Valve’s new Steam Machine is going to be less like a traditional console and more like a compact gaming PC… and that is starting to worry some players.
According to Valve, the system is targeting mid-range PC performance. That sounds good on paper, but there is a catch! This means that it likely will not be priced like a console.
Valve answered some questions during the latest interview on the Friends Per Second podcast, and here is what we could gather from it!
Performance That Targets Mid-Range Gaming PCs
According to Valve, the Steam Machine is designed to match the experience of a solid mid-range gaming PC. We are talking performance similar to an RX 7600 or RTX 3060-4060 level system.
In other words, it is not aiming to be a budget console. The goal is for it to comfortably handle modern games and your full Steam library without feeling like a compromised “console version” of PC gaming.
The Price
Here is where things get more controversial. Valve has confirmed that the Steam Machine “will not be subsidized,” unlike consoles from Sony or Microsoft. That means they are not planning to sell it at a loss to make money later through games or subscriptions.
Instead, the Steam Machine will be priced in line with what it would cost to build a similar-performing PC yourself.
There is no official number yet, but many expect it to land well above the usual console price range, likely much higher than the highest price for a console right now, so way above $600. That is the part players seem the most skeptical about.
A lot of people ask the same question, if it is the same price as a PC, why should I bother buying it?
Why Valve Thinks It Is Still Worth It
From Valve’s point of view, the Steam Machine is not just about raw frames per second. It is about convenience and integration.
They are building it to feel like a console in your living room, but still behaving like a PC. That includes things like:
- Ultra compact, quiet hardware
- HDMI-CEC support so it can control your TV like a console
- Powering on the system directly from a controller
- Built-in Steam Controller support
- Easy multi-controller Bluetooth setup
These are the kind of quality-of-life features that are usually a pain to replicate with a DIY PC.
SteamOS Is the Real Long-Term Plan
Interestingly, Valve does not seem to be treating the Steam Machine as a single ecosystem. SteamOS will stay free and open, and Valve wants it to run well on custom-built PCs too.
The Steam Machine is more like a baseline reference device. Take it as “this is what a clean SteamOS experience should feel like” box for players who do not want to build their own PCs.
Future Versions Are Already Being Considered
Valve has also hinted that this probably will not be the only model forever. A higher-end “Steam Machine Pro” is something they are open to exploring in the future, depending on how this first model lands. For now, their main goal seems to be finding the right balance between power, size, noise, and pricing.
Valve’s new Steam Machine sounds genuinely impressive, but it is walking a risky line. If it gets too close to full PC pricing, many players might wonder why they should not just build their own machine instead. For now, many are simply waiting for the box to release, to see the real advantages.
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