Tech YouTuber Estimates Valve’s Price for Steam Machine
A popular YouTuber is giving fans an idea of just how much the Steam Machine will likely cost, following the launch of the highly-anticipated home console. Since the debut of the Valve-operated online marketplace in 2003, Steam has grown into one of the biggest gaming platforms in the world with millions of daily users. Steam has become one of the main hubs for PC gaming, hosting a wealth of different developers on the storefront, with Valve even launching its own handheld console with the Steam Deck. Now, Steam is getting ready to step into the world of home console gaming.
Valve officially announced it would be entering the home console market in early November, unveiling the Steam Machine. The developer has given fans plenty of early information about the specs for the Steam Machine, with the console confirmed to be running an AMD Zen 4 GPU alongside 16 GB of DDR5 RAM. Many fans assessing the console have even suggested its hardware will put it right alongside the PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X, with access to the full Steam library. A new assessment of the Steam Machine is now giving fans an idea of just how much the Steam console will cost.
What Is a GabeCube, and Why the Steam Machine Has Become Meme Gold
Valve recently revealed its brand-new Steam Machine, and the viral console-like PC now has its own nickname and meme: the GabeCube.
Tech YouTuber Estimates Steam Machine Launch Price
Popular gaming and tech YouTuber Linus Tech Tips gave his thoughts on the potential price point of the Steam Machine in a recent video. Within the video, Linus uses the same specifications and parts given by Valve to build a comparable gaming computer to the Steam Machine, assessing the cost of parts to be roughly $602 for Valve, though that price point does not take inflation into account. The video posits that, given that the cost to Valve is sitting around $600 USD, the Steam Machine will likely release at a price point around $699 USD. Valve has previously stated that it will reveal the pricing for the Steam Machine next year, closer to the console’s scheduled release window in Q1 2026.
The Steam Machine Could Be a Major Home Console Competitor
A $700 USD price tag for the Steam Machine would look to make it a major competitor in the home console market, despite being higher than its competitors. Sony’s PlayStation 5 typically runs for $549.99 USD for a new console direct from Sony, while the Xbox Series X bottoms out at $599.99 for the digital version from Microsoft. The Steam Machine being sold for $700 would see it only sitting at roughly $100-$150 higher than Sony and Microsoft’s main consoles.
The Steam Machine looks to have a lot going for it ahead of the console’s debut, both for its price point and its library of software. Linus Tech Tips referred to the console as a “compelling deal at $700 USD,” feeling that the console’s build makes it worth the speculated price point. The Steam Machine’s release comes as Valve has more experience with the console market than its first iteration in 2015, seeing success with the Steam Deck’s debut in 2023 and releasing multiple new iterations of the handheld. The Steam Machine’s game library is also expected to be a major factor for many fans, likely having access to most, if not all, of the Steam catalog.
While the Steam Machine’s hardware is comparable to its competitors, the availability of many PC-only games should be a big draw for fans. The Steam Machine will make a variety of previously PC-exclusive games playable on a home console for the first time, including popular titles like Project Zomboid and Garry’s Mod. The Steam Machine will also offer an easy transition for fans familiar with the Steam Deck, using the same SteamOS that runs on the handheld console. Valve looks to turn the console gaming market on its head with the Steam Machine set to be a major player in the industry.
Source: VGC