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Is the Steam Machine Worth It If Priced Like a PC?
Valve recently confirmed the Steam Machine will carry a price tag similar to mid-range gaming PCs rather than following the subsidized console model. Engineers Pierre-Loup Griffais and Lawrence Yang emphasized during an interview with Skill Up that the device won’t be sold at a loss like PlayStation 5 or Xbox Series X. This approach makes sense when you consider the Steam Machine’s flexibility—users can install any operating system they want, which means Valve can’t guarantee revenue from game sales like traditional console makers.
Expected Price Range
Industry observers estimate the Steam Machine will cost between $700 and $800. This puts it above the standard PS5 ($549.99) but competitive with the PS5 Pro ($749.99). The pricing reflects the hardware inside: a 6-core AMD Zen 4 CPU running up to 4.8 GHz, an AMD RDNA 3 GPU with 28 compute units, 16GB DDR5 RAM, and 8GB GDDR6 VRAM.
Why Not Cheaper?
Valve can’t risk aggressive pricing because the Steam Machine functions as a full computer. Companies could buy these devices in bulk for non-gaming purposes, cutting into Valve’s actual profit model—game sales through Steam. Console makers like Sony and Microsoft offset hardware losses through exclusive game sales and subscription services, but Steam’s open ecosystem doesn’t lock users into purchases.
What You Get for the Money
- Gaming performance matching or exceeding 70% of current Steam users’ PCs
- Storage options: 512GB or 2TB NVMe SSD with microSD expansion
- Display support: 4K at 240Hz or 8K at 60Hz via DisplayPort 1.4
- Compact size: 152mm x 162.4mm x 156mm, weighing 2.6kg
- Quiet operation in a small form factor
The device launches in Q1 2026, though Valve hasn’t locked down final pricing yet due to market fluctuations.