Valve's $1,049 Steam Machine could've cost around $300 less if not for global RAM shortages, engineers say – and I'm not sure how to feel

Black Steam Machine PC with beige backdrop.

Now that we know how much Valve is charging for its Steam Machine, a console-PC hybrid with a convenient little cube-shaped body, plenty of folks are wondering why it's so pricey – but it turns out its $1,049 price tag might not have always been the plan.

In fact, it all likely boils down to the global RAM shortages and what have you – basically, the hardware situation that's pushing prices everywhere in PC gaming right now.