Seems like this price volatility might ultimately impact all kinds of consumer electronics. Even hardware that is already released like the Nintendo Switch 2 is probably getting its costs inflated by the RAM shortages.
I'm more worried about the Frame. I assume the same will apply there. I was really looking forward to it but I don't think I'll be able to afford it now
What's interesting to me is here is that we basically are in terra incognita with this RAM market.
We are at a point where the market is so concentrated that nobody wants to invest in production capacity anymore as everyone wants margins to stay high. So when companies pivot to new niche like data centers, you see penuries on the consumer markets with nothing happening to solve the issue. The boom and bust cycle seems over at least as long as demands stay stable. Baring a crash of the IA economy, I don't see any short term change coming from the key manufacturers.
Yet, what I find fascinating is that the whole oligopoly has pivoted so hard, they couldn't quickly pivot back to protect these markets if challenged. There is a unique opportunity for new comers if they can get the manufacturing capacities. Some Chinese manufacturers who used to make low grade chips could be tempted. They might be impaired by the new geopolitical situation however and the tarifs.
They're free to comment as they like, but as their comments are about disengaging from US-based tech and as there's no need to announce their departure, it just seems performative.
I hate Steam but if I can support Trump from over here by buying something of theirs maybe I should.
[EDIT] Why'd you delete a reply to this? I'll post what I was about to reply here
> [some cyrillic characters]
Just for your retarded belief that I am Russian and that Trump has 0 support in the heart of Europe I'm going to buy a Deck, a Machine, and a Frame. I'm going to look other businesses that support Trump that I can buy from. Is the My Pillow guy still on board? I don't like coffee either but I've seen a couple of them on the winning side. I wonder if they ship internationally. Shame I can't evade the import duties and therefore support this shithole with them.
It may be the reality in your mind but it is not the reality in the actual real world. Don't expect to be taken seriously by anyone outside your political bubble until you learn to communicate your concerns using reasonable language.
I think you're absolutely on point and right that you shouldn't be listening to me, a potential internet nobody. There's no way you could tell me or anyone here apart from an AI at this point.
You should be listening to actual reporters, such as Jonathan Rauch from The Atlantic: https://archive.is/Maalh "Yes, it's Fascism"
I guess the point is that they got this level of success (which GOG didn't reach) because they're based in US.
And I tend to agree with that, there are some reason, including the fact that it's a huge country with a wealthy population that use loans and credit cards to buy even more that they can afford. That creates a strong domestic market that you can leverage before having to look at international sales.
Nothing to do with the US government policies of course...
Good example. I’d want to look at the first-mover(ish) advantage Valve had and other differences in product timing/delivery before I concluded it was impossible to found a company like Valve in the EU.
I think this American exceptionalism is getting old. The country is a lot more capitalist and that stimulates certain industries, especially venture capitalism which is basically gambling with investor money.
But a lot of the companies that came out of this like Google, Meta, Microsoft are also a big net negative in the world and causing societal decay with their attention-driving algorithms and hard business practices used to establish their monopolies.
It's not surprising the more ethical business models come from the EU like GOG without its DRM. And valve isn't really one of the worst companies out there, but gog is a lot better and I always buy there if a game is available.
Europe has its issues but look at the state America is in right now. A lot of all that hate is fuelled by people who have been drawing the short end of the capitalism stick for decades. And are now mobilised by the people making things worse for them.
For what, being slightly less greedy than his peers?
Steam is what normalized always online DRM in gaming. Steam and Valve games also normalized micro-transactions and gambling mechanics. The guy is far from being a saint.
Agreed, the DRM and the always online and forced updates have bothered me ever since steam became a big thing.
I really like that on gog I can choose to install every version of a game ever released. So they can't remove content like music due to expired licenses etc.
In democracies money going to governments isn't sucked to some kind of vacuum. It's reinvested in infrastructure, social programs, investment programs, etc.
The US would be better off if it had more money to invest in healthcare and education, and Gabe would still be fine living in a house worth a few millions instead of on a half billion yacht.
> In democracies money going to governments isn't sucked to some kind of vacuum. It's reinvested in infrastructure, social programs, investment programs, etc.
In practice it mostly goes to other rich people/corporations and affluent retirees.
Around half of federal revenues go to retirees (and disproportionately to the affluent ones), another trillion+ dollars goes to defense/VA contractors, another trillion dollars goes to interest (i.e. other rich people/corporations), and then all the rest of it combined is less than any one of those things individually.
