Steam Machine Arrives — But the Price Will Shock You

They finally shipped it. And yes, the sticker shock hits before you even lift the lid.

Valve has put firm numbers on the Steam Machine: the 512GB model lists for $1,049 and the 2TB edition for $1,349. Want Valve’s Steam Controller? Expect to pay $1,128 for 512GB or $1,428 for the 2TB bundle. You don’t have to take the controller—any compatible gamepad will work—but Valve does include two extra faceplates, one red fabric and one solid walnut, with every unit.

There’s a catch to buying one. Steam’s store page is accepting sign-ups until June 25 at 10:00 AM Pacific. After that, Valve will run a one-time random selection to decide who gets the right to purchase. If you’re chosen, you’ll have from June 29 and 72 hours after notification to complete the order, or your spot goes to the next person. You’ll also need a Steam account in good standing with at least one purchase made before April 27, 2026.

Hardware-wise the Steam Machine is unapologetically PC. It packs a 6-core, 12-thread AMD Zen 4 CPU hitting up to 4.8GHz and an RDNA3 GPU with 28 compute units up to 2.45GHz. System memory is 16GB DDR5 at 5600MHz—but in a single 16GB SO‑DIMM, so reviewers note it runs in single-channel by default. There are two slots, though, which means doubling the RAM later is straightforward. The GPU gets 8GB of GDDR6.

Storage comes in two flavors—512GB or 2TB—both standard M.2 drives, so upgrades are easy if you want more room for games. A microSD slot is on board, and Valve even lets you swap cards between the Steam Machine and a Steam Deck. The unit houses an internal power supply, keeping the chassis compact and tidy.

Software is SteamOS 3, the same modern Linux-based platform Valve has been refining and offering for install on other hardware. That flexibility is the Machine’s strongest selling point: you get a small-form-factor, Linux-first gaming PC that fits into a living room setup much more neatly than a desktop tower.

Still, context matters. The launch was delayed last year amid supply and memory price chaos, and Valve kept its pricing plans under wraps while the market shifted. That makes today’s numbers easier to understand, if not to stomach—especially after Valve’s recent Steam Deck price hikes that pushed the 1TB model to $949. Relative to consoles, the Steam Machine undercuts nothing: it’s pricier than a $900 PlayStation 5 Pro and well above the standard PS5.

If you prize openness, upgradability and a compact Linux gaming box, the Steam Machine is worth considering—if you can live with the price.

Is it the best value for raw performance? Probably not. Is it the small, flexible gaming PC some users have been asking Valve for? Absolutely. Decide which matters more to you before you sign up.