Valve Won’t Subsidise Steam Machine, Expected to Be Pricier Than More Powerful PS5

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As of November 23rd, 2025, we’re learning more about the potential price of Valve’s Steam Machine, though official numbers aren’t available yet. Current indications suggest it will be less expensive than the powerful PlayStation 5.

Valve developer Pierre-Loup Griffais told Skill Up that the company isn’t planning to lower the price of its new handheld gaming device, and it will likely cost about the same as a comparable gaming PC.

He said:

We’re aiming to price our product competitively with building a similar performance PC yourself. We want to offer a good deal, and we’re still finalizing the pricing. It’s hard to say exactly what the price will be right now due to current market conditions. We won’t be subsidizing the cost; instead, the price will reflect what you’d typically pay in the current PC market.

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It’s still hard to say for sure what the final cost will be, but estimates currently fall between $500 and $750, and could potentially be higher.

It’s now apparent that the Steam Machine won’t compete with the PlayStation 5. Instead, it will focus on a completely different group of customers.

Valve hasn’t announced the price of its new Steam Machine yet, making it hard to say how well it will compete with the PlayStation 5.

A recent report shared by Linus Tech Tips indicates that the new gaming hardware likely won’t be as affordable as the PlayStation when it launches.

According to a report from Dexerto, a YouTuber felt a negative vibe during a preview of a new device, hinting that it would be very expensive – comparable to the price of a game console.

He explained on the WAN Show that after meeting with Valve, he’d quoted a price of $500 for the console. He noted that while no one directly responded, the atmosphere in the room felt tense.

This isn’t a definite confirmation by any means – impressions aren’t official statements, and Valve employees could simply be keeping a straight face.

If the Steam Machine turns out to be less powerful than the PlayStation 5 and also costs more, it’s hard to see how it would be a good deal for consumers.

The device still has some good points, like its open platform and access to Steam’s huge game collection. However, even Linus Tech Tips believes it will be hard to convince people to buy it if the price is over $600.

Valve likely isn’t trying to appeal to everyone with this device, so its potential impact on the broader market might be limited. However, they’ll eventually need to announce a price, and it will be interesting to see how much it costs.

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2025-11-23 08:37