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Valve Signals PC-Style Pricing for Steam Machine Ahead of Early-2026 Launch

Analysts say pricing will decide its reach beyond the Steam faithful.

Overview

  • Valve told Linus Tech Tips the device will be priced like a PC rather than a subsidized console, with no MSRP announced yet.
  • Price estimates from industry analysts range roughly from the mid-$500s to about $1,000, with component and tariff volatility cited as key variables.
  • Linus Sebastian recounted frosty reactions when he floated a $500 'console price,' reinforcing expectations that the sticker could exceed typical console levels.
  • Valve claims over six times Steam Deck performance, 4K at 60 fps via FSR, and parity or better than 70% of surveyed home PCs.
  • Coverage highlights constraints that could limit adoption, including a fixed GPU with only SSD upgrades, no disc drive, Linux anti-cheat compatibility gaps, and expectations from some observers that performance sits below PS5.