You don't think food security is something a country should invest in? Sure, let's have everything we need to live be produced in China, what could possibly go wrong.
This comes right after the news that Gabe purchased another Yacht (like his 6th or 7th?), so at least some fraction of the money is going towards normal billionaire stuff, which certainly doesn't help the homeless, or the even more oppressed Gamers.
Gabe is pretty cool and Valve is an amazing company that has done great things for both PC and Linux gaming. But this is not enough to counter the absolute shitshow that is USA right now.
But hey, they have midterms coming up this year. That's a great opportunity to redeem some of their earlier sanity. That is, if the democracy still exists then. It's not just the left that is worried -- many american centrists have started to wonder.
Seems like this price volatility might ultimately impact all kinds of consumer electronics. Even hardware that is already released like the Nintendo Switch 2 is probably getting its costs inflated by the RAM shortages.
Yes but less so because these parties have the clout to make large and long duration deals.
Valve while a big company will not move 1/10th of the hardware nintendo does so they will feel it more.
I'm more worried about the Frame. I assume the same will apply there. I was really looking forward to it but I don't think I'll be able to afford it now
It says everything is delayed in the article.
Thanks, I couldn't read it due to paywall. I've added a link to archive now.
https://archive.is/8mB6A
I didn't see any paywall. Sorry for this.
Here is valves original blog post "Steam Hardware: Launch timing and other FAQs": https://store.steampowered.com/news/group/45479024/view/6255...
I'm only interested in the steam controller, which is going to be delayed in bulk with the other hardware.
Can anyone help me understand the following.
> Can I play non steam games with the Steam Controller? The controller can work with any game compatible with the Steam Overlay.
So the controller will only work with games (including non steam) launched from the steam overlay?
Don't be sorry, on HN it's always practice to post the real link in the main post anyway :) The Verge probably show the first articles for free.
What's interesting to me is here is that we basically are in terra incognita with this RAM market.
We are at a point where the market is so concentrated that nobody wants to invest in production capacity anymore as everyone wants margins to stay high. So when companies pivot to new niche like data centers, you see penuries on the consumer markets with nothing happening to solve the issue. The boom and bust cycle seems over at least as long as demands stay stable. Baring a crash of the IA economy, I don't see any short term change coming from the key manufacturers.
Yet, what I find fascinating is that the whole oligopoly has pivoted so hard, they couldn't quickly pivot back to protect these markets if challenged. There is a unique opportunity for new comers if they can get the manufacturing capacities. Some Chinese manufacturers who used to make low grade chips could be tempted. They might be impaired by the new geopolitical situation however and the tarifs.
Damn i was really hoping to get one :(
And me the frame. But yeah. It was to be expected. :(
[flagged]
Gabe has New Zealand residency, maybe he could move Valve there ;)
Looking forward to the Steam Chully Bun
Why are you using a US VC's forum, so?
Why shouldn't he? I don't see how someone posting comments like that would benefit YC.
They're free to comment as they like, but as their comments are about disengaging from US-based tech and as there's no need to announce their departure, it just seems performative.
Great question. Force of habit that I really should get better from.
USA used to be cool (or so I thought) back when I started participating in this place. They have sunk very low in the last 15 years.
Let's make this actionable. This is the last time I read or write here. Bye. You guys won't lose much but I will gain a lot.
I hate Steam but if I can support Trump from over here by buying something of theirs maybe I should.
[EDIT] Why'd you delete a reply to this? I'll post what I was about to reply here
> [some cyrillic characters]
Just for your retarded belief that I am Russian and that Trump has 0 support in the heart of Europe I'm going to buy a Deck, a Machine, and a Frame. I'm going to look other businesses that support Trump that I can buy from. Is the My Pillow guy still on board? I don't like coffee either but I've seen a couple of them on the winning side. I wonder if they ship internationally. Shame I can't evade the import duties and therefore support this shithole with them.
I sure do love these irrelevant and heavily opinionated political social justice woes with all the usual buzzwords all over Hacker News these days.
Truth hurts?
"Fascist" is not a buzzword. It's your political reality. Are you culpable of letting that reality be?
It may be the reality in your mind but it is not the reality in the actual real world. Don't expect to be taken seriously by anyone outside your political bubble until you learn to communicate your concerns using reasonable language.
I think you're absolutely on point and right that you shouldn't be listening to me, a potential internet nobody. There's no way you could tell me or anyone here apart from an AI at this point.
You should be listening to actual reporters, such as Jonathan Rauch from The Atlantic: https://archive.is/Maalh "Yes, it's Fascism"
Maybe you should think about why a company like Valve could have never been founded in the EU instead.
