Valve announces price of Steam Machine: Why is it priced higher than current gaming consoles

Valve has announced pricing and availability details for its upcoming Steam Machine gaming PC , with the entry-level model starting at $1,049. The company said the device will go on sale from June 29 through a reservation-based purchasing system. Interested buyers can register for a queue, which Valve will randomise before sending purchase invitations.

The Steam Machine's pricing places it significantly above current gaming consoles. For comparison, the digital PlayStation 5 is priced at $599.99, the Xbox Series X at $649.99, and the PlayStation 5 Pro at $899.99. Despite the higher price, the Steam Machine is positioned differently from traditional consoles, offering access to a user's existing Steam library and functioning as a full Linux-based PC.



Valve Steam Machine: Price, configurations and availability


Valve will offer four Steam Machine configurations :

• 512GB model: $1,049
• 512GB model with Steam Controller : $1,128
• 2TB model: $1,349
• 2TB model with Steam Controller: $1,428

The 2TB variants will also include two interchangeable faceplates, "red fabric" and "solid walnut", in addition to the standard black version.

Valve has introduced a reservation system for purchases. Users who register before Thursday at 1PM ET will be placed into a randomised queue. Those registering afterwards will join the end of the waitlist. The first purchase invitation emails are scheduled to be sent on June 29.

The Steam Machine's launch follows earlier this year's delays. Valve had initially planned to release the hardware in early 2026 but later cited memory and storage supply constraints as reasons for revisiting its pricing and shipping plans.

While the company has already released the Steam Controller separately, it has yet to announce pricing or availability details for the Steam Frame VR headset , which was unveiled alongside the Steam Machine.