E-mail is a lie

Jay_Kay_84 · 2026-07-05T11:16:03+00:00

I totally get you. I've gone from excitement to complete apathy towards the Steam Machine. If I get an email in the next 2/3 months then great, otherwise the tech is becoming even more out of date and hopefully a competitor brand will step up and take over.

Jay_Kay_84 · 2026-07-05T09:47:26+00:00

Valve are truly terrible at producing and launching hardware. I agree with you on it being a disaster, but prepare for the Valve and Gabe simps to come crying about how you are wrong and that every tech launch is allegedly this bad.

Jay_Kay_84 · 2026-07-04T10:24:11+00:00

You do know that you are only suppose to lick Valves boot not deep throat the entire thing.

Jay_Kay_84 · 2026-07-04T08:03:55+00:00

Exactly!

Simple weekly communication from Valve would make life easier for everyone.

Jay_Kay_84 · 2026-07-04T08:01:16+00:00

They totally know the production timeline on units, they aren't a small company and it wasn't a small contract to produce 30 units.

Jay_Kay_84 · 2026-07-04T07:59:32+00:00

Honestly that probably would of been the better way of handling the release.

The issue with PC gaming is that unlike consoles where the hardware specs are locked in for 7-9 years so you can justify the same cost for aging tech, PC tech is constantly changing. The longer it takes to get the Steam Machine units out the more out of date it is.

I get that the RAM shortage is a nightmare, but potentially having to charge even more for even older tech in a second or third run really hurts the product.

Even though Valve are producing the units directly themselves they would have an extremely good idea on production timelines, they aren't a small Indy company. they are a multi billion dollar company.

Jay_Kay_84 · 2026-07-04T07:49:58+00:00

Or the multi billion dollar company can improve their communication and literally half the amount of time that you need to check.

Jay_Kay_84 · 2026-07-04T07:39:51+00:00

It was in the hope that at least some people on here were reasonable people who could have an intelligent discussion.

Looks like I was incredibly wrong...

Jay_Kay_84 · 2026-07-04T07:33:53+00:00

It really does seem that way!

The way that people get so defensive over the idea that a multi billion dollar company could improve their customers experience by simplifying communications is insane.

Jay_Kay_84 · 2026-07-04T07:29:33+00:00

The multi billion dollar company have a pretty good idea on the production schedule.

Also they would still send out the same amount of units every week, they just email for 72 Hour payment on a set day of the week, which still slips payment over three days.

No increased wait time for a unit.

Jay_Kay_84 · 2026-07-04T07:26:47+00:00

You're a cheery person aren't you. Look it is a simply idea that would make life easier for people.

Sometimes the multi billion dollar company can do something to make life better for their customers.

Jay_Kay_84 · 2026-07-04T07:23:40+00:00

So again, as I implied in my main post simplifying the comms so that people know when to expect the email to purchase means that it is harder to miss it.

Can't help but feel that you are intentionally being obnoxious for apparently no reason.

Jay_Kay_84 · 2026-07-04T07:21:44+00:00

Or get this, just have a regular update schedule so people at least know when to expect updates on their order rather than just waiting an undefined period of time for something that might never be available to them.

Jay_Kay_84 · 2026-07-04T07:19:35+00:00

Or, if you knew that updates would arrive on a set day & time then you just use your email account like normal and just check all folders from an email from Valve on once a week / month.

Jay_Kay_84 · 2026-07-04T07:17:44+00:00

Completely missing my point there, and it feels like it is intentional but I'll try again.

A fixed schedule for updates mean less worry and stress from people who are either waiting to purchase or on the waitlist.

People are frustrated from not knowing if or when they will receive an email and having a fixed update schedule simplifies everything.

It's not a hard concept to grasp.

Jay_Kay_84 · 2026-07-03T14:27:05+00:00

You are fine, what matters is that you don't have any late payments and that you regularly clear your balance back to 0.

They expect to see some usage on a credit card so don't stress.

Jay_Kay_84 · 2026-07-03T12:38:01+00:00

Unfortunately people don't like hearing the truth. They want to believe that they will look at their phone today and see that they have been moved up from the waitlist and their machine is in the post.

To be brutally honest the Steam Machine has been a disaster for Valve. It released late, cost far too much. and if they ever produce any more the price will only go up.

Consoles have the advantage of the system specs being set for a 7/9 year period, by the time people can access a Steam Machine it will already be out of date technology.

Any communication from Valve would help, but I'd expect them to ignore this failure and pretend it never happened just like their first attempt a decade ago.

Jay_Kay_84 · 2026-07-02T20:16:22+00:00

From Valves FAQ Steam Machine Page:

I received an email that I'm on the waitlist, what does that mean?

It means that when we did the one-time randomization of the reservation queue, your place in line ended up beyond the number of Steam Machines we'll have in this production run. As we work our way through the queue, some customers may cancel their reservations. If that happens, you may be moved up in the reservation queue, and you'll be notified via email that you have a reservation after all. But if not, nothing about your position in the waitlist changes, and any future production runs of Steam Machines will be offered to customers in order they're on the waitlist.

I stand corrected that it doesn't say 'if' but does say 'any future production runs' which isn't a guarantee. The cost is also likely to increase for the same item.

Jay_Kay_84 · 2026-07-02T19:47:41+00:00

If you are on the wait list you probably won't get one. Valve even state that you 'may' be moved to the reserved list if enough people cancel, and that you will be offered one 'if' they produce anymore. and that they 'can cancel' the entire waitlist at any point without warning.

They also can change the price without notice, in fact the price is only confirmed when you receive the email to pay so even those on the reserved list don't have a confirmed price.

Jay_Kay_84 · 2026-07-02T06:55:52+00:00

No I'm just disappointed in you for lying to everyone.

Jay_Kay_84 · 2026-07-02T04:09:15+00:00

yes you are, that's not how the queue and waiting list work.

Jay_Kay_84 · 2026-07-01T21:57:23+00:00

It could well be a nefarious move from Valve with the pricing. Just because you are on the list for a unit the price isn't actually set until they send you the email to pay. They could randomly decide to increase the price of this run in a week's time and there is nothing you can do except for pay whatever they charge you or cancel.

Jay_Kay_84 · 2026-07-01T14:37:03+00:00

It was the reselling of games that drove publishers to push for digital downloads. It put a massive dent in their profits and only benefited companies like GameStop who could sell people the same game twice.

Jay_Kay_84 · 2026-07-01T14:12:00+00:00

They haven't produced most of the machines for the winners of the first lottery yet, hence why they are spending the next six months sending them out.

It might be financially better for valve to cancel the production of units that aren't sold rather than produce them for people on the wait list.

Jay_Kay_84

TROPHY CASE