Valve Confirms the Steam Machine Won’t Receive Subsidized Pricing

Valve has officially confirmed that the upcoming Steam Machine will not be sold at a subsidized price—dashing earlier hopes that the system might launch closer to the cost of mainstream game consoles. Instead, the device will be priced similarly to a mid-range gaming PC, with its final cost heavily influenced by the rising price of RAM and graphics hardware.

A Premium Device Aiming for Console Gamers

Announced on November 12, the Steam Machine represents Valve’s latest attempt to bridge the gap between console and PC gaming. While the company has not yet revealed a price or release date, the system is expected to launch sometime in 2026.

Powered by a six-core AMD Zen 4 processor clocking up to 4.8 GHz, the Steam Machine will support certain user customizations—such as installing alternative operating systems—and will come in 512GB and 2TB models. The device aims high, offering up to 8K output through DisplayPort.

Valve Confirms: No Subsidized Pricing

In an interview with SkillUp, Valve software engineer Pierre-Loup Griffais confirmed that the Steam Machine won’t be subsidized. Instead, it will be priced to compete with PCs offering similar specs.

Griffais emphasized Valve’s goal:

“For it to be a good deal at that level of performance.”

This means the Steam Machine’s retail price will fluctuate with the market costs of its components—including 16GB of DDR5 RAM and 8GB of GDDR6 video memory.

RAM Prices Could Push Costs Even Higher

Unfortunately for consumers, this confirmation comes during a period of soaring global RAM prices. Throughout the fall of 2025, DDR5 memory has surged by over 200%, driven largely by supply being diverted to AI infrastructure projects from companies like OpenAI and Google.

Memory kits that sold for $90 in August 2025 now cost more than $250, and the trend is showing no signs of slowing.

This spike has already fueled rumors of Microsoft considering yet another Xbox Series X/S price increase, further signaling how strained the hardware market has become.

Powerful Hardware—But at What Cost to Consumers?

Valve has stated that the Steam Machine will outperform over 70% of current Steam users’ PCs, positioning it as a compelling upgrade option. Yet its ultimate success will depend heavily on whether gamers are willing to pay a premium for a compact, console-like PC.

For now, all eyes are on Valve as fans wait for official pricing and launch details.

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Steam Machine Technical Specifications 

General Hardware

CPU:

• Semi-custom AMD Zen 4 (6C/12T)

• Up to 4.8 GHz

• 30W TDP

GPU:

• Semi-custom AMD RDNA3 (28 CUs)

• 2.45 GHz max sustained clock

• 110W TDP

RAM:

• 16GB DDR5 + 8GB GDDR6 VRAM

Power:

• Internal PSU

• AC 110–240V

Storage Options:

• 512GB NVMe SSD

• 2TB NVMe SSD

• High-speed microSD expansion

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Connectivity

Wi-Fi:

• 2×2 Wi-Fi 6E

Bluetooth:

• Bluetooth 5.3

Controller Support:

• Integrated 2.4 GHz Steam Controller adapter

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I/O Ports

Display Outputs:

• DisplayPort 1.4:

  • Up to 4K @ 240Hz or 8K @ 60Hz

  • HDR, FreeSync, daisy-chaining

• HDMI 2.0:

  • Up to 4K @ 120Hz

  • HDR, FreeSync, CEC

USB Ports:

• 2× USB-A 3.2 Gen 1 (front)

• 2× USB-A 2.0 (rear)

• 1× USB-C 3.2 Gen 2 (rear)

Networking:

• Gigabit Ethernet

Other:

• 17-addressable RGB LED strip

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Size and Weight

• 152 mm tall (148 mm without feet)

• 162.4 mm deep

• 156 mm wide

• Weight: 2.6 kg

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Software

• Operating System: SteamOS 3 (Arch-based)

• Desktop Environment: KDE Plasma