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What is the most you would pay for the Steam Machine?

What is the most you would pay for the Steam Machine?

  • $399 (400)

    Votes: 26 8.7%

  • $499 (500)

    Votes: 43 14.4%

  • $599 (600)

    Votes: 50 16.7%

  • $699 (700)

    Votes: 49 16.4%

  • $799 (800)

    Votes: 26 8.7%

  • $899 (900)

    Votes: 8 2.7%

  • $999 (1000)

    Votes: 15 5.0%

  • $1099 (1100)

    Votes: 2 0.7%

  • $1199 (1200)

    Votes: 4 1.3%

  • I am not buying a Steam Machine, regardless of the price. It doesn't appeal to me.

    Votes: 73 24.4%

  • Money is no object. I must have it. You don't have enough poll options to reach my limit.

    Votes: 1 0.3%

  • Other

    Votes: 2 0.7%
  • Total voters
    299
Humdinger

Humdinger

Member
I'm curious. What is the most you would pay for the Steam Machine?

For the sake of poll clarity, let's assume we are talking about the lower-end, 512 GB model. Further, let's assume we are talking about the price of the console + the controller. I understand that Valve will be selling the console alone, without a controller, but to me - and I suspect to most people - buying a console means getting a controller with it.

The Steam Machine is a fairly well-known quantity at this point, but I've pasted a summary below for those who want a quick overview.

So, what is the maximum you would be willing to pay? Don't worry, we won't hold you to it. You're allowed to change your mind later. I'll make the votes invisible so you don't have to worry about that.


Google AI Summary:

The 2026 Steam Machine is a compact, living-room-focused PC console developed by Valve, designed to run SteamOS 3 and deliver a seamless, console-like gaming experience on TVs. It features a 6-inch, small-form-factor design with AMD Ryzen (Zen 4) CPU and Radeon (RDNA 3) GPU hardware, delivering 4K 60fps performance with FSR upscaling, and is aimed at bridging the gap between PC and console gaming.

Core Basics and Features
  • Purpose: A dedicated, pre-built living room PC designed to play Steam library games on a TV without the complexity of a desktop setup.
  • Operating System: Runs SteamOS 3, a tailored Linux-based system.
  • Performance: Offers significantly higher performance than the Steam Deck (reportedly 6x more). It is designed for 4K 60fps gaming using FSR.
  • Hardware Specifications:
    • CPU: 6-core Zen 4 processor.
    • GPU: RDNA 3 with 28 compute units.
    • RAM: 16 GB DDR5.
    • Storage: 512 GB or 2 TB NVMe SSD options.
  • Form Factor: A 6-inch cube, making it smaller than many console alternatives.
  • Controller: Designed to be used with the new Steam Controller 2.
  • Connectivity: Includes HDMI 2.0/2.1, DisplayPort 1.4, Wi-Fi 6E, Bluetooth 5.3, and multiple USB ports.
Key Takeaways
  • Console-like Experience: It is "plug-and-play," removing the need for intensive Windows maintenance or keyboard/mouse navigation in the living room.
  • Versatility: While focused on gaming, it is still a PC, capable of running desktop applications via KDE Plasma.
  • Upgradability: Allows for some user upgrades to storage and memory.
  • Emulation: The hardware is well-suited for high-end emulation of older consoles.
  • Release and Price: Expected to arrive in 2026, with estimated pricing around $650–$800.
 
I was interested initially but just holding out for a Deck 2 Oled instead. I'll pick up the Steam controller for that. If they end up on sale at any point for like £350-£400 I'd probably be tempted though.
 
Yeah, it's my poll, and I'm not even sure myself. 600? 700?

A lot depends on my level of motivation to get into PC gaming, and that seems to vary quite a bit. Some days I'm enthusiastic, other days I couldn't care less. I should get back on my meds.
 
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I have both PS5 and Switch 2, I dont see the point getting Steam machine.
 
