A recent Linus Tech Tips video has thrown out a possible number regarding the Steam Machine’s mysterious price points, and the host, Linus Sebastian, said that the device’s price is most likely going to be around $699.99.

Throughout the video, Linus tried to recreate the Steam Machine as close as possible with components that they had in the studio, which ended with a PC having the following specifications:

• CPU: AMD Ryzen 5 8400F
• Motherboard: Asrock B650M-H M.2+
• RAM: Crucial (2X8) 16GB 5600MT/s CL46
• Case: Player’s Choice
• PSU: Seasonic GX-550 550W
• GPU: Asrock Challenger Radeon RX 6600
• SSD: Kingston NV3 500GB
• Controller: Gamesir Cyclone 2

The controller addition was necessary due to the Steam Machine’s controller. All of the components listed cost $602, if it were based on its historical low price. If it were based on the current cheapest retail price, the build would be significantly pricier, eventually reaching a $813 price point.

Linus also said that they have overspent on a number of components, which include the power supply, motherboard and the case, the last one of which is surely much cheaper for Valve considering the form factor of the Steam Machine.

It’s worth noting that this $699.99 guess for the machine comes with the caveat that there will be no major changes in the current market for components, especially SSDs and RAMs, both of which are currently skyrocketing.

The Steam Machine was revealed on Nov. 12, 2025, worldwide, together with the Steam Frame and a new Steam Controller. Until today, Valve remains tight-lipped regarding the price of the Steam Machine, but has said that it will be “in line with the current PC market.”

According to recent hardware industry reports and statistics, Xbox Series X|S may soon face another price hike. A well-known insider, Moore’s Law Is Dead, claims that Microsoft has warned partners of a severe RAM shortage that will impact Xbox console pricing in the very near future.

The memory shortage and subsequent price hikes stem from the AI boom, as companies like OpenAI absorb a colossal share of the global DRAM supply.

In his recent video, Moore’s Law Is Dead claimed that Microsoft’s console business will feel the pressure from the ongoing memory crisis much sooner than expected. The company allegedly warned partners that the RAM shortage would impact the Xbox Series X|S “very soon”.

Reportedly, Microsoft hadn’t planned anything and didn’t stockpile hardware components, so prices across the current line of Xbox consoles will rise, and Xbox X|S availability may be disrupted for a time. This will happen sooner rather than later.

According to the insider, Sony is in a better position. The company purchased vast amounts of GDDR6 memory when prices were low. This supply will last for the coming months, allowing Sony to feel confident and even lower the prices of all PlayStation 5 models for Black Friday. They’re not worried about RAM shortages, at least in the short- and middle-term.

Xbox has already raised prices twice in 2025

The Xbox Series console lineup has seen two price hikes in 2025 (in May and September), likely due to US government tariffs on various products. The previous price hikes for Xbox Series X|S and Game Pass have already sparked criticism in the gaming industry, protests from gamers, and left analysts confused. Additionally, Xbox raised the price of the dev kit console.

Meanwhile, Xbox president Sarah Bond revealed in recent interviews that the team is already working on the next-generation console. She described the future device as a powerful experience and a premium product, hinting at the possibly even higher price and architectural flexibility inherent in Windows.

Why is hardware getting more expensive?

While rumors should be treated with caution, this information aligns with the current hardware industry landscape. In the second half of 2025, DRAM chip prices soared across the board, prompting retail memory prices to surge, leaving consumers unable to purchase the RAM they needed.

The price increase and subsequent shortage were driven by increased demand for DRAM from OpenAI and other AI companies. Memory manufacturers have redirected much of their capacity to providing servers and AI infrastructure. Samsung, Micron, and SK hynix have raised DRAM contract prices several times in 2025 by 15-30% each time.

This situation is called the DRAM supercycle, and it’s when the memory supply lags demand for extended periods, leading to prices that keep climbing. Analysts expect the current upcycle to last at least through 2027.

The main reason cited is OpenAI‘s large-scale, long-term deals with Samsung and SK Hynix. These contracts reserve up to 900,000 DRAM wafers per month. Once fully operational, this will account for approximately 40% of global DRAM production.

Memory-linked hardware price hikes

Consumer DDR5 RAM prices are rising fast and are already resetting retail baselines for PC gaming. In US stores, the median 2×32 GB kit is now over $200, and the median 2×16 GB kit is above $120. Over roughly a month, median prices are up about 40% market-wide, and 2×32 GB kits jumped around 70% in 6 weeks.

AMD has warned board partners about imminent GPU shipment price increases across the stack, including gaming Radeon cards, because VRAM and other memory components are becoming sharply more expensive in the AI-driven DRAM supercycle.

Korean industry reports add that both AMD and Nvidia may go further on budget and mid-range GPUs, potentially cutting some SKUs or lowering VRAM configs to keep costs in check. Nothing is confirmed yet, but the theme matches the Xbox story: memory inflation is pushing up hardware prices and squeezing the affordable end first.

