Why $700 could be a "death sentence" for the Steam Machine

Here's something that caught my attention — if Valve bumps the Steam Machine’s price to $700, it might actually be the end of it. Kyle Orland from Ars Technica highlights how rising costs for key components like RAM and storage are forcing Valve to rethink pricing. Now, here's where it gets interesting: analysts are split on whether Valve will pass those costs directly to consumers, but the reality is, the current component shortages and price hikes make it a real gamble. As Orland points out, the company’s already adjusting its schedule and pricing strategies — so a $700 price tag could scare off the very gamers it’s trying to reach. And get this — if it becomes too expensive, the Steam Machine might not just struggle; it could be dead in the water. So what does this mean for gamers and tech fans? Keep an eye on those price tags — because even a small bump could be a death sentence for Valve’s hardware plans.