Valve have officially revealed the prices for the new Steam Machine. There is a base version with 512GB and one with 2TB, while the bundle with a controller costs extra. Pre-orders are open through June 25, and sales begin at the end of the month.
Valve entered the market
The community’s main reaction was entirely predictable: Valve entered the market right away with a price tag above $1000. That became the main topic of discussion, because many people expected the device to be noticeably cheaper.
At the same time, Steam Machine is being presented not as a regular console, but as a compact living-room PC on SteamOS, designed for gaming, fast launch, and cloud saves. In other words, Valve are not just pushing a new box, but their own vision of home gaming.
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How much the different versions cost
The cheapest 512GB Steam Machine comes with a $1049 price tag, but without a controller included. The 512GB version with a gamepad costs $1128.
The 2TB model without a controller is priced at $1349, while the full bundle with a controller costs $1428. So the gamepad itself adds about $79 to the price, and that is also an important point, because even the entry-level version no longer looks budget-friendly.
What matters to know about pre-orders
Valve did not launch a completely traditional pre-order system, but rather a reservation system. You can sign up through June 25, after which the company will distribute purchase slots.
So this is not a “first to click the button gets it” format. It looks like Valve are trying to reduce pressure from bots and resellers so that the sales launch is more controlled.
Why the price became the main problem
The main weak point of the release right now is obvious — it is the price. The $1049 threshold automatically places Steam Machine in the category of expensive devices that will be compared not only with consoles, but also with standard gaming PCs.
That is why Valve will have to explain why a user should pay that kind of money. The company is betting on convenience, SteamOS, and a more open device model, but for many players the main question will still remain a simple one: is that price justified?
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Official Steam Machine prices
Valve have finally announced the official prices for Steam Machine, and the main takeaway here is very simple: the device turned out to be more expensive than many people expected. The base model starts at $1049, while the top version with a controller reaches $1428.
Now the main question is not whether the device itself is interesting, but whether the audience is actually ready to buy into Valve’s new format at that price.