CD Project Red and GOG, founded and headquartered in Poland?
I guess the point is that they got this level of success (which GOG didn't reach) because they're based in US.
And I tend to agree with that, there are some reason, including the fact that it's a huge country with a wealthy population that use loans and credit cards to buy even more that they can afford. That creates a strong domestic market that you can leverage before having to look at international sales.
Nothing to do with the US government policies of course...
Epic was founded in US and didn't reach such success too. I think this is not because of US based, more like because of Gabe Newell.
Good example. I’d want to look at the first-mover(ish) advantage Valve had and other differences in product timing/delivery before I concluded it was impossible to found a company like Valve in the EU.
I am interested in knowing why it's impossible. Only because of first mover advantage?
I think you’re reading my post wrong. I’m not stating it’s impossible.
What about it is incompatible with the EU?
All sorts of content that EU bureaucrats find objectionable like the sex games
You mean like showing a nipple on TV is some kind of hideous crime, while blowing heads off like watermelons is perfectly fine?
You know the big push against that comes from American credit card companies, right? Including the recent removal of games from steam.
Here in Europe sex isn't nearly as big a taboo as in the US, though they do want age gating.
I think this American exceptionalism is getting old. The country is a lot more capitalist and that stimulates certain industries, especially venture capitalism which is basically gambling with investor money.
But a lot of the companies that came out of this like Google, Meta, Microsoft are also a big net negative in the world and causing societal decay with their attention-driving algorithms and hard business practices used to establish their monopolies.
It's not surprising the more ethical business models come from the EU like GOG without its DRM. And valve isn't really one of the worst companies out there, but gog is a lot better and I always buy there if a game is available.
Europe has its issues but look at the state America is in right now. A lot of all that hate is fuelled by people who have been drawing the short end of the capitalism stick for decades. And are now mobilised by the people making things worse for them.
Are we defending billionaires again?
Gabe Newell? Yeah. He deserves it frankly.
For what, being slightly less greedy than his peers?
Steam is what normalized always online DRM in gaming. Steam and Valve games also normalized micro-transactions and gambling mechanics. The guy is far from being a saint.
Agreed, the DRM and the always online and forced updates have bothered me ever since steam became a big thing.
I really like that on gog I can choose to install every version of a game ever released. So they can't remove content like music due to expired licenses etc.
Also lets be honest, the main reason SteamOS exists is not to pay Windows licenses, that is all.
The moment Gabe bites the dust is when suddenly a lot of things become way shittier.
He's a great guy, but nobody deserves to be a billionaire. He would do great even if he was "just" a multi-millionaire.
I'd honestly much rather have him select where that money goes towards than many governments
In democracies money going to governments isn't sucked to some kind of vacuum. It's reinvested in infrastructure, social programs, investment programs, etc.
The US would be better off if it had more money to invest in healthcare and education, and Gabe would still be fine living in a house worth a few millions instead of on a half billion yacht.
> In democracies money going to governments isn't sucked to some kind of vacuum. It's reinvested in infrastructure, social programs, investment programs, etc.
In practice it mostly goes to other rich people/corporations and affluent retirees.
Around half of federal revenues go to retirees (and disproportionately to the affluent ones), another trillion+ dollars goes to defense/VA contractors, another trillion dollars goes to interest (i.e. other rich people/corporations), and then all the rest of it combined is less than any one of those things individually.
I live in a democracy (central Europe) and too much is spent on subsidizing farmers and useless social programs.
You don't think food security is something a country should invest in? Sure, let's have everything we need to live be produced in China, what could possibly go wrong.
Where do you think your food comes from?
Why do you think we don't have to worry about someone shooting us for 20€?
These things are not wasted money. They could be spent more efficiently, but I don't think they are a waste at all.
This comes right after the news that Gabe purchased another Yacht (like his 6th or 7th?), so at least some fraction of the money is going towards normal billionaire stuff, which certainly doesn't help the homeless, or the even more oppressed Gamers.
Gabe is pretty cool and Valve is an amazing company that has done great things for both PC and Linux gaming. But this is not enough to counter the absolute shitshow that is USA right now.
But hey, they have midterms coming up this year. That's a great opportunity to redeem some of their earlier sanity. That is, if the democracy still exists then. It's not just the left that is worried -- many american centrists have started to wonder.
https://www.theatlantic.com/ideas/2026/01/america-fascism-tr... -- https://archive.is/Maalh