Steam Machine pricing to be competitive with entry level PCs
Valve announced the Steam Machine in November 2025 as a home-console sibling to the Steam Deck, accompanied by a new Steam Controller and a wireless VR headset called the Steam Frame.
The Steam Machine takes a utilitarian and bespoke design approach, similar to the Steam Deck. Its exterior consists of a black box measuring 5.98 by 6.39 by 6.14 inches, or 152 by 162.4 by 156 millimeters. The back panel features ports and a grille for the fan. The front includes a removable faceplate and a customizable LED light strip.
Internally, the device houses a semi-custom AMD Zen 4 CPU with six cores capable of reaching up to 4.8 GHz clock speeds. It pairs this processor with a semi-custom RDNA3 AMD GPU. Memory configuration includes 16 GB of DDR RAM dedicated to system operations and 8 GB of GDDR6 VRAM for graphics processing. Storage options come in 512 GB or 2 TB capacities.
These specifications position the Steam Machine as more powerful than the Steam Deck, which launched in 2022 with its own custom AMD chip. Valve avoids overstating performance in its communications. The company specifies in a blog post that the majority of Steam titles play great at 4K 60 FPS through AMD’s FidelityFX Super Resolution frame generation and upscaling technology.
Valve acknowledges variations in performance requirements across titles. Some games demand more upscaling than others. In certain cases, it may be preferable to play at a lower framerate with variable refresh rate to maintain a 1080p internal resolution, as stated in the blog post.
Digital Foundry, in a hands-on preview, raised points about potential limitations based on the specs. The analysts noted, “The decision to opt for 8 GB of GDDR6 memory has been proven to be a limiting factor on many modern mainstream triple-A games and falls short of the maximum VRAM pools and memory bandwidth available on both Xbox Series X and base PS5.”
Connectivity options support modern wireless standards. The Steam Machine includes Bluetooth 5.3 for pairing with compatible devices. Wi-Fi 6E enables high-speed wireless networking. An integrated 2.4 GHz adapter specifically accommodates the new Steam Controller.
Video output ports consist of DisplayPort 1.4 and HDMI 2.0, allowing connections to external monitors and televisions. USB connectivity expands with four USB-A ports on the back: two operate at USB 2.0 speeds, while the other two support USB 3.2 Gen 1. A single USB-C port provides additional versatility.
These features suggest flexibility comparable to the Steam Deck, enhanced by greater processing power. Testing remains necessary to assess real-world capabilities fully.
The Steam Machine operates on SteamOS, Valve’s Linux-based operating system. Any Steam game compatible with SteamOS runs on the device, subject to hardware limitations. Native Linux versions download directly for Linux titles.
Windows games and others rely on the Proton compatibility layer, integrated into Steam. Proton translates the game’s API calls and software features into Linux-compatible formats, simulating a Windows environment. Valve develops Proton in collaboration with CodeWeavers, creators of the CrossOver app for macOS compatibility.
Proton delivers strong results, sometimes enabling better efficiency on Linux than native Windows performance. Limitations persist, particularly with anti-cheat software unsupported on Linux, blocking many competitive multiplayer games.
Valve anticipates the Steam Machine influencing anti-cheat development. The company told Eurogamer, “While the Steam Machine also requires dev participation to enable anti-cheat, we think the incentives for enabling anti-cheat on Machine to be higher than on Deck as we expect more people to play multiplayer games on it.” Valve added, “Ultimately we hope that the launch of Machine will change the equation around anti-cheat support and increase its support.”
To assist users in identifying compatible titles, Valve extends its Deck verification program to the Steam Machine and Steam Frame. Verification evaluates controller support, default resolution, launcher requirements, and Proton compatibility with the game and its middleware.
Games receive one of four ratings: Verified indicates full functionality with Steam hardware at launch; Playable means minor user adjustments may ensure smooth operation; Unplayable denotes partial or complete failure; Unknown applies to untested titles.
An announcement to developers states that games verified for the Steam Deck automatically gain Verified status for the Steam Machine. Community resources like ProtonDB supplement this system with detailed user reports, addressing cases where official ratings prove incomplete, such as playable games labeled Unplayable.
Valve withholds a specific price or release date for the Steam Machine, Steam Controller, or Steam Frame. Designer Pierre-Loup Griffais informed The Verge that the Steam Machine’s pricing is comparable to a PC with similar specs.
Griffais described positioning closer to the entry level of the PC space, while remaining very competitive with a self-built PC from parts. This outlook suggests a cost exceeding the $499 PS5 price and the $399 Steam Deck LCD.
Component shortages impact pricing plans. In February 2026, Valve delayed hardware launches, targeting the first half of 2026. The company reconsiders pricing for the Steam Machine and Steam Frame due to limited availability and growing prices of critical components such as RAM.
The Framework Desktop illustrates these market pressures. Framework markets its compact PC for gaming, powered by an AMD Ryzen AI Max chip originally for laptops, with at least 32 GB RAM supporting 1440p gaming.
Framework raised the base model from $1,099 to $1,139 in January 2026 owing to RAM cost increases. Configurations with 128 GB RAM now reach $2,459. AI industry demand drives RAM shortages, collapsing consumer brands and eliminating deals. PC manufacturers, including Valve, face no immediate remedies beyond price adjustments.
Valve may offer multiple Steam Machine price tiers or bundles with other hardware. The Steam Controller and Steam Frame follow premium pricing trends.
For the Steam Frame, UploadVR reports Valve aims to price below the $1,000 Valve Index. This target still exceeds the $300 Meta Quest 3S significantly. The Steam Machine accommodates diverse peripherals. Bluetooth controllers and wireless accessories pair via Bluetooth 5.3. USB-A and USB-C ports support wired options.
The built-in 2.4 GHz dongle optimizes the new Steam Controller, which features touchpads and gyroscopes for varied input methods.
Steam Link integration streams games from the Steam Machine to the Steam Deck, Steam Frame, or Steam Link app over local wireless networks.