The Steam Machine will not be as affordable as customers had expected, as a Valve software engineer confirmed that the upcoming system will not have subsidized pricing. Valve confirmed rumors that the Steam Machine will be priced closer to a PC than a game console, meaning that its overall price is influenced by RAM and graphics card prices.

Originally announced on November 12, the upcoming Steam Machine is Valve’s latest attempt at catering to console gamers. Although no pricing or release dates have been confirmed, it is expected to launch sometime in 2026. The Steam Machine features a six-core AMD processor capable of reaching clock speeds up to 4.8 GHz, with some degree of customization for users, such as the option to install other operating systems. Buyers can choose models with 512 GB or 2 TB of storage and 8K resolution support via DisplayPort.

In an interview with SkillUp on YouTube, Valve software engineer Pierre-Loup Griffais explained that the Steam Machine would not be sold at a subsidized price and would compete with PCs offering similar specifications. He remarked that the goal is for the Steam Machine to be a good deal at that level of performance.

Given the rapidly increasing prices of desktop RAM—having surged by over 200%—and the allocation of supply to AI-based servers, the cost of the Steam Machine could be significantly impacted by current trends in RAM and GPU prices. This rise in memory costs may affect not only the Steam Machine but also current-gen consoles, as there are rumors about potential price hikes for Xbox consoles circulating on social media.

Ultimately, the Steam Machine’s market success will depend on how much customers are willing to pay, and it remains to be seen when Valve will provide additional details regarding the system.