Valve has the potential to take over the console world with Steam Machine, or at least be a serious competitor to PlayStation and Xbox. Sony remains on top of the world, all thanks to a market-leading console and a worthwhile range of exclusive games, while Xbox is stuck behind as it explores a new future where hardware is no longer its primary purpose. For Nintendo, it just does its own thing and it's fun to do, so let's ignore them for now.
But if Valve fails to fully value this upcoming hardware release, it will remain a relatively niche product that only ignites the passion of existing hardcore PC players. And judging by recent comments made in interviews, it's going to drive consumers closer to the PS5 Pro's asking price than the Xbox Series S's affordable heyday, or even higher. What that price might be remains unclear as Valve continues to refine the release model, but I suspect it will compete directly with existing consoles. Chances are it will cost a little, or a lot, more…
How much will Valve's steam engine cost?
Speaking on a recent episode of The Friends on Second podcast with Jake Baldino and SkillUp, Valve's Lawrence Yang and Pierre-Loup Griffis were asked about their current pricing plans for the Steam Machine and how it would fit into the current gaming landscape. While their answers were purposefully vague to avoid giving away specifics, it's still interesting:
“I think if you build a PC from parts and basically get to the same level of performance, that's the general price window we're aiming for,” Griffes explained.
“Ideally, we'd be very competitive with that and have a very good deal, but we're working to refine it as we speak, and right now it's a difficult time to get a really good idea of what the price is going to be because there are so many different things that are fluctuating.”
Asked if Valve would be willing to subsidize Steam Machine parts in order to sell units at lower prices, Griffis said the company doesn't intend to take a loss on hardware: “No, it's in line with what you can expect from the current PC market,” he said.
“Our goal is to have a good compromise at that level of performance. And then you have features that are really hard to build if you're building your own gaming PC from parts. Things like the small form factor and I think the noise level or lack thereof that we've achieved is really impressive and we're excited that people are going to find out how quiet this thing is.
Form factor, horsepower, noise levels, and many other factors will play a role in how much a Steam Machine ends up retailing for, and right now Valve is keeping its cards close to its chest. I can't blame Valve for wanting to control the message, but I want to know if I should hold off on buying a new gaming PC and wait for Steam Machine, or if I'm better off biting the bullet now.
Both PlayStation and Xbox console prices have risen in response to a number of external factors over the past year, and potential drops don't seem likely. So, the Steam Machine will appear in a market where gamers are looking for more reliable options, and Valve finds itself in a position to offer that and potentially expose it to a whole new audience.
I'm a console gamer at heart, and these days only game on PC if my work life demands it, but over the years I've built up a huge Steam library that I love to experience in new ways. If the opportunity arose to experience a device that was not only a capable console, but also a PC in its own right, from the comfort of my couch, I would pull the trigger in a second. But it looks like it's targeting people who want to build a PC but don't know how, rather than trying to lure console gamers into a one-to-one system swap. Much like the Steam Deck isn't a direct replacement for the Nintendo Switch, the Steam Machine isn't a direct replacement for your PS5.
Does the Steam Machine want to compete with other consoles?
“In line with what you'd expect from the current PC market” tells me that Valve doesn't need to compete with PlayStation and Xbox. As the Steam deck has already proven, there are millions of PC gamers who are more than willing to expand their list of hardware and experience games in new ways, but the PC still remains at the center of their ecosystem. Then there are people like me, who were able to rekindle their love with the platform thanks to a portable console that has no interest in me sitting at my desk to experience things I can't play anywhere else.
Steam Machine can emerge as a serious contender in the console market and still do right by Valve loyalists, though the company has no interest in taking market share from industry leaders when it already knows it's unstoppable. The reason the machine, frame, and new controller were all announced on the same day in such casual fashion is because Valve knows it has a built-in audience that will pick up literally anything out of equal parts curiosity and dedication, as well as faith in the hardware brand.
You can use the Steam Machine as a console for your television or a PC next to your desk, and it will likely remain effective no matter what, and that's going to command a high price for the sheer number of case scenarios. It is likely to run you more than a typical console that has been on the market for years. I'll be there on day one, but only time will tell if this hardware has what it takes to change video games forever.
- brand
-
valve
- operating system
-
SteamOS 3 (Arch-based)
- processor
-
Semi-custom AMD Zen 4 6C / 12T up to 4.8 GHz, 30W TDP
- Original release date
-
2026