Even smartphones have felt the same memory pressure, with new Xiaomi models launching at higher prices. After public pushback, some models were temporarily discounted.

The price of the upcoming Steam Machine was outlined as in line with the current PC market by Valve’s software engineer, Pierre-Loup Griffais, on the Skill Up podcast on Nov. 22, 2025.

“[Steam Machine’s price] It’s more in line with what you might expect from the current PC market. Obviously, our goal is for it to be a good deal at that level of performance,” said Griffais, answering a question about whether Valve is making Steam Machine a subsidized device and is not going into this thinking they’re going to eat a big loss on this so that they can grow market share or category or anything like that.

As justification for the yet-to-be-announced price of the device, Griffais mentioned features such as its small form factor and the low noise level, along with integration features like HDMI CEC, outlining that they are “actually really hard to build if you are making your own gaming PC from parts.”

Valve announced Steam Machine on Nov. 12, 2025, along with Steam Frame and Steam Controller, with prices for all of them yet to be revealed, while the release window for the device is set for 2026.

Steam Machine Tech Specs

General

• CPU – Semi-custom AMD Zen 4 6C / 12T (up to 4.8 GHz, 30W TDP);
• GPU – Semi-Custom AMD RDNA3 28CUs (2.45GHz max sustained clock, 110W TDP);
• RAM – 16GB DDR5 + 8GB GDDR6 VRAM;
• Power – Internal power supply, AC power 110-240V;
• Storage — Two Steam Machine models: 512GB NVMe SSD and 2TB NVMe SSD, both including a high-speed microSD card slot.

Connectivity

• Wi-Fi – 2×2 Wi-Fi 6E;
• Bluetooth – Bluetooth 5.3 dedicated antenna;
• Steam Controller – Integrated 2.4 GHz Steam Controller wireless adapter.

I/O

• Displays – DisplayPort 1.4 (up to 4K @ 240Hz or 8K@60Hz Supports HDR, FreeSync, and daisy-chaining) + HDMI 2.0 (up to 4K @ 120Hz Supports HDR, FreeSync, and CEC);
• USB – Two USB-A 3.2 Gen 1 ports in the front + two USB-A 2.0 high speed ports in the back + one USB-C 3.2 Gen 2 port in the back;
• Networking – Gigabit ethernet;
• LED Strip – 17 individually addressable RGB LEDs for system status and customizability.

Size and Weight

• Size – 152 mm tall (148 mm without feet), 162.4 mm deep, 156 mm wide;
• Weight – 2.6 kg.

Software

• Operating System – SteamOS 3 (Arch-based);
• Desktop – KDE Plasma.

AMD has reportedly notified its board partners that GPU prices will increase very soon across all models, including gaming Radeon models, as graphics card memory costs spike in the wake of the new AI-driven DRAM supercycle.

At the same time, Korean hardware industry reports claim that both AMD and Nvidia are weighing more drastic options, including cutting or cancelling some budget and mid-range gaming GPUs, because surging memory prices are making those graphics cards unprofitable.

Rising gaming GPU production costs

AMD’s internal notice, reported via channels of its Chinese hardware board partners, describes imminent GPU price increases. The company is said to be raising shipment prices across the whole model lineup because memory procurement costs have risen sharply, with the hike expected to apply to consumer Radeon graphics cards as well as workstation and AI products.

The exact increase and timing are not yet publicly known, but the following GPU shipments to board partners are expected to carry significantly higher prices.

For now, this applies only at the partner level, but new MSRPs are expected, since AIB partners are unlikely to absorb all increases so that the hikes will be passed on to consumers. Board makers and OEMs will decide how much of the higher bill to pass through to retail pricing, while older inventory bought at previous rates and upcoming sales can temporarily soften the impact.

Potential GPU model cuts and VRAM downgrades

The Korea Economic Daily describes a more severe scenario that goes beyond GPU price hikes. According to the report, both AMD and Nvidia are weighing the option to discontinue some mid-range and entry-level gaming GPUs if GDDR VRAM ends up accounting for too large a share of the bill of materials.

Even without cutting models, a price hike on budget options is projected to be significant. GPUs like the AMD Radeon RX 9060 XT or Nvidia GeForce RTX 5060 could be at risk, since budget buyers are more sensitive to a 15-30% price increase on an entry-level $300 GPU than to a similar jump for a $1000 high-end graphics card targeting enthusiasts.

The same report says OEMs (Asus, specifically) are already considering lower-memory configurations and fewer GPU models, where inflated VRAM pricing is still acceptable, which could repeat the limited choice and poor value seen during the GPU crypto mining era.

Neither AMD nor Nvidia has announced recommended price changes or specific product cancellations, so the possibility of budget and mid-range SKUs being canceled remains a rumor, even if supported by well-known hardware industry insiders, media, and statistics.

