The Steam Machine will cost between 1,039 and 1,428 euros at launch, which is significantly more than many had expected. On June 22, 2026, Valve announced the final prices, the hardware specifications, and the pre-order process. Anyone who wants one of the first units must register by 7:00 p.m. German time on June 25. After that, a random selection process will determine the order in the queue.
TL;DR – The Most Important Things to Know About the Steam Machine
- Four models: 512 GB starting at 1,039 euros, 2 TB starting at 1,359 euros, each available with an optional Steam Controller (1,108 and 1,428 euros, respectively).
- Hardware: six Zen 4 cores, AMD Radeon GPU with 28 compute units, 16 GB DDR5 plus 8 GB GDDR6 graphics memory.
- SteamOS 3 pre-installed, Windows 11 upgradeable, compact cube design with an edge length of approximately 16 centimeters.
- Pre-orders accepted through June 25, 2026; first shipments beginning in late June. Allocation by lottery.
- Requirement: A Steam account in good standing and at least one purchase made before April 27, 2026.
How much does the Steam Machine cost? An overview of all prices
For a long time, the price was the big question mark. As recently as last year, some tech experts were predicting prices between 500 and 600 euros—that’s been thoroughly debunked. Even the entry-level model easily breaks the 1,000-euro mark. Valve has deliberately chosen not to engage in cross-subsidization, a practice often used by traditional console manufacturers. This means you’ll pay roughly what it costs to manufacture the hardware—and nothing less.
| Model | Storage | Without Controller | With Steam Controller |
|---|---|---|---|
| Steam Machine 512 GB | 512 GB SSD | 1,039 euros | 1,108 euros |
| Steam Machine 2 TB | 2 TB SSD | 1,359 euros | 1,428 euros |
The Steam Controller is cheaper when purchased as part of a bundle: Instead of 99 euros individually, it costs only 69 euros in the bundle. The two 2-TB models also come with two additional front panels, available either upholstered in red fabric or crafted from solid walnut wood. Other than that, all versions are technically identical—the extra cost goes toward storage and aesthetics.
To put this in perspective: A PS5 Pro costs around 899 euros. The top-tier Steam Machine bundle therefore costs almost as much as a PS5 and an Xbox Series X combined. Valve attributes the high price to the memory chip crisis. When the product was set to launch in 2023, falling chip prices were expected, but then AI companies bought up the entire market, driving up the costs of RAM and SSDs. Valve engineer Yazan Aldehayyat told Eurogamer that the final price is significantly higher than originally planned.
Steam Machine Specs: What’s Inside the Cube
Under the hood is a semi-custom chip from AMD. Six Zen 4 cores handle the computing workload, while graphics are provided by an RDNA 3-based Radeon unit with 28 compute units. The memory configuration is particularly interesting: 16 GB of DDR5 as system memory and a separate 8 GB of fast GDDR6 as graphics memory. This separation is more common in consoles than in typical gaming PCs.
| Component | Specification |
|---|---|
| Processor | AMD Zen 4, 6 cores |
| Graphics | AMD Radeon (RDNA 3), 28 compute units |
| RAM | 16 GB DDR5 |
| Graphics Memory | 8 GB GDDR6 |
| Storage | 512 GB or 2 TB SSD, expandable via microSD |
| Operating system | SteamOS 3 (Linux), Windows 11 can be installed later |
| Shape | Cube, approx. 16 cm on each side |
| Wireless | Wi-Fi 6E, Bluetooth 5.3, dedicated wireless connection to the controller |
Valve claims more than six times the performance of a Steam Deck and cites 4K at 60 FPS with FSR upscaling as its goal. However, for graphically demanding titles, you’ll likely have to reduce the resolution or detail settings. If you want to put the performance leap compared to the handheld into perspective, check out our article on the planned Steam Deck 2 for background on Valve’s hardware strategy.
Three things set the Steam Machine apart from a DIY mini-PC: its compact cube design, the factory-installed SteamOS 3, and the direct wireless connection to the Steam Controller without a USB dongle. Otherwise, the console supports most controllers that also work on a Windows PC with Steam, including the Xbox gamepad and the Sony DualSense (approx. 72 euros on Amazon). The two touchpads on the Steam Controller are designed to help primarily with classic PC games that aren’t intended for gamepads.
Buying a Steam Machine: How Pre-orders Work
Valve isn’t using the usual “first come, first served” pre-order system; instead, it’s using a lottery system. This is intended to curb scalpers and bots. Here’s how it works:
- Register by Thursday, June 25, 2026, at 7:00 p.m. CEST in the Steam Store.
- Requirements: a Steam account with no negative history and at least one purchase made before April 27, 2026. This rules out newly created bot accounts.
- Only one registration is allowed per household—each payment method and shipping address counts as one entry.
- The time of registration does not matter; spots are assigned randomly.
- Starting June 25, you’ll be notified via email of your place in the queue. Selected buyers will receive a notification starting June 29 and will then have 72 hours to complete the purchase.
Important for us in Germany: The EU is listed as a separate shipping region. That’s a good sign, but it doesn’t guarantee that every configuration will be available immediately. According to Valve, they’re initially producing a smaller quantity than originally planned—so the first batch might sell out quickly.
Is the Steam Machine worth it?
Honestly: That depends heavily on your background. If you have a large Steam library and are already familiar with the convenience of SteamOS from the handheld—cloud saves, controller profiles, Verified badges—you’ll get a quiet, compact living room PC that requires no tinkering. On the other hand, anyone coming from the console price range will have to think twice. A custom-built mini-PC with comparable performance isn’t much more expensive, but it does require some effort. If you’re generally interested in the SteamOS hardware family, it’s also worth checking out our overview of the best gaming handhelds as Steam Deck alternatives.
The first tests, starting in late June, will answer the big questions: Is the performance sufficient for current AAA titles on a big screen? How well do non-Steam games, mods, and third-party launchers run? And how loud does the cube get under load? Anyone seriously considering a purchase should place their pre-order before June 25—and otherwise wait patiently for the reviews before spending more than 1,000 euros. The Steam Machine is definitely Valve’s most ambitious attempt yet to gain a foothold in the living room.
