No budget gaming here: Valve’s Steam Machine will rival true PC prices as it confirms it won’t subsidize the price (which may be good for Xbox)

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The Steam Machine marks Valve’s second try at creating a gaming console. Their first attempt, launched about ten years ago, wasn’t successful. However, Valve hasn’t given up on the idea, and this new version appears much more promising.

The new Steam Machine uses SteamOS, which is built on Linux and offers a simple, console-like gaming experience. However, users also have the option to install Windows instead if they’d prefer.

As a gamer, I’m really hyped to see how well SteamOS has done with the Steam Deck! It’s awesome that it’s also led to more and more games being playable on Linux through Steam – it feels like a turning point for PC gaming!

Ever since it was announced, everyone’s been wondering how much it will cost. Valve hasn’t officially said yet, but they’ve given a few clues, and it’s becoming clear the price might not be what people initially expected. Rumors are swirling, but a confirmed price is still missing.

What Valve have actually said

Valve says the Steam Machine will be priced similarly to a PC with comparable capabilities. Current estimates range from about $700 to almost $1,000, but this price point probably won’t significantly affect the console market, particularly given the current economic situation in the US.

As I’ve been researching the Steam Machine, a key difference from the Steam Deck has become clear: Valve isn’t planning to sell the hardware at a loss. With traditional consoles, companies often take a hit on the initial hardware cost, knowing they’ll recoup that money – and make a profit – through game sales. That’s historically made consoles more affordable, and it’s why the Steam Deck was so competitively priced. This time around, it seems Valve isn’t willing to do that.

As a gamer, I was really hoping the Steam Machine would be affordable, but it looks like it might end up being pretty expensive – more than a lot of us are willing to spend on a new system. And honestly, the biggest bummer is hearing it won’t be able to run popular multiplayer games like Call of Duty, Fortnite, or Minecraft. That’s a dealbreaker for a lot of players, myself included!

YouTuber SkillUp recently asked Valve engineer Pierre-Loup Griffais about the cost of the device and if Valve would help cover some of the expenses. Griffais responded by saying:

This pricing fits with what you’d typically see in today’s PC market. We aimed to offer excellent performance for the price. Plus, it includes features that are difficult to replicate when building a custom gaming PC. Specifically, its compact size and incredibly quiet operation are major highlights. We’re excited for people to experience just how silent it is! It also boasts useful integrations like HDMI CEC, and we’ve focused heavily on wireless connectivity – with four antennas and a design optimized for using up to four Bluetooth controllers seamlessly.

Valve Software Engineer: Pierre-Loup Griffais

While it’s positive that Valve is being honest about the cost, the pricing is still a letdown. If the Steam Machine isn’t affordable, it could easily fail like the first version, which never really caught on because it didn’t appeal to enough people.

It would be disappointing if that happened, as the market benefits from increased competition and innovation. A powerful device for the living room centered around Steam could have really delivered that.

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2025-11-25 01:40