A little over four years ago, Steam creator Valve invigorated the portable gaming pc market with steam cover. With a strong balance between performance, battery life and price along with a seamless user experience driven by customization linux-based Steam OS and quality controls, it was an instant success. And even when competing Windows devices like the ASUS ROG Allyhe Lenovo legion go 2and the Xbox Ally They have appeared, the Steam Deck remains the handheld of choice for many.
With the rise of AI causing widespread RAM shortageshowever, Steam Deck stock has sold out quickly this yearand he may not return for a long time; reports indicate that AI data centers expected to use up to 70% of available RAM by 2026prolonging a memory crisis so serious that it is paralyzing countless industries, from automobile production to the creation of the next Xbox Project Helix console.
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In an effort to get as much RAM as possible, both for new Steam Decks and delayed next console Steam engine Gaming PCs: Valve says its goal is to “work with all the big gamers and some of the smaller ones as well” to have multiple sources of RAM to fall back on when supply runs out elsewhere.
“We’re trying to make sure we keep options open and work with as many different manufacturers as we can,” Griffais explained. “I think generally that’s something we’re doing throughout our hardware design and production phase, where we’re always conscious of the fact that having a single source for a given part would put us in a situation of potential shortages and things like that in a way that affects continuity of supply and price for end users.”
“So, from the beginning, we’ve been trying to make sure that we have a lot of options there, and that’s proven to be really helpful in this kind of climate, because we can work with all the big players and also some of the smaller ones,” he continued.
Of course, Valve can’t do much to mitigate the effects of the RAM crisis, as “conditions around memory are pretty global right now.” Still, Griffais notes that there was a similar situation with the microcontroller during the pandemic, and Valve was able to weather it by employing the same strategy.
“Because we had so many different options open in terms of placing different types of microcontrollers, we were able to navigate and maintain some supply in a climate where perhaps other players couldn’t,” he added. “So we hope to navigate memory in the same way.”
a device No affected by memory shortage is the new $99 steam controllerwhich comes out on May 4th. It looks great, although many feel that it is too expensive and will be hampered by its lack of compatibility with Xbox on PC and PC Game Pass.
Have you been trying to buy a new Steam Deck, but haven’t been able to do so due to a memory crisis preventing replenishment? Let me know below.
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