Taken together with the confirmed DRAM supercycle and AMD’s reported partner notices, new graphics cards are to become more expensive to manufacture, and maintaining affordable gaming GPUs will become unprofitable for corporations.

Memory costs threaten Nvidia RTX 50 Super refresh

Earlier, we reported that several hardware insiders had shared information about a potential RTX 50-series Super refresh. While their details differed, they all agreed that the launch was being pushed back, prices could end up higher than expected, and VRAM configurations might be reduced.

All this is a result of a broader DRAM supercycle that we track in our ongoing coverage of rising PC hardware prices. The current memory hikes have already moved from DDR5 RAM into other PC components and consumer devices and are likely to affect laptops, consoles, and handhelds next.

Gaming GPUs are no longer core market for Nvidia and AMD

Nvidia’s gaming GPUs are a secondary business line next to data center hardware. In the recent fiscal declaration, Nvidia reported $57.0 billion in total revenue, with $51.2 billion from Data Center and $4.3 billion from Gaming. The company’s largest revenue driver is business AI and server GPUs, not consumer GeForce sales.

AMD’s revenue overview shows the same direction. In Q3 2025, AMD posted $4.3 billion from its Data Center segment and $4.0 billion from Client and Gaming combined. The Gaming sub-segment was $1.3 billion, and AMD attributed that growth to custom console chips plus Radeon models, so discrete GPUs are only part of the category.

The memory market serving AI and servers uses the same supply base as the consumer VRAM. Recent reporting shows AI data center demand driving a DRAM undersupply and sharp contract price increases, with record low inventories and suppliers prioritizing high-margin HBM and server parts.

As memory prices rise across vendors, graphics memory costs grow alongside, lifting the bill of materials for new gaming GPUs from both AMD and Nvidia.

Rising PC gaming hardware prices

The partner warning about higher GPU prices aligns with the ongoing memory price surge already affecting consumer parts; prices are climbing across PC hardware and adjacent devices. RAM and storage are under direct pressure from AI data centers. Supply of core components trails demand, so manufacturers raise contract prices, and higher costs flow through OEMs and into retail.

Board partners now face higher bills of materials, while tariffs add further volatility. As a result, retail prices for modern RAM kits have doubled over the past year, and other memory-bound hardware is starting to follow.

Our latest snapshot shows DDR5 kit prices in US retail at a historic high. The median price for 2×32 GB kits has moved above $200, while 2×16 GB kits are above $120. Over about a month, median prices rose around 40% across the PC RAM market, and 2×32 GB kits climbed 70% in six weeks, with momentum building from late September into early November.

These are median retail figures across multiple stores and brands, so they reflect a broad repricing of mainstream consumer DDR5 RAM kits.

What is DRAM supercycle?

The previous DRAM supercycle in 2017 followed a simple pattern. Demand for memory in smartphones and data centers remained ahead of supply for multiple quarters, while suppliers focused capacity on higher-value parts.

Contract and spot prices increased for months, and retail DDR4 RAM kit prices roughly doubled over the course of a year. Only after inventories were rebuilt in late 2018 and through 2019 did prices retrace.

Analysts now point to a new memory supercycle that may peak around 2027. By late Q3 2025, DRAM inventories had fallen to about three weeks of supply. Vendors are channeling available capacity into AI demand.

Major DRAM manufacturers (Samsung, Micron, and SK hynix) have raised contract prices multiple times this year, with recent rounds in the 15-30% range. Over the same period, all three have reported record or near-record profits.

These increases have already reached consumers through higher RAM prices, producing a multi-quarter uptrend with potential shortages that could run well into 2026 before easing.

Industry warnings on the memory crisis

Memory makers are not signalling quick relief. Micron expects tight DRAM conditions to persist through 2026. Adata chairman Simon Chen says AI customers are outbidding the consumer PC market, upstream inventory has dropped to roughly two to three weeks, and his teams were instructed to sell cautiously and prioritise long-term clients.

Issues are beginning to surface in other consumer devices. Xiaomi has warned that rising memory costs are pushing smartphone prices higher and adjusted Redmi K90 launch pricing, then briefly discounted the 12/512 GB variant after consumer pushback. Memory inflation is flowing into retail pricing faster than many buyers expect.

Why are hardware prices rising?

Prices are rising because AI demand is consuming most of the available memory, limiting capacity for other segments. When fabs run near full utilisation, suppliers raise contract prices, partners adjust their own pricing, and retail follows as new inventory arrives at a higher cost.

Until new fabrication capacity comes online or AI demand normalises, this pressure persists, and RAM or SSD shortages can appear alongside further price increases.

