Supply Chain
Ongoing coverage on Supply Chain.
Latest coverage
Valve's Steam Machine price starts at $1049 / £879; original pricing "no longer viable" due to hardware supply issues
Valve has announced that the Steam Machine will start at $1,049 USD / £879 GBP for the 512GB model and $1,349 USD / £1,149 GBP for the 2TB model, significantly higher than originally planned due to hardware supply issues. Availability will be limited and determined by a lottery system. Early reviews suggest it's a compelling entry-level gaming PC but too expensive to directly compete with consoles like the PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X.
Sony May Mitigate Hardware Pricing Nightmare by Simply Selling Fewer PS5s
Sony is reportedly planning to mitigate the impact of rising hardware component costs by selling fewer PlayStation 5 consoles. This strategy aims to maintain profitability despite increased prices for memory semiconductors, which are also affecting other platforms like the Xbox Series X and Nintendo Switch. The company does not expect to offer hardware promotions in the near future.
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 Valve is changing reservation estimates, and some customers won't get theirs until 2027
Valve has adjusted reservation estimates for the Steam Controller due to overwhelming demand, with some customers now facing delivery windows in 2027. The company stated that production cannot keep up with current demand, and new orders placed today are unlikely to be fulfilled this year. The Steam Controller, priced at $99, aims to emulate the Steam Deck experience on PC and provide a comfortable alternative to mouse and keyboard for sofa gaming.
Steam Controller reservation hopefuls hit by fresh disappointment with Valve's latest hardware update
Valve has announced significant delays for Steam Controller reservations, pushing estimated order windows to September 2026, December 2026, or sometime in 2027 due to demand exceeding expectations. The company stated that they have no plans to stop production but want to manage customer expectations regarding delivery times for the popular PC hardware.
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.
'Price increases are unavoidable' says Tim Cook, proving even Apple isn't impervious to the global memory…
Apple CEO Tim Cook has stated that price increases for memory and storage components are unavoidable due to unprecedented global supply chain issues. He described the current situation as a 'hundred-year flood' and indicated that Apple is absorbing some of the cost increases to shield consumers but that the situation has become unsustainable.
Tim Cook says Apple price increases are 'unavoidable' due to memory crunch
Apple CEO Tim Cook stated that price increases for Apple products are unavoidable due to a global memory chip shortage. This 'RAMaggedon' is impacting the cost of components and will likely lead to higher prices for consumers.
SK hynix claims it will be able to triple its memory chip output by 2034, roughly 10 years sooner than first projected
SK hynix plans to triple its memory chip output by 2034, a decade earlier than initially projected, by constructing four new chip factories. While this expansion is significant, the company states that it cannot accelerate the timeline further. The increased capacity is expected to double within five years and triple by the new target date, though it offers little immediate relief for the current global memory crisis.
Nintendo fights Switch 2 scalpers in Japan with new restrictions – only fans with over 50 hours on premium Switch 1 games can buy multi-language consoles
Nintendo is implementing new restrictions in Japan to combat scalpers of its consoles, particularly the upcoming Nintendo Switch 2. Buyers must have at least 50 hours of playtime on premium Nintendo Switch games and can only purchase one console per account. These measures aim to ensure consoles reach genuine fans rather than resellers, especially as the Switch 2 is set to increase in price by $50 later this year.
Gaming Hardware Prices Are Likely Going to Go Even Higher, Say Analysts
Industry analysts predict that gaming hardware prices will continue to rise due to factors like RAM costs, geopolitical situations, and currency fluctuations. While some regions like Asia and MENA are showing resilience, Western markets are particularly affected by these price hikes. Experts suggest that a higher pricing floor for gaming hardware is likely, potentially shifting the industry towards subscription and cloud-based models.
Xbox's chief strategy officer says it's currently hard to meet console demand and suggests Microsoft is rethinking Project Helix approach
Xbox's chief strategy officer, Matthew Ball, stated that the company is struggling to meet current console demand due to production limitations and is rethinking its 'Project Helix' approach. Ball indicated that these supply chain issues are expected to persist for the next 2-2.5 years, prompting Microsoft to re-evaluate the future of the console model to ensure affordability and flexibility.
Gears Of War: E-Day PS5 promo refutes Microsoft's claims about Xbox exclusivity
An official Xbox podcast trailer for Gears Of War: E-Day briefly showed PlayStation 5 and Steam logos, contradicting Microsoft's claims of it being an Xbox exclusive. Despite Xbox's vice president of games marketing Aaron Greenberg denying a last-minute pivot, the inclusion of the PS5 logo suggests it was initially planned for the platform. This incident adds to confusion surrounding Microsoft's evolving exclusivity strategy for its first-party titles.
Issues and Activism
Sony and Amazon are investigating their supply chains for potential funding of armed conflict. Separately, confusion has arisen around a discount offer for Marathon Deluxe Edition, which provides bonuses to free-trial players without requiring the full game purchase.
New report claims Intel is 'struggling' to supply laptop CPUs based on its latest 18A node after speaking to…
A new report indicates Intel is facing difficulties supplying laptop CPUs manufactured on its 18A silicon node, impacting models like Panther Lake and the budget-friendly Wild Cat Lake. Industry contacts suggest a combination of factors, including TSMC's tight capacity and potential prioritization of server chips like Clearwater Forest, are contributing to the shortage.
Intel may be struggling to supply enough of its new chips
Intel is reportedly facing difficulties in supplying sufficient quantities of its new Series 3 chips, manufactured on its 18A process. The company's ability to meet demand from laptop manufacturers is in question.
We may learn the Steam Machine launch date very soon, as Steam's backend just got updated with a welcome tour
Valve has updated Steam's backend with a 'welcome tour' for the Steam Machine, suggesting its launch date and price may be revealed soon. This follows previous delays and uncertainty surrounding the PC-console hybrid's release. The article also touches on global supply chain issues impacting consumer electronics prices.
The RAMageddon hits home
Valve has significantly increased the price of its Steam Deck handheld due to ongoing global shortages and price hikes in RAM and SSDs. This move highlights the broader crisis in consumer hardware pricing, impacting not only handhelds but also PCs, consoles, and other digital devices. The situation may also drive further adoption of cloud gaming as a more affordable alternative.
This supply chain Sankey diagram for an Nvidia AI megachip is a handy guide to understanding just how easy it is to ruin…
A Sankey diagram from Veridion illustrates the complex supply chain for Nvidia's H200 AI megachip, highlighting components also relevant to common graphics cards from manufacturers like TSMC, Samsung, SK hynix, and Micron. The article discusses how disruptions or price increases from key suppliers can significantly impact the cost and availability of PC gaming hardware.
Steam Deck Sells Out Again Despite Staggering Price Hikes
The Steam Deck, including its OLED model, has sold out again shortly after returning to sale, despite recent price increases. Valve may be employing strategic inventory management due to rising component costs and potential shortages. The continued consumer demand suggests the handheld gaming device remains highly desirable.
