The Steam Machine, Is Coming Soon

Valve's upcoming Steam Machine is confirmed to be on track for an early 2026 release, according to AMD CEO Lisa Su. During AMD's latest earnings call, Su stated, "Valve is on track to begin shipping its AMD-powered Steam Machine early this year." This suggests a launch by the end of March, though Valve has yet to officially confirm this timeframe. The company has remained quiet on the price, likely due to the increasing cost of PC components. The Steam Machine aims to provide a mid-level gaming PC experience in a console-like form factor, running on SteamOS.

There are many speculations about the release of next-generation consoles; specifically, it’s unlikely to happen soon due to RAM price increases. While PlayStation 6, according to the latest report, is expected to launch later than expected, Jez Corden from Windows Central gives another update on Microsoft’s new Xbox console. According to him, the new Xbox is expected to be released in late 2027 or even later. "The next Xbox is a full Windows PC, that much we know," Corden reported. "What we know less is exactly how Microsoft is going to go about it. The next Xbox is still a fair bit away, dropping in late 2027 at the earliest, according to my most recent information." This timeline aligns with AMD's recent statements about the development of a semi-custom SoC for the next-gen Xbox.

The price of the Steam Machine has been a subject of much debate. Last year, Linus Sebastian of Linus Tech Tips suggested it would not follow a "console pricing model" of $500. In an interview with Skill Up, Valve's Pierre-Loup Griffais and Lawrence Yang provided more context without giving a specific number. Griffais mentioned that the Steam Machine is more powerful than 70% of the gaming PCs registered on Valve's hardware survey.

Image credit: Rock Paper Shotgun

He elaborated on the pricing strategy, saying, “I think that if you build a PC from parts and get to basically the same level of performance, that's the general price window that we aim to be at.” This suggests a price point likely above $750, with some estimates placing it between $700 and $800. For comparison, the base model of the PS5 with a disc drive is priced at $549.99.

When asked by Skill Up if Valve would subsidize the hardware to gain market share, Griffais's response was a clear "No."

He explained:

"It's more in-line with what you might expect from the current PC market. Obviously, our goal is for it to be a good deal at that level of performance.”

He then detailed the value proposition of the Steam Machine, highlighting features that are difficult to replicate in a self-built PC. These include its small form factor, quiet operation, and integration features like HDMI CEC, which allows users to control their TV with the device. The extensive Bluetooth and wireless capabilities, including four antennas and an integrated Steam Controller receiver, were also emphasized. Griffais pointed out the convenience of being able to turn on the machine from a controller, a feature not always straightforward on a PC.

“Being able to sit down on your couch, press one button on your controller, and the whole thing lights up like you'd expect for a thing that's in your living room, I think that's really valuable,"

— Griffais stated.

"And there's not really a price point to that because it's not really something that exists in the PC market right now.”

Valve designer Lawrence Yang added a personal note, saying:

"for me one of the benefits of Steam Machine is, I'm someone who used to build my PC in college and I am too old and tired to do that now!”

However, not everyone is convinced by Valve’s strategy of not subsidizing the hardware. Michael Douse, publishing director at Larian Studios, suggested on social media that Valve might lose more by not having a larger user base on the Steam platform, which he described as "essentially a money printing machine." Douse added:

"That said it isn't stupid to not sell things at a loss, just peculiar in this case."

Read also, a recent leak offers prices for different entry-level models of the upcoming device, and it could be quite expensive for some players.