Recent multi-billion-dollar hardware deals and long-term supply agreements in the AI sector lock in even more capacity:

• Nvidia plans to invest up to $100 billion in OpenAI and deliver about 10 GW of AI GPUs to data centers.
• Nvidia will invest $2 billion in xAI to secure an estimated $20 billion AI accelerator deal.
• Nvidia has committed around $5 billion to Intel for AI hardware development.
• OpenAI has signed a new GPU supply deal with AMD.
• OpenAI and Broadcom have agreed on 10 GW of custom AI accelerators.

Tariffs add to hardware costs

Tariffs are adding a separate cost driver on top of memory hikes. In 2025, Nvidia has already moved to cushion tariff exposure, with channel reports pointing to price increases across most product lines, reportedly including low-double-digit lift on GeForce GPUs.

Looking ahead to 2026, TSMC is expected to raise foundry prices for advanced nodes by about 5-10% in response to US tariff pressure, which would increase silicon costs for new AMD and Nvidia GPUs fabricated on those processes.

A draft US policy discussed in late September goes further, proposing up to 100% semiconductor import tariffs for companies that do not meet a domestic production ratio, keeping tariff risk elevated and adding a premium to final prices even without a finalized timeline.

For board partners, tariffs and memory inflation stack. When GDDR contracts rise, VRAM becomes a larger part of the GPU bill of materials. If the same memory or the finished cards face higher import costs in the US, partners pay more again on landing. The result is a double increase in new cards: higher VRAM costs from the memory market and higher silicon or import costs from tariffs, which raise the floor for future MSRPs across gaming GPUs.

Summary: Gaming GPUs will become more expensive

GPU manufacturing costs are rising because the same memory shortage that raised DDR5 RAM prices is now driving up VRAM prices. Those higher costs are likely to be passed on to consumers.

If AMD’s shipment hike proceeds, the subsequent Radeon GPU batches land with higher VRAM costs, and board partners will reprice new stock in retail as older inventory clears. With memory taking a larger share of build cost, budget and mid-range gaming GPUs are becoming unprofitable to make, leaving vendors to raise MSRPs or reduce VRAM configurations.

Other, more drastic options include axing budget gaming GPU lines. Korean industry reports say AMD and Nvidia are considering cutting some entry- and mid-range GPU models if rising VRAM costs keep squeezing margins. The idea is to drop the lowest-profit SKUs or ship fewer of them until memory pricing stabilizes.

The gaming hardware market is struggling amid an AI-driven hardware economy. Contract prices for memory and storage rise first, OEM build costs follow, and retail adjusts when replenishment comes in at the higher prices. DDR5 kits and SSDs have already repriced in US retail, and GPUs are now catching that same memory wave, with consoles, laptops, and prebuilts next in line if component costs keep climbing.

The memory crisis, driven by the DRAM supercycle, is caused by AI demand and supply allocation. Data centers are locking in DRAM and HBM capacity through long-term contracts, inventories remain tight, and suppliers continue to prioritise higher-margin server and AI memory over consumer volumes.

With memory contracts rising across categories and VRAM for gaming GPUs becoming more expensive, the cost pressure on new graphics cards is increasing right now. It will stay well into 2026 or longer, until supply expands or AI demand cools.

Echo Aviation wireless controller was revealed by Honeycomb Aeronautical on Nov. 18, 2025, via a special trailer posted on the company’s YouTube channel.

Windows PC and macOS compatible versions of the device are slated for launch in December 2025, with console versions arriving in 2026.

Designed specifically for flight simulators, the Echo Aviation controller features a cockpit-style layout and delivers the core functions of the Alpha yoke, Bravo throttles, and Charlie rudder pedals.

While the gamepad fully fulfills the function of the Alpha yoke, the Bravo throttles in the Echo Aviation controller are presented as four adjustable sliders that control throttle, flaps, and speed brake. The adjustable sliders feature detents and exchangeable caps for GA or commercial aircraft.

Charlie pedals in the device are mechanically linked, self-recentering, and placed at the back of the device.

The device also features a textured trim wheel that enables precise pitch control for stable climbs, cruise, and landings. It includes tactile levers for flaps, parking brake, and gear, as well as integrated buttons for camera, checklist, and toolbar functions, simplifying cockpit operation.

The USB-C charging Echo Aviation controller also has a 16-bit Hall-Effect left thumbstick, described by the manufacturer as drift-free for pitch and featuring roll control.

Honeycomb Aeronautical promised to reveal more detailed device specifications soon.

Valve announced three new hardware products: Steam Frame, Steam Machine and Steam Controller. The Steam Frame is Valve’s newest VR headset, while the Steam Machine is a PC gaming setup for the living room. As for the Steam Controller, it is marketed to replace the user’s mouse. The PC home console is specifically designed with the Steam Controller in mind.

