The Steam Machine is unlikely to cost like a console, but its final price may not be that much higher than one, a new analysis suggests.
In a new video shared on YouTube, LinusTechTips has built a gaming PC featuring specs similar to Valve's upcoming system, providing a good preview of the performance the system is expected to offer (which is speculated to heavily rely on AMD FSR to deliver 4K resolution at 60 FPS gameplay). Building this system with off-the-shelf parts (some of which offered nice-to-have features that didn't significantly impact performance), purchased at their lowest historical price, resulted in a total cost of $602.
| Component Type | Component Name | Historical Lower Price |
| CPU | AMD Ryzen 5 8400F | $84 |
| Motherboard | Asrock B650M-H M.2+ | $100 |
| RAM | Crucial (2x8) 16 GB 5600MT/s CL46 | $44 |
| Case | Player's Choice | $50 |
| PSU | Seasnoic GX-550 550W | $55 |
| GPU | Asrock Challenger Radeon RX 6600 | $175 |
| SSD | Kingston NV3 500 GB | $38 |
| Controller | Gamesir Cyclone 2 | $56 |
On the other hand, if this system were to be built today under current market conditions, which are severely impacted by memory shortages that are already forcing companies such as CyberPowerPC to increase the prices of their gaming PCs, the cost would rise to $900. Going for cheaper parts that would keep the system's performance as is, the cost would be $813.
However, since Valve benefits from a direct-to-consumer model that lets them retain both brand and retailer margins, the total cost of the system (unlikely to be below $600–$650) will ultimately be decided by the markup Valve targets
If market conditions don't change further, Linus estimates that the system may cost $699.99, as this price is above the company's current cost. As the Steam Machine will be on sale for years, there will be plenty of opportunities for the company to improve its margins.
Although Linus' estimate sounds reasonable, based on the analysis, it's challenging to predict the Steam Machine's price accurately at this point. Valve has yet to confirm it, but has already stated that it will be really competitive, and in line with the cost of building a PC with similar specs, and that the system won't be subsidized, meaning that the company is not going to sell it at a loss at launch - something other console makers like Sony and Microsoft have done in the past thanks to the 30% cut on games sales from their own digital stores, a cut Valve also takes from every game sold on Steam.
No matter how much the system will cost, Valve is set to make the Steam Machine as accessible as possible to both users and developers, making the Steam Machine Verified badge requirements less stringent than the Steam Deck Verified badge.
About the author: Francesco De Meo has been covering video games and technology since 2012, starting his career at small outlets like Gamersyndrome and GeekSnack. After joining Wccftech gaming section in 2015, he quickly expanded his video gaming coverage with in-depth reporting, interviews with iconic industry figures such as Grasshopper Manufacture founder and No More Heroes creator Goichi "Suda51" Suda, Resident Evil series creator Shinji Mikami, Team NINJA's president and Nioh series director Fumihiko Yasuda, and Silent Hill creator Keiichiro Toyama, reviews and on-the-ground coverage of major industry events such as Gamescom and E3. When he's not reporting or reviewing, Francesco can be found playing the genres he loves most, spending time with his six cats, reading, writing music, playing guitar and drumming for his progressive rock band.
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