Steam Machine finally goes on sale! We know the price, availability, and performance

Gamers, and especially fans of the Steam platform, have finally gotten their wish. Valve officially releases its gaming PC/console Steam Machine. A long 7 months have passed since its initial unveiling, with this delay primarily attributed to the ongoing memory crisis. And the high price is also related to that.

What is Steam Machine?

Steam Machine essentially represents a gaming PC in an extremely compact design. Valve’s goal with it was to combine the advantages of gaming consoles and PCs. So, even though it is fundamentally a classic computer, thanks to the SteamOS operating system, you just need to connect the device to a computer or monitor, log in with your Steam account, and then just download and play games. However, you still have the option to easily switch to the KDE Plasma Linux environment and use Steam Machine as a standard computer as well.

Valve does not hide its high ambitions in terms of performance, where with this miniature box it aims for up to 4K resolution. AMD hardware is supposed to help it achieve this. Specifically, it is a custom-modified processor built on the AMD Zen 4 platform along with RDNA3 graphics with 28 compute units. The device will then be available in two hardware configurations differing in the size of the NVMe SSD used. Unfortunately, the basic version only has 512 GB, while the more equipped one offers a full 2TB drive.

It’s a shame that there isn’t also a 1TB variant available, which would represent a golden mean for many users between the already limited 512 GB and the expensive 2 TB. This is quite possibly a compromise caused by the aforementioned memory crisis. And it’s also quite possible that the current situation has affected the size of the operating memory, which is 16 GB in both cases. The Video RAM is 8 GB, and the graphics chip naturally supports modern technologies such as the AMD FSR upscaler and Ray Tracing.

What is the real performance of Steam Machine?

Along with the start of pre-sales, the embargo on tests and reviews has also been lifted, and so we are already receiving first performance demonstrations of the new Steam Machine. It should be noted here that – similar to the Steam Deck – improving drivers and optimization can be expected over time. And just like with Steam Deck, compatibility levels are also available here in the digital Steam store.

As the first tests suggest, the optimization of individual titles can be quite variable. In any case, it can probably be safely stated that the Steam Machine should handle the vast majority, even demanding, titles at 1440p resolution. Valve itself states that approximately six times higher performance can be expected here compared to the Steam Deck handheld.

Steam Machine Parameters

Steam Machine Price

The price at which Valve would sell its new product was also a big unknown. The good news is that the worst-case scenarios did not materialize, but even so, it certainly cannot be called a completely pleasant surprise or an offer that cannot be refused. Steam Machine goes on sale in a total of four combinations – two memory versions with or without the Steam Controller. The price starts at 25,000 CZK and can climb up to almost 35,000 CZK in conversion.

• Steam Machine 512 GB for €1,039
• Steam Machine 512 GB + controller for €1,108
• Steam Machine 2TB for €1,359
• Steam Machine 2TB + controller €1,428

How to get a Steam Machine?

If you’re already heading to the Steam store, eager to order a new Steam Machine, I might disappoint you a little first. Valve is not currently offering its latest hardware through a classic (pre-)sale. Instead, you must sign up for the list on the device’s page in the Steam store and hope that luck smiles upon you in the subsequent random drawing. Reservations are only open until June 25th at 7 PM. To sign up, you naturally need a Steam account. It must not be subject to a ban and must have at least one purchase recorded before April 27, 2026.

Starting June 29th, Valve will begin notifying those who get into the reservation queue based on their position in that queue. Users who do not make it into the first wave will be placed on a waiting list, and if some users decide to cancel or not claim their reservation, users from the waiting list will gradually be called upon. Each Steam Machine variant has its own queue, and you can theoretically sign up for each of them, but in the drawing, you will be automatically assigned the most equipped variant.

Are you considering buying a Steam Machine from Valve?

Source: store.steampowered.com