Griffais explained that the company is facing the same cost pressures as other manufacturers, noting that shipping and raw materials are significantly more expensive than in previous years. He stated that Valve is trying to be on the cheapest side possible despite these conditions. The interview suggests that price pressure on gaming hardware will not ease immediately when memory supply stabilises, as the AI-driven demand that pushed up DRAM prices is also affecting other components.

The pricing for the Steam Frame comes as Valve faces increased financial pressure on its hardware division, following a period of lower-than-expected sales for the Steam Deck. The company is now passing the full cost of inflation down to buyers, unless it chooses to implement console-style subsidies. This move could set a precedent for other PC hardware manufacturers facing similar supply chain challenges.