Valve, the company that owns the immensely popular Steam storefront and that kicked off the handheld gaming craze in 2022 with the Steam Deck, just covertly announced three new Steam devices today.
The entrée is an all-new Steam Machine powered by a six-core AMD Zen 4 CPU and a semi-custom RDNA 3 GPU, together capable of delivering “4K gaming at 60 FPS” when using AMD’s FidelityFX Super Resolution (FSR). It’s sort of like a console, except it has access to Steam’s gigantic library of PC games and it runs on SteamOS.
Valve didn’t reveal a price for the Steam Machine — Here’s what I think it will cost
Valve hasn’t yet set a price for the Steam Machine, so I’ll preface this by reminding you that it’s all speculation.
Jumping back to the Steam Deck’s launch in 2022, Valve focused on attractive pricing and a tight ecosystem with its custom OS and massive collection of games rather than raw power.
The Steam Deck’s custom AMD chip wasn’t cutting edge, and its display was rather ordinary. You could pick up an introductory model for $399, though, which was too good a deal for many gamers to pass up.
I’m expecting to see a similar situation with the Steam Machine. Valve has opted for a Zen 4 processor and an RDNA 3 GPU to power the device, both of which are a generation behind the latest Zen 5 and RDNA 4 architectures from AMD. Regardless, Steam says the Machine should provide more than six times as much performance as the Steam Deck.
Here’s a quick look at the raw specs of the Steam Machine.
|
Feature |
Specifications |
|---|---|
|
Models |
512GB model and 2TB model. Can ship bundled with or without a Steam Controller. |
|
CPU |
Semi-custom AMD Zen 4, 6C / 12T, up to 4.8 GHz, 30W TDP |
|
GPU |
Semi-Custom AMD RDNA3, 28 CUs; 2.45GHz max sustained clock, 110W TDP; Supports 4K gaming @ 60 FPS with FSR; Ray tracing supported; Over 6x more powerful than Steam Deck. |
|
Memory |
16GB DDR5 + 8GB GDDR6 VRAM |
|
Storage |
512GB & 2TB SSD models; microSD card slot for expanded storage / portable catalog. |
|
Power |
Internal PSU, AC 110–240V |
|
DisplayPort 1.4 |
Up to 4K @ 240Hz or 8K @ 60Hz; HDR, FreeSync, daisy-chaining |
|
HDMI 2.0 |
Up to 4K @ 120Hz; HDR, FreeSync, CEC |
|
Networking |
Ethernet 1 Gbps; Wi-Fi 6E (2×2); dedicated BT antenna |
|
USB |
USB-C 10 Gbps (3.2 Gen 2); 4× USB-A ports (2× USB 3 front, 2× USB 2 rear) |
|
Controller Radio |
Integrated Steam Controller 2.4GHz radio |
|
Compatibility |
Works with other controllers, accessories, and PC peripherals |
|
Wake Function |
Wake with Steam Controller |
|
OS |
SteamOS (like Steam Deck); Gaming-first UX; Fast suspend/resume; Steam Cloud saves + full Steam features. |
|
LED Bar |
Customizable colors & animation; Reflects system status (downloads, booting, updating) |
There’s also not really one standout feature that I can see will drive the Steam Machine’s price up, other than the option for 2TB of storage. There are no Thunderbolt licenses required from Intel (nor any USB4 for that matter), no Windows 11 licensing fees, no display, no wacky case design, no built-in controls, and basic performance specs.
Considering you can currently buy a new Steam Deck with an OLED display, four-core Zen 2 CPU, RDNA 2 GPU, 16GB of RAM, and 512GB of storage space for $549, I wouldn’t be surprised to see the new Steam Machine debut somewhere between $650 and $750.
It’s worth mentioning that the Xbox Series X Digital Edition now sells for $599.99 in the US, jumping to $649.99 for a version with a disc drive. The PS5 Pro costs a whopping $749.99, but you can pick up the standard Slim edition with a disc drive for about $550.
It’s expected that the next console generation will be more expensive as Microsoft attempts to further bridge consoles and PCs, but that’s still a way out.
I wouldn’t be surprised to see the new Steam Machine debut somewhere between $650 and $750.
This makes it extra important for Valve to set the Steam Machine’s price at something both console and PC gamers can appreciate. Too expensive, and console gamers will simply wait for the next Xbox. Too expensive, and PC gamers will build their own system for less or check out the growing selection of great mini PCs already on the market.
Steam says it plans to sell the Steam Machine alone or bundled with its new Steam Controller. With long battery life, magnetic TMR thumbsticks, and dual touchpads, I’d wager that the Steam Controller should cost somewhere between $100 and $200. Whether or not you’ll see a discount with a bundle remains to be seen.
Valve’s secret weapons: free online play and affordable games
Something that might get overlooked is the value that Valve’s ecosystem delivers. Like the Steam Deck, and Steam Machine will run SteamOS, a custom Linux-based operating system that’s stripped back to focus on performance and ease-of-use.
Valve’s Steam store, the largest vendor of PC games in the world, is also a huge boon. There are countless PC-exclusive games that I wish my console gamer friends could enjoy, and the timely sales events often drive prices to unbelievable lows.
Steam’s ecosystem also includes powerful social tools, making it easy to game with your friends. Best part? There’s no monthly fee to get online and play, which is a requirement for console gaming.
Will tariffs, supply chains, and memory shortages drive up the Steam Machine’s price?
The tech market has been under siege from tariffs, supply chain breakdowns, and component shortages for months, and the future isn’t exactly looking bright. I can’t predict what global trade will look like next year, but I do know that AI could cause a problem.
One of the biggest issues I see affecting the Steam Machine’s Spring 2026 launch is memory and storage pricing. There is a massive DRAM shortage right now caused by the frantic buildout of AI infrastructure, and it’s not expected to end anytime soon. The same surge is now affecting hard drive prices.
I have no idea what Valve’s supply chain looks like, but it’s hard to imagine it can escape the same squeeze that is driving $100 RAM modules for your PC up to $500 and beyond.
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