Valve officially unveiled its new Steam Machine hardware today, but one major detail is still missing: the price. During an interview, Valve hardware engineer Yazan Aldehayyat said the company is targeting a “competitive” and “affordable” price point that reflects the value of the small six-inch cube device.
Aldehayyat explained that the team kept affordability in mind with every design choice, especially with rising inflation and tariff concerns impacting global hardware costs.
“If you’re trying to build a PC with similar features and performance, the Steam Machine is going to be priced very competitively and offer strong value,”
— Yazan Aldehayyat, Valve
Valve still hasn’t announced prices for the Steam Controller or the Steam Frame VR headset either. The Steam Machine is scheduled to launch in Spring 2026, with preorders expected beforehand.
Industry Predictions: How Much Will It Actually Cost?
$400 – The Ideal Entry Price
Rhys Elliott (Alinea Analytics) believes $400 for a base model with a controller would be the “sweet spot,” especially as console prices keep rising.
For comparison:
- PS5 Digital Edition – $499
- Xbox Series X Digital – $599
He warns that pricing above $500 risks pushing the Steam Machine into “niche PC” territory rather than a living-room console alternative.
$800–$1,200 – Premium Hardware, Premium Pricing
Other analysts expect a much higher price:
- Michael Futter (F-Squared) predicts $800–$900 for a 512GB model and $1,000–$1,100 for a 2TB version.
- David Cole (DFC Intelligence) also expects a start around $800, scaling up to $1,000.
They argue the specs could rival or even outperform a PS5 Pro, which would justify a “hefty price tag.” Valve might sell at very low margins or even break even.
$550–$750 – Mid-Range Positioning
Joost Van Dreunen (SuperData) estimates:
- $550 for the base model
- $750 for the 2TB model
He suggests Valve could take a small loss per unit to expand SteamOS adoption:
“The real revenue isn’t from the box—it’s from the ecosystem.”
Valve’s Hint: “Priced Like a PC”
Linus Tech Tips spoke with Valve and was told the company can’t disclose pricing yet due to “rapidly evolving market conditions.”
However, Valve did reveal one clue:
The Steam Machine will be priced like a PC, not like a subsidized console.
More From Valve
Beyond hardware, Valve is also developing Deadlock, a new MOBA currently in testing, though it still has no official release date.