Here are the tech specs for the Steam Machine, Valve’s take on a home console, according to an official posting:

General

• CPU
  • Semi-custom AMD Zen 4 6C/12T
  • Up to 4.8 GHz, 30 W TDP
• GPU
  • Semi-Custom AMD RDNA3 28CUs
  • 2.45 GHz max sustained clock, 110 W TDP
• RAM
  • 16 GB DDR5 + 8 GB GDDR6 VRAM1
• Power
  • Internal power supply, AC power 110-240V2
• Storage
  • Two Steam Machine models
    • 512 GB NVMe SSD3
    • 2 TB NVMe SSD
  • Both models include a high-speed microSD card slot

Connectivity

• WiFi
  • 2×2 WiFi 6E
• Bluetooth
  • Bluetooth 5.3 dedicated antenna
• Steam Controller
  • Integrated 2.4 GHz Steam Controller wireless adapter

I/O

• Displays
  • DisplayPort 1.44
    • Up to 4K @ 240Hz or 8K@60Hz5
    • Supports HDR, FreeSync and daisy-chaining
  • HDMI 2.0
    • Up to 4K @ 120 Hz
    • Supports HDR, FreeSync and CEC
• USB
  • Two USB-A 3.2 Gen 1 ports in the front
  • Two USB-A 2.0 high-speed ports in the back
  • One USB-C 3.2 Gen 2 port in the back
• Networking
  • Gigabit ethernet7
• LED Strip
  • 17 individually addressable RGB LEDs for system status and customizability

Size and Weight

• Size
  • 152 mm tall (148 mm without feet), 162.4 mm deep, 156 mm wide
• Weight
  • 2.6 kg

Software

• Operating System
  • SteamOS 3 (Arch-based)
• Desktop
  • KDE Plasma

Here are the tech specs for the controller, according to Valve’s official posting: 

Controls and Input

• Gamepad controls
  • A, B, X, Y buttons
  • D-pad
  • L and R analog triggers
  • L and R bumpers
  • View and Menu buttons
  • Steam and QAM buttons
  • 4x assignable grip buttons
• Thumbsticks
  • 2x full-size magnetic thumbsticks (TMR) with capacitive touch
• Haptics
  • 4x haptic motors
  • 2x LRA haptic motors in trackpads for HD tactile feedback
  • 2x high-output LRA haptic motors in grips for HD game haptics, including rumble
• Trackpads
  • 2x 34.5mm square trackpads with haptic feedback
  • Pressure-sensitive for configurable click strength
• Gyro
  • 6-axis IMU8
• Grip Sense
  • 2x capacitive areas along back of Steam Controller handles

Connectivity

• Steam Controller Puck
  • 2.4 GHz Wireless connection
  • ~8 ms full end-to-end, 4 ms polling rate (measured at 5m)
  • Up to 4 Steam Controllers per Steam Controller Puck
  • Steam Controller Puck connects to PC via USB-C
• Bluetooth
  • Bluetooth 4.2 minimum, 5.0 or higher recommended
• USB
  • USB-C tethered play

Power

• Charging
  • Steam Controller Puck charging interface
  • USB-C connector
• Battery
  • 8.39 Wh Li-ion battery
  • 35+ hours of gameplay
  • Battery life for tracked gameplay with Steam Frame is reduced

Size and Weight

• Size
  • Steam Controller: 111mm x 159mm x 57mm
  • Steam Controller Puck: 50mm x 28mm x 9mm
• Weight
  • Steam Controller: 292 g
  • Steam Controller Puck: 16 g

As for Steam Frame, the VR headset is marketed as a VR and non-VR headset. It is “designed for comfort” and ease of use; it comes with a separate set of controllers. The hardware’s production was leaked earlier, having been codenamed “Deckard.”

Here are the Steam Frame tech specs, according to the official marketing post:

General

• Processor
  • 4 nm Snapdragon® 8 Gen 3
  • Architecture: ARM64
• RAM
  • 16 GB Unified LPDDR5X RAM
• Storage
  • 256 GB/1 TB UFS storage options
  • microSD card slot for expanded storage
• Power
  • Rechargeable 21.6 Wh Li-ion battery
  • One USB-C 2.0 port in the rear, for charging and data
  • Charge with USB-C, 45 W
• Modular Headstrap
  • The headstrap includes integrated dual audio drivers and and rechargeable battery on rear.
  • Headstrap weight: 245 g
  • The core module can be separated from the headstrap for other headstrap solutions.

