While exciting details continue to emerge about Valve’s new hardware, a potential return to the gaming world, the official announcement regarding the highly anticipated Steam Machine’s price has upset gamers. It appears the company will not follow its usual pricing strategy in the console market.

The Steam Machine price will not be subsidized

Gaming giants like Sony and Microsoft typically build their user bases and generate profits from game sales by selling their consoles at cost or at a loss. However, Valve has officially announced that it will not choose this approach.

Valve software engineer Pierre-Loup Griffais stated in an interview with SkillUp that the device’s price will not be subsidized. Griffais stated that the pricing will be “in line with the current PC market,” signaling that the device will not be a cheap console alternative.

The device’s price will be determined by the cost of its hardware components. The machine, which features a 6-core AMD processor, 16GB of DDR5 RAM, and 8GB of video memory, will be particularly affected by fluctuations in the RAM and graphics card markets.

While analysts and tech publishers expected the device to be priced in the $500 range, it’s estimated that the price could rise to $700-$800 after this announcement. Rising RAM prices, particularly due to demand for AI servers, could also push this cost up.

While no specific release date has been announced yet, the Steam Machine is expected to launch in 2026. The device will come with two storage options: 512GB and 2TB. Valve is positioning this device as a high-performance, customizable PC suitable for the living room, rather than a console.

So, what are your thoughts on the Steam Machine price and Valve’s strategy? Share your thoughts with us in the comments!