For anyone anticipating that the Steam Machine’s price would be as competitive as that of the Steam Deck, you may experience some sticker shock. Although some were already cautioning that the Steam Machine was likely to have a steeper price than anticipated – it essentially is a compact gaming PC, after all – there weren’t numerous estimates that came close, if the new pricing is correct. According to Wccftech, Czech retailer Smarty.cz provided price estimates for Steam’s forthcoming cube-shaped computer, and they are quite surprising.
In USD, the listings suggest around $950 for the 512GB version of the Steam Machine and $1,070 for the 2TB variant. This places the cost significantly higher than what many expected. However, these prices are just estimates, so it’s wise to approach this information with caution for the time being. Importantly, by directly converting the predicted Czech koruna prices into U.S. dollars, there will be some inconsistencies.
Included in those prices are tariff and import taxes, as well as possibly additional charges that U.S. listings won’t incur. The actual MSRP is anticipated to be lower. Valve has yet to release any official statements regarding prices, nor has it addressed these leaked figures, thus everything remains speculative. Nevertheless, that would place the prices well above what most are predicting, certainly exceeding the current prices of consoles like the PlayStation 5 or Xbox Series X.
What accounts for the high estimated prices?
The global memory shortage has only intensified since the announcement of the Steam Machine back in November 2025. Prompted by the demand for more advanced hardware to align with AI advancements, the chip shortages could potentially raise the cost of new smartphones. It’s not unreasonable to consider that the Steam Machine, being a PC in every sense, would face increased prices if it launches amid this chip shortage. An official release date has not yet been provided, but the Steam Machine still requires mass production, meaning manufacturers will soon need to source the necessary components and hardware, if they haven’t begun already. Additionally, GPUs are also experiencing price increases lately, adding to the cost concern.
As for why the Steam Machine is more expensive than, for example, the PlayStation 5, it’s because consoles are frequently sold at a loss. Companies like Sony and Microsoft offer consoles at prices comparable to their production costs (or even lower), aiming to recover those expenses over time through video game sales and subscription services like Xbox Game Pass. Valve has publicly reiterated that it will not subsidize the Steam Machine’s price in the same manner as contemporary consoles.
Ultimately, all of this indicates that the expense of constructing a Steam Machine will be greater than expected. This may lead to the final model being priced higher than some enthusiasts had wished, meaning the estimates from the Czech retailer could indeed be realistic. However, with the Steam Machine potentially scheduled to launch this year, it won’t be long before we have definitive information.