Display and Optics

• Display
  • 2160 x 2170 LCD (per eye)
  • 72-144 Hz refresh rate (144 Hz experimental)
• Optics
  • Custom pancake lenses
  • Glass and non-glass optical elements
  • Large FOV (up to 110 degrees)
  • IPD target range
    • 60-70 mm
  • Eyeglasses max width
    • 140 mm

Cameras and Tracking

• Tracking
  • Inside-out camera-based tracking
• Cameras
  • 4x outward-facing monochrome cameras for controller and headset tracking
  • 2x interior cameras for eye tracking and foveated streaming
• Passthrough
  • Monochrome passthrough via outward-facing cameras
• Low-light support
  • IR illuminators for tracking and passthrough in dark environments
• Expansion
  • User-accessible front expansion port
  • Dual high-speed camera interface (8 lanes @ 2.5 Gbps MIPI) / PCIe Gen 4 interface (1-lane)

Connectivity

• WiFi
  • WiFi 7, 2×2
  • Dual radios enable concurrent 5 Ghz Wi-Fi and 6 Ghz VR streaming
• Wireless Adapter
  • Wireless adapter included in the box
  • WiFi 6E (6 GHz)
  • Provides direct, low-latency link between headset and PC
• Bluetooth
  • Bluetooth 5.3

Audio

• Speakers
  • Dual speaker drivers per ear, integrated into the headstrap
• Microphone
  • Dual microphone array

Size and Weight

• Size
  • 175mm x 95mm x 110mm (core module + facial interface)
• Weight
  • 440 g – core module + headstrap
  • 185 g – core module

Software

• Operating System
  • SteamOS 3 (Arch-based)
• Desktop
  • KDE Plasma

Here are the controller tech specs, which come with the headset:

Controller Tech Specs

Controls and Input

• Motion controls
  • Full 6-DOF tracking and IMU support
• Gamepad controls
  • A, B, X, Y buttons (right controller)
  • D-pad (left controller)
  • Full-size magnetic thumbsticks (TMR) with capacitive touch
  • L and R analog triggers
  • L and R bumpers
  • View / Menu / Steam buttons
  • Dual-stage grip buttons
• Haptics
  • Haptic motor in each controller
• Finger tracking
  • Capacitive sensing for all input surfaces
  • Capacitive finger tracking

General

• Connectivity
  • 2.4 GHz link to dedicated headset radio
• Size
  • 126mm x 73mm x 87mm per controller
• Weight
  • With battery: 130 g per controller
  • Without battery: 107 g per controller
• Power
  • One replaceable AA battery per controller
  • 40-hr battery life

At the time of writing, the release date of the upcoming hardware is not known. Valve stated that it is trying to begin shipping them in the beginning of 2026.

PlayStation 5 took ninth place on the list of best-selling game consoles of all time on Nov. 11, 2025.

Since Sony declared it hit the 80 million milestone in PlayStation 5 sales in August 2025, as was reported by Gaming.News, the number of units sold has risen to 84.2 million.

These renewed numbers put Sony’s ninth-generation console from the 11th place on the list of best-selling game consoles it was occupying to ninth place, overtaking Nintendo’s Game Boy Advance with 81.51 million units sold and Microsoft’s Xbox 360 with 84 million.

Earlier in 2025, Hideaki Nishino, co-CEO of Sony Interactive Entertainment, declared PlayStation 5 the most financially successful console generation, as was reported by Gaming.News.

It is worth noting that the achievement happened in light of a recent PlayStation 5 price increase in the US.

A potential shortage of GDDR7 modules puts the RTX 50 Super GPUs in an uncertain position. Launch window and VRAM configurations may shift, and pricing is no longer predictable. The same memory pressure can also affect current Nvidia RTX 50-series lineup, leading to higher MSRPs or shortages.

Reports from various hardware insiders indicate that the RTX 50 Super refresh from Nvidia is now in doubt due to a shortage of 3 GB GDDR7 chips. While one source framed it as entirely canceled, another said it got delayed into Q3 2026, which is more logical.

Nvidia hasn’t officially announced the RTX 50 Super refresh yet. It hasn’t confirmed any changes, but the one common piece of information is that higher-density GDDR7 is the bottleneck for the graphics cards, shaping timing and availability of new Nvidia Super GPUs.

As reported earlier, the potential specification for the Nvidia RTX 50 Super refresh is below. One and a half times increased VRAM (compared to base GPUs) is under question now, too; nothing is certain with the AI accelerators consuming all available memory.

Nvidia RTX 50 Super GPU specifications (unofficial)

If GDDR7 modules stay tight (and memory supply is at an all-time low due to the DRAM supercycle) or expensive, the RTX 50 Super refresh is likely to slip to a later launch, be heavily repriced, or have a lower VRAM configuration.

Memory crisis may affect current RTX 50 GPUs

The pressure is not limited to the upcoming (or not) refresh. Rising memory costs could prompt Nvidia to adjust MSRPs for current RTX 50-series GPUs.

This risk sits within a broader DRAM supercycle: we continue to cover all related news on rising PC hardware prices, while the memory crisis is now spilling from DDR5 RAM to other PC parts and consumer devices, and may soon affect laptops, consoles, and handhelds.

Hardware insider pointed to the potential shortage of the RTX 5060 Ti model with 16 GB of VRAM specifically.

In short, both the rumored Super lineup and today’s RTX 50 models are to be affected by the same memory-driven cost surge and shortage.

Rising gaming hardware prices

Prices are rising across PC hardware and beyond. RAM and storage are feeling pressure from AI data centers. Supply of basic components lags demand, prompting manufacturers to hike prices. Rising costs hit OEMs and are later passed on to customers.

