James Ratcliff joined Game Rant in 2022 as a Gaming News Writer. In 2023, James was offered a chance to become an occasional feature writer for different games and then a Senior Author in 2025. He is a third-generation Texan who has written professionally for over a decade, addressing various topics for his readers.
The Steam Machine will not be as affordable as customers had originally hoped, as a Valve software engineer confirmed that the upcoming system will not have subsidized pricing. Valve confirmed rumors that the Steam Machine will be priced closer to a PC than a game console, meaning that its overall price is at the mercy of RAM and graphics card prices.
Originally announced on November 12, the upcoming Steam Machine is Valve’s latest attempt at making a system that caters to console gamers. Though no pricing or release dates have been confirmed by Valve, the Steam Machine is expected to launch sometime in 2026. The Steam Machine is powered by a six-core AMD processor that can reach clock speeds up to 4.8 GHz, and will have some degree of customization that users can take advantage of, such as the ability to install other operating systems. The Steam Machine will have 512 GB and 2 TB models for users to pick from, and support for up to 8K resolutions via DisplayPort.
Steam Users Have Until November 24 to Claim Free Co-Op Action Game
Steam users can add a popular first-person co-op game with a ‘Very Positive’ review average to their game libraries for free, but not for long.
Valve Confirms the Steam Machine Won’t Be Sold at a Loss
While past rumors about the Steam Machine painted a bleak picture of its pricing, a Valve software engineer confirmed that the upcoming system may bear a steep price. In an interview with SkillUp on YouTube, Valve software engineer Pierre-Loup Griffais stated that the Steam Machine will not be sold at a subsidized price, and that its price would compete with PCs that offer similar specifications. Griffais said that the Steam Machine’s goal is “for it to be a good deal at that level of performance” once it reaches consumers. Given that the Steam Machine uses 16GB of DDR5 memory alongside 8GB of video memory from its AMD graphics processor, the price of the Steam Machine will likely be at the mercy of RAM and GPU prices.
As of this writing, desktop RAM prices have soared by at least 200% through the fall, as supply normally reserved for consumers has been allocated to AI-based servers that are being constructed by companies like OpenAI and Google. This has resulted in DDR5 memory kits that sold for $90 back in August 2025 soaring to over $250 three months later. The skyrocketing price of RAM may also have an effect on current-gen consoles, as rumors of Microsoft considering another price hike on Xbox consoles have begun to circulate on social media.
Given that the Steam Machine is said to be more powerful than 70% of Steam users’ systems, its success will depend on the price customers are willing to pay. However, time will tell when Valve will share more details about the Steam Machine.
- Brand
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Valve
- Operating System
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SteamOS 3 (Arch-based)
- Processor
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Semi-custom AMD Zen 4 6C / 12T up to 4.8 GHz, 30W TDP
- Resolution
-
Up to 4K @ 240Hz or 8K@60Hz
- HDR Support
-
Yes
- Memory
-
16GB DDR5 + 8GB GDDR6 VRAM
Your Steam Library in more places.
With over six times the horsepower of Steam Deck, Steam Machine has the power to play your whole Steam library, including your favorite AAA titles. Just sign in with your Steam account and your entire library is there.
Core features that define Steam Machine
SteamOS –
An OS optimized for gaming, with fast suspend/resume, and cloud saves. And that’s just the start.
Small form factor – Put it under your TV. Set it on your desk. Hide it under a banana. It’s powerful PC gaming packed into a roughly 6-inch (~160mm) cube.
Cool & quiet – Steam Machine keeps cool and runs whisper-quiet, even while running the most demanding games.
I/O for days – Ready for all the peripherals and monitors you can throw* at it: 1 Gigabit Ethernet. DisplayPort 1.4. HDMI 2.0. One USB-C and four USB-A ports.
*But, like, don’t actually throw things at it.
CPU & GPU – 4K gaming at 60 FPS with FSR, thanks to a discrete semi-custom AMD desktop class CPU and GPU.
Storage – Available in two storage sizes: 512GB and 2TB. Both come with expandable storage via microSD.
Connectivity – 2×2 Wi-Fi 6E, plus Bluetooth 5.3 with a dedicated antenna. Steam Controller’s wireless adapter is built right into Steam Machine for direct pairing.
Power – No giant brick! Steam Machine’s power supply is built right in.
