Valve reveals official prices for Steam Machine: four models and over 1,000 euros each

Valve has officially announced the prices and pre-orders for Steam Machine, the compact living room PC based on SteamOS that aims to bring the entire Steam library to your home TV with a console-like form factor. The base model with 512 GB starts at 1,039 euros, while the 2 TB model reaches 1,359 euros, with bundles including the Steam Controller priced at 1,108 and 1,428 euros respectively. The expected launch is in summer 2026, but available units will be limited and allocated via random drawing.

What are Steam Machines?

Unlike Steam Deck, which is a portable PC, Steam Machine is a fixed box designed exclusively for the TV setup: it connects to a monitor or TV, is used with a controller, and functions like a console, but with the open architecture of a PC. It is based on a semi-custom AMD processor with an integrated GPU featuring 8 GB of GDDR6 VRAM, complemented by 16 GB of DDR5 RAM and NVMe SSDs in 512 GB and 2 TB configurations. The operating system is SteamOS 3, derived from Linux: the entire Steam library is accessible, but games requiring DRM such as Easy Anti-Cheat or kernel-level anti-cheat on Windows may not run, a point on which the community is already divided. Valve claims a power six times greater than Steam Deck and a form factor of about 15 cm on each side, with magnetically interchangeable front panels made of solid walnut and red fabric included in the 2 TB models. For those wanting to customize the exterior, Valve will also release CAD files.

Reservation System

Reservations are open on the Steam store until June 25 at 19:00 Italian time: anyone who registers before that deadline will participate in a random drawing, just like for the initial batches of Steam Deck and Steam Controller. Those selected will receive an email and can proceed with the purchase; others will end up on a waiting list. According to Valve, the units from the first batch will ship on June 29, but those in line might wait until 2027 or longer. The limited availability at launch is not a commercial choice but a direct consequence of the memory component crisis, which has forced Valve to scale back initial production.

The Price Point

Valve has openly admitted, in the official statement, that the original price set in 2023 (the date when component procurement began) is no longer sustainable: “In the last year or so, things have changed rapidly, especially for RAM and storage. The overall effect is that our initial target for the price of Steam Machine is no longer feasible,” reads a note from the company. The current prices reflect the costs of components over the last six months and, with the SSD market still volatile, it is possible that the pricing could be revised upwards in the future, just as it has already happened with Steam Deck. Compared to a PS5 or an Xbox Series X, Steam Machine costs double or more; compared to a desktop PC with similar specifications, the gap narrows, but it remains the most expensive choice for those aiming for console gaming without going through Windows.

Controversies and Divisions

The announcement has generated polarized reactions. Part of the community contests the positioning: at those prices, Steam Machine does not cater to users looking for a simple system to place under the TV, but to those already within the Valve ecosystem, aware of the limitations of SteamOS, and accept the price as the cost of accessing an open platform. The other, more technical criticism concerns the decision not to keep hardware prices low through revenue from Steam: Valve explained that it wants to avoid the model of closed platforms, where PlayStation and Xbox can push software margins to sell hardware at more aggressive prices, but the result is a list price that excludes a significant portion of the audience. The reservation system based on a lottery has also found its detractors: those wanting to purchase a machine for over 1,000 euros and expecting to be able to order it without having to hope for a drawing have good reasons to be unhappy.