The Steam Machine, Valve’s new hardware project expected in 2026, is starting to make people cringe. Without an official date or price, the vagueness maintained around this “PC-console” leaves room for all speculation, particularly on its final cost. According to several sources and reactions from experts, the bill could be higher than imagined, and the community does not like it.
On Reddit, discussions have heated up since a remark from Linus Tech Tips suggesting that the Steam Machine could align with the price of consoles, around $500. But this figure, far from reassuring, is on the contrary considered unrealistic by fans. For some, Valve is preparing to release a product that is neither powerful enough nor affordable enough.
A high price for a machine with questionable performance
According to Linus Tech Tips, the Steam Machine would be less efficient than the PS5 Pro, currently sold at $700. This observation makes enthusiasts cringe, especially since the expert adds: “The basic PS5 is closer to the Steam Machine in terms of performance”.
This estimate rekindles the debate on the relevance of the project. Valve is aiming for a simplified PC experience, designed for the living room, with a compact device that is close to the console format. For many, the device will not be able to convince if the price significantly exceeds that of a competing machine already installed in homes.
500 dollars or 1,000 dollars, speculation runs wild
At this point, the official price of the Steam Machine remains unknown, which fuels all speculation. Linus Tech Tips would have mentioned a price similar to the consoles, around 500 dollars. But the lack of a clear reaction from Valve raises another fear: that of seeing the bill climb well beyond, to approach $1,000.
This marketing vagueness annoys part of the community, which is waiting for concrete information on the real power, the target of the product and its limits. Because at this price level, many believe that Valve will no longer have room for error, especially in the face of a PC market where each euro spent is immediately compared to a configuration assembled piece by piece.
The Reddit community is preparing for a nasty surprise
On Reddit, players no longer have any illusions. User MalevolntCatastrophe sums up the prevailing opinion: “Anyone who thought it would be $400 is deluding themselves. It’s still a gaming PC, let’s see!”
Another user, Just-Ad6865, believes that Valve deliberately maintains the comparison with home consoles: “Valve is releasing a machine that looks like a console with the slogan ‘Your games on the big screen'”. For some, this message blurs expectations and pushes the public to hope for a “console” price, even if the hardware reality of a gaming PC could make this goal difficult to achieve.
In one of the thread’s most robust comments, user kamumu believes the final price could be much higher: “The price will not be lower than $799 or $899.” A figure which will deter players tempted by this new material in advance.
A non-scalable living room PC, a risky idea in 2026
The other big concern, beyond the price, concerns the very positioning of the Steam Machine. Several fans point out that it is a compact gaming PC, but which could not be upgradeable. And it is precisely this point that makes the most tech-savvy players hesitate, often ready to spend more money, but on condition that they can upgrade their equipment over time.
Valve’s challenge therefore remains delicate: to offer an accessible PC experience, simple to connect, designed for the sofa… while justifying a price which risks approaching the high end. As long as Valve does not reveal the final specifications and the official price, the Steam Machine will remain an object of fantasies and very heated debates among PC players.