Updated
Updated · Kotaku · Jul 18
Valve Warns RAM Shortages Lag 3-6 Months, Driving Higher Prices by 2027
Updated
Updated · Kotaku · Jul 18

Valve Warns RAM Shortages Lag 3-6 Months, Driving Higher Prices by 2027

3 articles · Updated · Kotaku · Jul 18

Summary

  • Valve engineers said RAM shortages are still worsening, with retail supply trailing bulk-market conditions by three to six months and further price increases likely by early 2027.
  • Yazan Aldehayyat said the sourcing problem has exceeded expectations, while Pierre-Loup Griffais said Valve is building as many systems as it can but remains constrained by memory capacity.
  • Griffais had already said in June that Valve lacked DRAM supply contracts and instead received monthly take-it-or-leave-it offers on limited volumes from manufacturers.
  • The warning underscores how AI-driven memory demand is squeezing hardware makers, with a separate class action accusing Samsung, SK Hynix and Micron of colluding to raise RAM prices.

Insights

Three firms control 95% of the world's RAM. Are they engineering a shortage for profit, or just feeding the AI boom?
With AI giants buying all the memory, can a massive lawsuit stop PC and console prices from spiraling out of control?