in demand for AI data centers has caused a significant shortage and price increase for consumer hardware components like RAM and GPUs. This impacts gaming hardware manufacturers such as Nintendo, Valve, and Sony, leading to higher prices for consoles like the PlayStation 5 and potentially delaying new hardware launches like the Steam Machine. The increased costs also affect game development studios by raising the price of essential development hardware.
Valve on the Steam Machine delays: 'Obviously we're bummed that this is the state of things'
Valve has acknowledged the delays affecting its Steam Machine hardware, citing industry-wide challenges such as RAM and memory shortages, and price hikes. The company expressed frustration but is working to overcome these obstacles to release the product at a competitive price. The Steam Controller is launching first, as it was deemed more sensible to release it independently rather than hold it back for a simultaneous launch with the Steam Machine.
