Valve is set to release its next-gen gamepad, the Steam Controller, on May 4th for $100. However, there won’t be a direct ‘buy’ button on Steam Frame or Steam Machine just yet.
In an interview with Polygon, Valve explained that the reason for the staggered release of the Steam Controller is due to the need to build up quantity. “We wanted to build up quantity so that we could try to address everybody who wants one at launch,” said Valve hardware engineer Steve Cardinali.
Valve plans to offer Steam Machine with and without a Steam Controller, but the built-in support for the gamepad could affect supply efforts.
In an IGN interview, Valve’s Pierre-Loup Griffais hinted at the reasons behind the delayed release of Steam Frame and Steam Machine.
“For us, the controller is something that stands out on its own and we want to make sure that we can get that to customers in parallel to anything that might be happening with Steam Machine.”
Valve had to reevaluate the pricing and release dates of Steam Frame and Machine due to component sourcing issues, particularly with RAM and storage prices skyrocketing. Despite the challenges, Valve is working hard to bring these products to market soon.
Giffais mentioned that Valve is making progress but didn’t provide specific details on the timeline or pricing for Steam Frame and Steam Machine. However, he assured that news would be coming soon.
Looking for more Steam Frame news?
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