Steam Machine Launches at $1,049 — More Than Valve Ever Wanted to Charge

Valve's long-awaited Steam Machine has finally arrived, but it's coming in at a steeper price than anyone — including Valve itself — had hoped. The new living room PC console carries a $1,049 price tag, a significant jump from the $789 target the company had originally set, a figure that mirrored the launch price of the Steam Deck. According to a Valve engineer, the higher cost is a direct result of today's brutal hardware and component market, though the company maintains that the machine still represents "good value" for what buyers are getting. Valve has openly acknowledged the awkward position this puts budget-conscious fans in, admitting the final price was "more expensive" than it wanted.

Despite the sticker shock, the Steam Machine is generating plenty of buzz — and not just for its specs. Peripheral maker Dbrand has released a Companion Cube-themed case mod for the system, a lovingly crafted, undeniably premium accessory built around a 19-year-old Portal joke that has left at least one writer at Rock Paper Shotgun simultaneously annoyed and impressed. For newcomers to PC gaming, outlets like Polygon have stepped in with explainer guides breaking down exactly what the Steam Machine is, how it differs from a traditional console, and whether it's the right buy for those looking to make the leap from PlayStation or Xbox.

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