Tech hardware prices, including Steam Machines, Surface devices, MacBooks, and Xbox consoles, are significantly increasing due to severe component shortages driven by the AI data center boom, making expensive products the new reality for consumers.
Valve's TV-friendly gaming PC, the Steam Machine, will launch on June 29 with a reservation system starting at $1,049. The delay and high price are attributed to the AI boom's impact on storage and RAM costs, alongside global component shortages affecting the entire PC and console market.
Valve's Steam Deck is back in stock after mid-February unavailability due to RAM and storage shortages, but prices have significantly increased: $789 for the 512GB OLED model (up from $549) and $949 for the 1TB model (up from $649). The base 256GB LCD model has been discontinued.
