Microsoft has confirmed that one key piece of Xbox hardware is about to increase in price.
In Japan, the recently launched ROG Xbox Ally X is, as reported by GameRant, set to rise from 139,800 yen to 169,800 yen.
That’s an increase of roughly $195 or £144. The price of the lower-end ROG Xbox Ally remains unchanged.
The price rise is yet to hit other territories, but it’s nigh impossible to say that won’t eventually happen.
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This price rise is all down to the RAM shortages that are currently wreaking havoc in the gaming and tech industries.
To bring you up to speed, these shortages have been caused by a rise in demand for AI.
RAM, or Random Access Memory, is a computer’s short-term memory, allowing it to temporarily store data and application information which the CPU can then access.
When you speak to an AI chatbot, somewhere in the world, there’s a datacentre processing your request that requires quite a lot of RAM.
With more and more data centres being erected, RAM shortages have emerged which is affecting everyday items like computers and gaming consoles.
I could stand here all day listing the reasons why I hate AI, but I won’t digress.
RAM Shortages Could Hike Up The Price of Valve’s Steam Machine
The effect of all this is that buying RAM as a component is now much more expensive which is why in Japan, that cost has been passed onto the consumer when it comes to the ROG Xbox Ally X.
As I said, I expect we’ll see plenty more price rises across the industry in the coming weeks and months.
This spells bad news for Valve’s upcoming Steam Machine.
The highly anticipated hardware has already had its launch date and pricing information reveal delayed.
The Steam Machine is somewhat of a console/PC hybrid, offering the benefits of a PC on a device that’s designed more in line with what you’d expect of a console.
The ROG Xbox Ally X fills precisely the same gap. It may look like a handheld akin to, say, the Nintendo Switch, but it’s essentially a small computer.
If we’re seeing price increases affect the ROG Xbox Ally X, it’s not a stretch to say that Valve may be forced to do the same with the Steam Machine.
It would certainly explain why the reveal of the console’s pricing was delayed.
I can’t help but feel for Valve. We’re hearing that Microsoft and Sony have delayed their next-gen consoles in an attempt to wait out these RAM shortages.
Valve doesn’t really have that luxury, with the Steam Machine already on the precipice of launching.
I have a feeling that this hardware could be a success, but will it become a victim of the conditions it launched within? Only time will tell.