Dumb machine with even dumber specs. Zero interest. Make a real machine with real specs and we'll talk.
 
Interesting how many would rather hold out for the Deck 2. I wonder what the plans for that are in the midst of this pricing crisis? I assume it would be a ways out with all the new hardware expected later this year. I would have guessed 2028 at the earliest. Now I wonder if the plans for the next Deck are pushed back even farther?

I was always thinking $700 for the top end model Steam Machine, but that seems unlikely now. Maybe $700 for the low end and $800-$850 for the top end.
 
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Voted for $899, it's about my upper limit that I could possibly justify the purchase.
 
Depends if my new PC still works or not.
Currently I have a working PC I'll pay $800 for a Steam Machine.

Ask me again when my PC breaks. I'll pay $1200 for a Steam Machine.
 
Danjin44 said:
I have both PS5 and Switch 2, I dont see the point getting Steam machine.
Click to expand...
Steam is the point.

GAF's favourite game ever - Expedition 33 is $65CAD on Steam right now. $67CAD on PS Store.

You can get it for about 40% off on Instant-Gaming, and that's just one of many options. That's the benefit of Steam in the living room.

Having said that. Anything over $400 is a no go for me.
 
Even though "I am not buying a Steam Machine, regardless of the price. It doesn't appeal to me" is the closest answer for me, it's not technically true because I'd probably consider buying one if it were under $500. However, there's no way it's releasing at that price point.
 
Loomy said:
Steam is the point.

GAF's favourite game ever - Expedition 33 is $65CAD on Steam right now. $67CAD on PS Store.

You can get it for about 40% off on Instant-Gaming, and that's just one of many options. That's the benefit of Steam in the living room.

Having said that. Anything over $400 is a no go for me.
Click to expand...
With consoles I have he option trade in my physical copy of the game I no longer play to save money, price of the games is not really issue for me here.
Senua said:
Access to infinitely more games?
Click to expand...
I'm getting all the games I need from both PS5 and Switch 2, heck I'm already having hard time keeping up with all the games coming out with just these two systems.

Again for me Steam Machine is absolulty pointless.
 
I've no real need of one now, but maybe I'll have an interest in the next generation, assuming Valve continues on with them into the future. I'd rather have them publicly release Steam OS with proper Nvidia support now, and then a sequel to the Deck with higher TDP dock station capabilities a few years from now.
 
jshackles said:
Voted for $899, it's about my upper limit that I could possibly justify the purchase.
Click to expand...

That's what I voted as well. As this point, won't be surprised if it is a lot higher. Steam Machine will really be the first indication we will have as far as what pricing we can expect going forward.
 
$699 seems fair for what's in it, although I have enough spare parts that I think I'll just build a linux machine and try that first. If it works out I'll put the money towards a new GPU.

DoktorCoktor said:
I'd rather have them publicly release Steam OS with proper Nvidia support now, and then a sequel to the Deck with higher TDP dock station capabilities a few years from now.
Click to expand...

This is what I would want too.
 
If it's less powerful than a PS5 and a PS5 could have been had for $399 then I guess that much but to be honest I have no interest in it so, really, zero.
 
DoktorCoktor said:
I've no real need of one now, but maybe I'll have an interest in the next generation, assuming Valve continues on with them into the future. I'd rather have them publicly release Steam OS with proper Nvidia support now, and then a sequel to the Deck with higher TDP dock station capabilities a few years from now.
Click to expand...
That's the dream and I hope they do, I would get rid of W11 in a heartbeat.

That said I'm warming up to the idea of buying one considering I hardly care about graphics those days and I doubt there will be a lot of progress in the next 2-3 years. Maybe at €600-€700 if the controller is good.
 
Danjin44 said:
With consoles I have he option trade in my physical copy of the game I no longer play to save money, price of the games is not really issue for me here.
Click to expand...
That is a good point.

I'll be honest, I don't really take reselling of games into account. It's been over 10 years since I last bought a physical game at this point.
 
