The new Steam Machine from Valvesparked a strong debate in the industry after the company confirmed that its price will not follow the traditional console model. According to Linus Tech Tips, the device will be sold "at the price of a PC" and not as subsidized hardware, surpassing devices like PS5 and Xbox.
Valve did not provide exact figures, but made it clear that it will not incur losses in manufacturing, something common with Sony and Microsoft consoles. In this scenario, specialists anticipate that the price could exceed 600 dollars, well above the range some enthusiasts had imagined.
¿Qué se sabe sobre la versión para PS5 y Xbox Series?
A device aimed at competing with PCs
Valve emphasized that the Steam Machine will be "competitive against a PC", but that its price will not follow the logic of the console market.
Linus explained that this decision is based on two main reasons:
Avoid impacting the margins of Steam's developers and partners.
Not relying on buyers to purchase games within the platform.
"There is no guarantee that a corporate purchase of thousands of units will generate a single game sale", he noted in his analysis.
La compañía presentó la nueva Steam Machine
What the new Steam Machine offers
The device will have a compact six-inch format and will feature "more than six times the power of Steam Deck." It also promises:
4K gaming at 60 fps with FSR.
Custom desktop-level AMD CPU and GPU.
Streaming to other devices, including Steam Deck.
Valve will officially launch the device in the first quarter of 2026, along with a renewed Steam Controller.
The price, the big unknown that defines its future
Analysts from Ampere Analysis emphasized that the device's success will largely depend on the final price. Katie Holt explained that they see a scenario similar to Steam Deck, with sales of several million units if the price is competitive.
However, she warned that adoption may be affected because its power is below that of a high-end gaming PC. Therefore, the amount will need to be adjusted to what it offers.
Why a price between 400 and 500 dollars is ruled out
In recent days, speculation placed the Steam Machine in the 400 to 500 dollar range. However, after Valve's confirmation, that scenario has been completely ruled out.