Board partners face higher bills of materials, while tariffs add volatility. The result is that retail prices for modern RAM kits have almost doubled over the past half year, and other hardware may follow suit.

Our most recent snapshot shows a historic high in US DDR5 RAM kit prices. The median price for 2×32 GB kits has moved above $200, while 2×16 GB is now above $120. Over roughly a month, median prices rose about 40% for the whole PC RAM market, while 2×32 GB kits rose 70% in 6 weeks, with momentum building from late September into early November.

These are median retail figures across multiple stores and various manufacturers, indicating a broad repricing of mainstream consumer DDR5 RAM kits.

DRAM supercycle

The previous DRAM supercycle in 2017 followed a simple pattern. Rising smartphone memory and data center demand ran ahead of supply for multiple quarters while suppliers prioritized higher-value parts.

Contract and spot prices climbed for months, and retail RAM kit prices roughly doubled within a year, but the cycle only reversed after inventories rebuilt in late 2018 and through 2019.

Analysts now point to a new memory supercycle that peaks around 2027. DRAM inventories fell to a record low (about 3 weeks of supply) by late Q3 2025. Suppliers are diverting all existing capacity toward an endless stream of AI demand.

Leading vendors have signaled DRAM contract hikes from all major memory manufacturers (Samsung, Micron, and SK Hynix), and those hikes have already been passed on to consumers through rising RAM prices. The result is a multi-quarter pricing uptrend with potential shortages that can persist into 2026 before easing.

Warnings from hardware industry

Memory makers are signaling that relief isn’t coming soon. Micron expects tight DRAM conditions to persist through 2026, while Adata’s chairman, Simon Chen, says AI buyers are outbidding the PC market, upstream inventory has fallen to roughly two to three weeks, and his teams were told to sell sparingly and prioritize long-term customers—conditions he expects to last into 2026.

The memory squeeze is starting to show up in smartphones. Xiaomi warned that rising memory costs are pushing device prices higher and adjusted Redmi K90 launch pricing, then temporarily discounted the 12/512 GB model after consumer pushback. Memory inflation flows into retail pricing too fast for usual consumers.

Why are hardware prices rising?

Prices are rising because AI is absorbing most of the memory output, leaving less manufacturing capacity for other products. Suppliers raise contract prices when fabs are full, partners pass those costs through, and retail follows suit as restocks land at higher prices with fewer sales and options are available.

It is basic supply and demand. Until new fabrication capacity comes online or AI demand is satisfied, pressure persists, and RAM or SSD shortages can appear, concurrently with price increases.

Recent multi-billion-dollar hardware deals and long-term supply commitments in the AI sector lock in even more capacity:

• Nvidia to invest up to $100 billion in OpenAI and bring 10 GW of AI GPUs to data centers.
• Nvidia to invest $2 billion in xAI to lock a $20 billion deal for its own AI accelerators.
• Nvidia commits about $5 billion to Intel to develop AI hardware.
• OpenAI signed a new AI GPU supply deal with AMD.
• OpenAI and Broadcom signed an agreement for 10 GW of custom AI accelerators.

TL;DR

To summarize, analysts expect this DRAM upcycle to run into 2027. Beyond RAM, storage is getting pricier as Adata and Micron warned, and price hikes are filtering into devices that rely on memory and storage, including phones, laptops, consoles, handhelds, and GPUs, with Xiaomi already signaling the trend.

As a reminder, despite Nvidia’s long history in gaming GPUs, its primary revenue now comes from data centers. And price increases reach consumers gradually, since a graphics card passes through a long chain of companies before it reaches the shelf.

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Users can sign up for news updates at the official CRKD website.

The drum kit is primarily black and sleek, but no news regarding platform availability was announced. It appears the controller can be disassembled into segments. The trailer showcased very little regarding the hardware outside of this feature. Though little information is available at the moment, CRKD stated that more is soon to come.

CRKD currently has a guitar controller as well, known as the CRKD Gibson Les Paul Guitar Controller, which has a multi-platform support iteration of the hardware, supporting PC, Switch and Android. The Xbox version of the guitar controller worked on Xbox Series X/S and Xbox One. The Legacy Mode allows both editions to work with Rock Band 4 and Guitar Hero titles on PS3.

On November 5, DDR5 RAM prices in US retail hit a new high. The median price for a DDR5 2×16 GB kit is above $120, and for a 2×32 GB kit, above $200 now. In a little over a month, consumer RAM prices are up about 40%, with mainstream gaming kits affected the most, rising up to 70%.

The ongoing DRAM supercycle is driving retail price increases amid AI demand. Memory makers leave less manufacturing capacity for consumer RAM while simultaneously hiking prices. Contract costs of DRAM have been growing, inventories are emptying, and each price reset flows through distributors and OEMs before reaching consumers.