Danjin44 said:
With consoles I have he option trade in my physical copy of the game I no longer play to save money, price of the games is not really issue for me here.

I'm getting all the games I need from both PS5 and Switch 2, heck I'm already having hard time keeping up with all the games coming out with just these two systems.

Again for me Steam Machine is absolulty pointless.
Click to expand...

Good luck reselling game key cards that nobody wants.

I used to do this when I was younger too but it's too much of a pain in the ass running around to post offices etc.
 
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500 quid so 600 dollars, which i don't think the Steam Machine will retail at, it will be higher, but for me you might as well buy a cheap PC at those higher prices and yeah i am a PC gamer so i am biased slightly.
 
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Funny thing is that during BF, you could have gotten a gaming laptop for $799 (or maybe even less) with a reasonable enough CPU and the 5050. Not anymore of course.
 
Kacho said:
It's going to lose mass appeal when the word gets out that you're paying a premium price for a device less powerful than a PS5.
Click to expand...
It already lost mass appeal because it's coming from Valve and they aren't ramping up their production capabilities which are relatively miniscule.

Why anyone talks about this thing like it has dick all to do with game consoles is beyond me.
 
Are they actually going to put this in retail or just only on steam like steamdeck? If it's the same case as steamdeck it will only be a niche product.
 
IntentionalPun said:
It already lost mass appeal because it's coming from Valve and they aren't ramping up their production capabilities which are relatively miniscule.

Why anyone talks about this thing like it has dick all to do with game consoles is beyond me.
Click to expand...

Exactly. This isn't even gonna be available at retail stores. They aren't gonna spend money advertising it. I bet it won't even be popular among hardcore gamers like Steam Deck is because that audience already has desktop Pcs for the most part.
 
If it's around the power of a Ps5 then maybe $700.
It's more than the console, but the price difference would be quickly offset by the free multiplayer and much cheaper games.

If, as some people suggest, it performs worse than a Ps5 then I don't really have any interest in it unless it's insanely cheap (like under $299).
 
Won't be buying it even with a super cheap price now since I already got my new PC. Even before the 8 gb vram was a massive turn off so I wouldn't have gotten it unless it was at a unrealistically cheap price because it was barely better than my old pc and was still limited to 8gb of vram.

So my answer is wont be buying it and my answer a few months ago before I got my new PC was 400.
 
BennyBlanco said:
Exactly. This isn't even gonna be available at retail stores. They aren't gonna spend money advertising it. I bet it won't even be popular among hardcore gamers like Steam Deck is because that audience already has desktop Pcs for the most part.
Click to expand...
It's at tough sell at retail. How do you explain to the average person that it runs Steam OS (Linux) and that every game that is in Steam is not guaranteed to necessarily work? I bet machines would be returned left and right in most cases. No retailer wants that headache.

Good luck trying to sell it on the "It's also a PC" point and then have to explain that its Linux in the desktop mode. Plus you have to actually reboot to get to that desktop, taking you out of the gaming interface the machine was made for.

With Windows it's a hardware limitation. With Steam OS/Steam Machines you face hardware and OS limitations. One has to assume that those buying directly from Valve themselves have some understanding of these limitations.
Outside of some Stores in Japan, the Deck never made it to retail either.

I know some third-party decks are out there but there is a bit of forgiveness because they are handhelds and one must assume it has limitations. Overall, these are very niche and since big vendors are behind them, they can probably deal with returns easily.

The original Steam Machine was available through Gamestop for Pre-Order but never made it to the store shelves. Plus, it hurt that nobody at GameStop knew what the hell the machine was. I think they may have had cards advertising the controllers but no controllers in the store. LOL!!!
 
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I think I will probably skip this. I would like a "TV box", but I have my older build (not my main PC) with a 3080, and I could probably just get a decent looking small case and mATX board instead, and then install Linux on top.

If I didnt have that, I would lay up to $700 or so which I don't think is going to happen.
 
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