Steam Machine Price Revealed: Linus Tech Tips Builds It

Linus Tech Tips broke down the system specs and dove into what they feel Valve’s console-killing hardware could cost. Following the Steam Machine specs relatively closely, the team quickly built their own version of the Steam Machine that will run on your TV in your living living room once Valve releases the device to the world.

After gathering the required gear and opting for a couple of higher-end components, the device cost quickly rose above $1,000. However, Valve benefits from a direct-to-consumer model, allowing them to take both brand and retailer margins when selling the Steam Machine. Valve told Linus that they want their hardware business to be “sustainable.” Most console manufacturers, such as PlayStation and Xbox, sell hardware at a loss but regain the expense from software sales. It appears that Valve isn’t looking to lose much from their hardware at all. So, where does this place the estimated price tag on the Steam Machine?

According to Linus,Valve will likely not sell the console for $600 or even $650, aiming to be more competitive and in line with some of the current consoles. Instead, Linus feels that the Steam Machine, in the current market, will likely be priced at around $699–$799 USD, or $977–$1,120 CAD - ouch!

However, when getting down to brass tacks, the Steam Machine does come with a large number of gaming and non-gaming benefits. Right now, when playing online with Xbox or PlayStation, players pay a monthly fee for Game Pass and PlayStation Plus - something that doesn’t happen (currently) on the Steam platform. We simply play our games, online or offline. The games catalog is affordable and often features Steam sales. There is also the non-gaming functionality of the platform - it is a PC, after all.

Once the team had built their Steam-like machine, it was time to put it to the test. They placed the gaming machine beside a PS5 to compare Cyberpunk 2077 performance. Ultimately, there was very little difference, if any. The lighting appeared to have a slight edge on the PS5 when running Cyberpunk, compared to the machine built to Steam Machine specs. But with Steam pushing FSR for 4K resolution and most games supporting 60 FPS, the Steam Machine seems nearly comparable to the Xbox and PS5 consoles for gaming. However, it’s hard to get past the potential price tag of Valve’s upcoming hardware.

Let us know what you think the price will be for the Steam Machine, and would you pay the estimated price? Hit us up over on our Discord.