The Steam Machine Will Be Priced ‘Like a PC,’ Not a Console

The new Steam Machine‘s price may be more akin to a PC than a console, according to a YouTuber who spoke with Valve on the matter. While this isn’t Valve’s first foray into the console market, expectations are high after the company redefined the handheld space with the Steam Deck. There’s still a lot that gamers don’t know about the Steam Machine, but it sounds like those holding out for something cheaper than current-gen consoles may be in for disappointment.

Valve officially unveiled the Steam Machine on November 12, and fans immediately began to speculate about how it could upend the coming console generation. While the first round of Steam Machines that came out a decade ago failed to make a splash, more recent Valve hardware has had a much better track record. Many gamers suggested that the new system could undercut Xbox, which is also trying to bridge consoles and PCs, by pricing it below the Series X and PS5 range, but now that possibility seems uncertain.

Linus Tech Tips Says Steam Machine Will Be ‘Competitively Priced’ with PCs, Not Consoles

In a video about the upcoming system, popular tech YouTuber Linus Tech Tips says Valve told him the Steam Machine will be “very competitively priced with a PC,” but that its price will be more like a PC than a console. That’s worth noting because, as Linus explains, consoles typically subsidize their cost through game sales, allowing them to sell for less than an equivalent PC. While that may pour cold water on the idea of a sub-$500 system, it still leaves considerable room for interpretation, given how widely PC prices vary. Valve engineer Yazan Aldehayyat has said that the Steam Machine is better than 70% of Steam users’ specs, which may make a high price seem likely, but it’s worth noting that the platform’s most popular GPU is the four-year-old, mid-range RTX 3060.

In an interview with IGN, Aldehayyat also said that Valve wants to ensure the Steam Machine remains “as approachable, as affordable as possible,” saying it’s “going to be reachable for a lot of people.” Those comments, together with what Valve reportedly told Linus Tech Tips, make it sound like the system could land somewhere between a current-gen console and a higher-end PC. It sounds like it will at least remain a reasonably priced alternative to another notable PC-console hybrid, as Xbox President Sarah Bond has said the next Xbox will provide a “very high end” experience, sparking worry among some gamers.

Valve has confirmed that there will be two versions of the Steam Deck at launch: one with a 512GB SSD and another with a 2TB SSD. Given that dramatic difference in storage, the 512GB version could cost significantly less than the other model, which could help the Steam Deck remain affordable for a wider audience. Beyond that, though, fans will have to wait for an official price reveal to know more.

Brand

Valve

Operating System

SteamOS 3 (Arch-based)

Processor

Semi-custom AMD Zen 4 6C / 12T up to 4.8 GHz, 30W TDP

Resolution

Up to 4K @ 240Hz or 8K@60Hz

HDR Support

Yes

Original Release Date

2026