MoM change in DDR5 RAM retail median prices in the US, 2025

This is our second insight into consumer DDR5 RAM prices (see the first report here). With complete data, the final October increase came in higher than mid-month stats, because prices haven’t stopped rising, and early November shows no relief.

In October (compared to September), median DDR5 retail prices rose across all capacities: +19.6% for 2×8 GB, +31.5% for 2×16 GB, +32.9% for 2×32 GB, and +14.8% for 2×48 GB+, with the overall basket up 24.9%.

The November medians currently cover only the first five days; barring a reversal, the month-end percentages will be higher, as retail pricing continues to rise. Reversals are unlikely because not all manufacturer hikes have yet reached retail.

Current stats for November: +20.3% for 2×8 GB, +35.8% for 2×16 GB, +39.3% for 2×32 GB, and +30.2% for 2×48 GB+, bringing the overall month-to-date change to 34%.

There’s a bit of hope for big sales at the end of the month. Still, it’s likely to be offset by another round of hikes, so I wouldn’t wait to get a new RAM kit. Weekly trends are below.

Key points:

• Over the last 6 weeks, the median price of 2×8 GB DDR5 RAM kits has risen by 35%.
• The median price of 2×16 GB DDR5 RAM kits is up 55%.
• The median price of 2×32 GB DDR5 RAM kits is up 70%.
• About 15% of tracked SKUs went out of stock in the last three weeks.
• 2×8 GB capacity is rising the slowest, and new pricing filters through more gradually.
• Larger capacities have caught up, with 2×48 GB and 2×64 GB kit prices surging after hikes reached them.
• November figures are month-to-date and will be updated as new days are added.

There isn’t much to add when RAM has been rising by double-digit percentages weekly for several weeks in a row. It’s an alarming trend, and it isn’t slowing. There are no signs of the DRAM supercycle easing, as Micron and Adata warned about potential memory shortages.

Next, we turn to the daily median retail prices of DDR5 RAM in the US.

Daily median DDR5 RAM retail prices in US, 2025

The graphic speaks for itself, quick snapshot below:

• On January 1, a DDR5 RAM 2×8GB kit cost $67, a 2×16GB kit $90.20, and a 2×32GB kit $121.60.
• On September 1, a 2×8GB kit cost $71.70, a 2×16GB kit $95.20, and a 2×32GB kit $204.50.
• On October 15, a 2×8GB kit cost $81.70, a 2×16GB kit $128.30, and a 2×32GB kit $146.60.
• On November 1, a 2×8GB kit cost $108.30, a 2×16GB kit $183.90, and a 2×32GB kit $281.50.
• Lowest daily median price for 2×8GB kit: $53.50 on February 20.
• Highest daily median price for 2×8GB kit: $120.10 on November 5.
• Lowest daily median price for 2×16GB kit: $78 on February 16.
• Highest daily median price for 2×16GB kit: $200.80 on November 5.
• Lowest daily median price for 2×32GB kit: $99.70 on March 18.
• Highest daily median price for 2×32GB kit: $285.90 on November 5.

Essentially, DDR5 RAM prices for consumers doubled in less than a year, a repeat of the previous DRAM supercycle.

Why are the prices for PC hardware rising?

AI demand is soaking up memory production, especially HBM and server-grade DRAM, leaving less capacity for consumer DDR5 RAM. With factories running at capacity, suppliers raise contract prices, and channel partners pass those increases along. Retail adjusts accordingly: restocks arrive at higher costs, promo depth shrinks, and everyday tags move up.

From there, it’s basic supply and demand. When supply trails demand, prices climb until either output catches up or buyers step back. And a usual consumer can’t outbid a giant AI company. Until AI orders ease or new capacity comes online, expect continued upward pressure and occasional RAM and SSD shortages.

Recent examples of capital and supply commitments that drain memory capacity:

• Nvidia invests $2 billion in xAI, tied to an estimated $20 billion GPU supply arrangement.
• Nvidia commits about $5 billion to Intel CPUs.
• Nvidia may invest up to $100 billion in OpenAI and bring 10 GW of AI GPUs.
• OpenAI signs a new GPU supply deal with AMD.
• Broadcom and OpenAI for 10 GW of custom AI accelerators.

As a reminder, analysts project the current DRAM supercycle to run into 2027, so prices will keep rising.

Beyond RAM, storage is set to get more expensive (AI to blame here, too). Adata and Micron already warned about it. And as OEM contracts expire, expect hikes in consumer and gaming devices that rely on memory and storage (smartphones, handhelds, consoles, laptops, GPUs, etc.). Precedent and similar warnings have already happened with new Xiaomi smartphones.

What’s next?

We’re still working on our price-tracking projects (launching soon) and analyzing the prices of other hardware components, with consumer SSD price analytics coming next week. The methodology is explained in detail in the previous RAM prices report.