As exciting as Valve’s new hardware lineup sounds, the biggest surprise might not be the tech itself, but the price.
The idea of accessing your entire Steam library on your TV – and doing it flexibly – sounds like an absolute dream. Right now, I’m still running everything through my Steam Deck in its dock, but what Valve is working on could be a game changer for a lot of different use cases. As we’ve already reported, the company behind Steam is preparing a new hardware push that tries to merge different worlds into one and might just become the all-in-one miracle machine of console gaming.
In short: Valve is releasing three new devices in early 2026. The Steam Machine aims to be a full living-room console for your entire Steam library. The Steam Frame is a headset that supports both VR and traditional gaming. And the new Steam Controller is designed to take couch gaming to the next level thanks to modern tech. So far, so promising.
How Much Will The Steam Machine Cost?
Now for the big question: what’s the price tag going to look like? Valve is still keeping it quiet, but signs are pointing in one clear direction: this thing won’t be cheap. The company initially mentioned “affordability,” but it also made it clear that the Steam Machine is meant to compete with a DIY PC – not with next-gen consoles.
And since Valve has now confirmed that there will be no hardware subsidies, any remaining hope for a $500 price bracket is basically gone. Hardware expert Linus Sebastian recently asked whether the smaller model might land somewhere near current console pricing. The reaction in the room? Well… silence. Things became even more explicit in an interview with Skill Up, where Valve engineer Pierre-Loup Griffais answered the question whether Steam profits would be used to lower the price with a simple “No.” Instead, the pricing will reflect what you’d expect from today’s PC market – the goal being “a good deal at that level of performance,” but not an artificially discounted one.
In addition to that, a Czech retailer may have just leaked pricing for two different configurations of the Steam Machine. According to the listing, the 512GB model is expected to land at $950, while the 2TB version is priced at $1,070. While these figures are unconfirmed and should not be treated as official pricing, they line up with Valve’s repeated messaging that the Steam Machine is built as a PC-class device rather than a subsidized console. Even before local sales tax is applied, both configurations would sit well above the traditional $499 console price point, reinforcing the idea that Valve is positioning the Steam Machine as a compact living-room PC instead of a direct competitor to current-generation consoles.
So yes — it’s time to let go of the idea that the Steam Machine will compete directly with current consoles on price. While Valve has yet to officially confirm the numbers, the recent pricing leak strongly suggests that the device will launch well above the $500 range, even in its most affordable configuration. Valve is expected to reveal the final price later this year, but expectations should already be adjusted accordingly. At this point, the Steam Machine looks like a clear signal that pricing expectations for gaming hardware may be shifting upward across the market, including the next console cycle.